This year, The Golf House Club celebrates its 150th anniversary and the links course upon which its members play has recently been recognised as the third oldest in the world, dating back to at least 1589.
The Golf House Club is immensely proud to have reached this milestone and to continue to welcome visitors from around the world to enjoy its historic, quirky and quintessentially Scottish links experience.
The club, founded in 1875, takes its name from the clubhouse – then known as a golf house – that its founding members built from scratch and completed two years later. The building has undergone various extensions and refurbishments over the years, but great care has been taken to ensure the improved facilities remain sympathetic to the club’s history and heritage.
One of Elie’s unique features is the periscope that stands sentry over the first tee. The periscope, stretching almost 10m into the sky, allows the starter to see over the hill that golfers have to contend with on their blind opening drive.
Today, the course runs to 6,273 yards, making it modest in length. But don’t be fooled. Its undulating fairways, heavily contoured greens and stunning natural features all combine to make it a true test of golf. Unusually, there are no par-5s and the course has 16 par-4s with a par-3 in both the outward and inward halves.
A round of golf over Elie Links is a feast for the senses. Tees perch on rocky coastal points and fairways hug the curve of the windswept shoreline. The prevailing south westerly breeze blows in off the sea. But it can change direction just as quickly as it slackens and stiffens. On different days, you could be reaching for a driver or a 7-iron to play the same shot.
Over the years, the course has hosted high profile tournaments including the British Seniors Championship, the Scottish Professionals Championship, the Scottish Ladies Championship, the Scottish Women’s Amateur Championship and qualifying rounds for the Open Championship.
This year, as it celebrates its 150th anniversary, The Golf House Club is also looking to the future with excitement and making sure it continues to provide the best golfing experience possible for many more years to come.
