The Crail Golfing Society recently celebrated its 225th anniversary with a global series of matches. Interestingly, there was a South African connection to the world’s seventh-oldest course.
In the July issue of Compleat Golfer, we explored the ‘Alternative Route to St Andrews’, where Brandon de Kock describes his travels along the coastal A92 towards the ‘Auld Grey Toon’, including golf at Lundin Links and at Crail.
Crail 225th anniversary
The Crail course in particular caught his attention, and we were interested to see that the course, the seventh oldest in the world, recently celebrated its 225th anniversary with a truly global event, with golf matches contested on five continents counting towards the overall result.
From Crail to Kabul, Seville to Sydney and Atlanta to Buenos Aires, members of the ancient society took on members of other golf clubs – all of whom represented the Rest of the World team – in a series of individual matches involving over 250 men and women players. The result was a win for Scotland’s Crail Golfing Society by 71 matches to 46, with 21 drawn.
There was even a South African connection as Guy Smith, the developer of Prince’s Grant and Gowrie Farm in KwaZulu-Natal, represented Crail at Gowrie Farm, beating fellow member Anthony Haines.
“The worldwide enthusiasm for this unique match has been tremendous,” said Crail Golfing Society Captain, Ian Dickson. “Members in over 20 different countries have taken part, including some in very dangerous places like Iraq and Afghanistan. I’m delighted that so many of our overseas members took part in the celebration to mark 225 years of the Society’s existence.”
In the top match at Crail, representing the Rest of the World, captain of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, group captain Sir Patrick Hine, and his partner, honorary Ppofessional Jim Farmer, took on Crail captain Ian Dickson and the society’s professional Graeme Lennie, over Crail’s Balcomie Links. Local knowledge came to the fore, resulting in a win for the Crail pairing.
Crail hole-in-one
There was even a hole-in-one recorded at Crail, when a member, retired general practitioner Dr Stephen Illingworth, aced the 13th hole on Craighead Links on his way to winning his match – and the nearest the pin competition.
The names of all the members who took part, and their opponents’ names, will be permanently recorded and on display in the Society’s clubhouse.
Crail Golfing Society is the seventh oldest golf club in the world, having been formed by 11 local golfers in 1786, and now has 1 400 members at home and abroad. The society has two courses; Balcomie Links, opened in 1895, was laid out by the father of golf course design, Tom Morris, and Craighead Links, which opened in 1998, was designed by the 2009 Golf Course Architect of the Year,
American Gil Hanse, giving the members and visiting golfers the best of ancient and modern course design.
“We are now looking forward to our 250th anniversary in 2036,” said Ian Dickson. “Who knows, perhaps we will have a member on the moon taking part by then!”
Check out www.crailgolfingsociety.co.uk for more information about the club.
Jim Farmer, R&A Honorary Professional, Group Captain Sir Patrick Hine, R&A Captain, Graeme Lennie, Crail Golfing Society Professional and Ian Dickson, Crail Captain before tee of in tee top match.
