Crail Really Matters
Crail Golfing Society was founded in 1786, making it the seventh oldest golf club in the world and consequently internationally important in the world of golf.
The Society’s history and culture is deeply rooted in the Crail community, whether as a source of social engagement, as an employer, a place to nurture young people or an important element of the local tourism sector.
With this in mind, the club has had another very busy year in 2019 with over 17,000 visitor rounds of golf played over the historic land at Fifeness. There is no doubt that from small beginnings, the club has grown to be an international golf destination, contributing significantly to the local economy whilst being custodian of the historic and famous Balcomie Links and increasingly popular Craighead Links.
The club is very proud of the work carried out by David Snodgrass, Assistant PGA Professional at Crail Golfing Society ably supported by members to promote and grow the game of golf in Crail. In early 2019, David assisted by John Wood delivered taster golf sessions to Mrs Forsyth’s primary school class supporting their golf project. The majority of children in Mrs Forsyth’s class had never tried golf before but some went on to join the Crail Golfing Society Junior Academy for the 2019 season.
The golf club continues to invest financially in the Junior Academy which gives children in the village the opportunity to learn the game and the life lessons it provides at a club boasting some of the best golf facilities in Scotland. In addition the practice range is a community facility where you don’t need to be a member to hit some balls for fun or even just to find out if you enjoy it. Just purchase a token from the pro shop, collect some balls from the machine and off you go.
The Crail Festival Golf Skills Event had its most successful event to date with 41 junior golfers signing up to test their golf skills on a beautiful summer’s night in July. Since Crail Golfing Society Junior Academy took over the running of the event it has gone from strength to strength with numbers increasing year on year. The event allows visitors to the village of Crail during Crail Festival to also visit Crail Golfing Society and see what it has to offer in addition to breathtaking scenery.
Crail Putting Green was reinstated by Crail Festival in 2011 and is fully supported by the Society’s Greenkeeping team. The maintenance of the putting green is carried out by Course Manager Bob Meikle, and his team, to the highest standard possible; including aeration work, top dressing, fertilising and changing the holes thus making it one of the best such facilities in Scotland. Consequently, this has developed into a hugely valued resource during the summer months in bringing fun and enjoyment to adults, children, friends and families who played a total of 4,735 rounds in 2019. This included someCrail Golfing Society members playing with their grandchildren. Crail Festival provides funds to support the greenkeeping work and organises a team of over 60 volunteers to keep this East Neuk Jewel open.
In September, the Society hosted Crail Preservation Society’s 60th Anniversary Golf Tournament, an event organised to raise funds for a number of projects in and around Crail. The Preservation Society’s goals are to preserve and invest in the Royal Burgh and the net income of £4,156 from participant’s fees and donations will help with future projects such as repairs to the Mercat Cross and in the old Kirkyard.
Finally in mid October over 20 members ofCrail Golfing Society took part in a ‘beach clean’ tidying up the Balcomie Beach that runs alongside the second hole of the Balcomie course. Two trailer loads were filled with plastics and fishing debris that had been washed up on shore helping to keep the environment clean and tackle ocean pollution. The popularity of the event and the camaraderie and satisfaction it generated has the club looking at early 2020 for the next beach clean.
Being part of and supporting the Community is important for Crail Golfing Society. We will continue to consider ways to become even more involved with the community and prove that as far as Crail Golfing Society is concerned “Crail Really Matters”.
Jim McArthur
4 November 2019
Captain, Crail Golfing Society