Royal sponsorship of golf clubs is something to which we've accustomed ourselves, but what of royal burghs?
A royal burgh was a type of Scottish burgh which had been founded by, or subsequently granted, a royal charter. Although abolished in law in 1975, the term is still used by many former royal burghs.[1]
Most royal burghs were either created by the Crown, or upgraded from another status, such as burgh of barony. As discrete classes of burgh emerged, the royal burghs—originally distinctive because they were on royal lands—acquired a monopoly of foreign trade.
An important document for each burgh was its burgh charter, creating the burgh or confirming the rights of the burgh as laid down (perhaps verbally) by a previous monarch. Each royal burgh (with the exception of four 'inactive burghs') was represented in the Parliament of Scotland and could appoint bailies with wide powers in civil and criminal justice.[2] By 1707 there were 70 royal burghs.
The Royal Burghs Act 1833 reformed the election of the town councils that governed royal burghs. Those qualified to vote in parliamentary elections under the Reform Act 1832 were now entitled to elect burgh councillors.
The kids would call that royal privilege, for sure.
The official name of our destination is Golf House Club, Elie, awkward at best. James Finnegan explicates:
The quirky name: In the nineteenth century, several clubs played over this links but one, perhaps a shade tonier than its counterparts, decided to erect a golf house. It was this decision that gave the club its peculiar name, which distinguished it from others that did not have a clubhouse, and so met in pubs or inns.
It's still a bit of a muddle, as The Elie Sports Club has its own clubhouse on the grounds, and operates the tennis course and rudimentary driving range we use.
But then one comes upon the clubhouse and starter's hut:
The clubhouse itself dates to 1876, but it's gables, chimneys and arched windows are quite the architectural buffet:
That 30' periscope wasn't gifted to the club in error, as this awaits us on our first swing:
You'll just have to trust me that the camera flattens it out.... Higher and more severe than it looks here in two dimensions.
The club was unable to accommodate our request for caddies, so we're off with our trolleys... And, that opening hole splays upwind, as well as uphill:
Did I forget to mention the wind? This was no wee breeze, though I may be slightly prone to exaggeration.... The forecast called for steady winds of +/- 20 mph, and the gusts were anyone's guess.
The routing is generally in the from of the letter "T", with the outbound bottom of the "T" directly into the fan. The first two holes divert slightly, but then we play the first of the two one-shotters, the third hole names Wickets, directly back into the gale. At 214 yards from the medal tees, it's the shortest Par-5 I've played since the 16th at Pormarnock. It's been a bit since I've played driver on a three-par, but it was the correct club after all...
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| The ladies played it at a more civilized yardage. |
Rather stately, for sure, though further out they turn more modern, featuring more glass than seems wise given the postal code...
The land is first rate... featuring those hills, hummocks and hollows that perfectly suit links golf:
As I first noted back at the inception of my blogging career at Ballyliffin, they resemble nothing so much as an unmade bed.
Alas, play was maddeningly slow, a more common occurrence than one might expect. Throw the traveling golfer onto a links with many blind shots when the wind's a blownin', and we'll not threaten the three-hour round that the starter tells us is expected.
Also not expected:
A NY Jets fan? Not sure I could find one of those at home, and my own preferences are more towards professional football.
The course is extremely tight.... The playing corridors seem fine, but the greens and tees are virtually indistinguishable:
It's surprising at times that hardhats aren't required....
While the card indicates those sixteen par-4's, the reality is one of all manner of fractional pars....Wickets might be a par-3 1/2, but the ninth, 440 yards from the medal tee into the teeth of the wind, felt like a 5 1/2. Having a wedge in after two strong shots was its own accomplishment....
That top section of the "T" plays along a bay, with oil rigs out in the Firth visible.
My own play was fairly satisfying, as I picked a fine day to drive it straight. The girls fought it for sure, but miraculously the three of us left all of one golf ball out there... and that only happened when one unnamed of us put her tee shot over a boundary fence. I didn't say I wouldn't narrow it down for you....
Trudging home I did manage to find 2-3 fairways bunkers, but the bogeys made therefrom had all the satisfaction of a well-earned par. And this out from a greenside bunker is worth sharing:
here's a good view of the traffic routing.... That's the sixth green on the left and the ball washer is on the seventh tee.... The players to the right are on the tenth tee, with a sign back at the medal tees to hold fire for players on that sixth green.
Of course, I wouldn't want to be on the course with anyone needing such a warning, but belt and suspenders is likely wise.
That tenth hole, Lundar Law (whatever that might mean), is a mere 288 yards from the medal tees. While one might think that a birdie hole, that greediness fails to survive contact with reality, as this is where a well-struck drive leaves us:
Of course it's only a wedge, but getting that fix on the target is a challenge.
I believe this was the first of two bells to be rung when leaving a green.... There's the periscope as well, and the 16th tee (I'm guessing here) has stairs to climb to ensure that the fairway has cleared.
Madam was fighting a creaky back, so I'll try not to take this personally:
And yet, it seems quite personal indeed...
This is from the 11th tee, and makes the course seem uninhabited.... if only:
The girls haven't shown much interest in taking the camera, but Jewelle did get this one of your humble correspondent:
It truly feels like a links that has resisted the modern era nicely. Those medal tees provide 6,273 yards off a Par 70, stout enough for all those without their name on their bags. In the wind we had yesterday, the members tees, at 200 yards less, might have been the better call. Especially had I not been so straight off the tee....
A lovely day for sure, but one that took a bit of a toll on this elderly crew. We're back to Crail to play their old course, the Balcomie Links, mercifully with sherpas on call. It's a tad embarrassing to admit, but the trolley over hill and dale is a young man's game....
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