Most visitors from overseas are unlikely to seek out Kilspindie, which is pity as this is a fun little course tucked in Aberlady. It’s only 5500 yards, but has narrow fairways and the Firth of Forth to deal with.
I played with my dear friend Nic, member at Woking Golf Club, in July 2021, and we had a blast. I think I shot a 73, which was a little disappointing as the course rating is 69, and the slope is 108.
The welcome we received was great, met a few members on the links , and the bar staff were very friendly after our exertions. Couple of John Panton’s were well received after an amazingly warm day.
This is from the club's website:
When the Club was formed, as Luffness Golf Club in 1867, it was the 35th registered golf club in the world and the course then was on the far side of the Peffer Burn on land which is now part of the Nature Reserve. Unfortunately for the historian or enthusiast, there is little evidence of the course layout and the original clubhouse.
After some 27 years, the then George Hope, as landowner, had ambitions to create a new golf course slightly closer to the village of Gullane, which did not meet with approval of those who hailed from Aberlady! The outcome was a non acrimonious split in the Club where half stayed to play the new course, thus forming Luffness New Golf Club (1894), whilst the remaining members accepted an offer from a neighbouring landlord, the Earl of Wemyss and March, to build a golf course on the links land bordering Craigielaw Farm. It was appropriate to rename the Club, Kilspindie in 1899.
From its very beginnings Kilspindie, as a golf club, built a reputation as a warm and welcoming Club. Many of the original non-course owning clubs who chose to play their annual outings over our links still do so today, keeping a tradition alive after more than 100 years! As the popularity in general grew, so did the Club. However, it is thanks to the dedication, generosity and hard work of some members, following on from both World Wars which saved the Club during those periods of austerity.
Two stone structures on our links the Target, at the 5th tee, and the Magazine, at the 12th tee, were both actively used in the early days when we shared the golf course with the local rifle club!
There have been few changes made to our links over the past 112 years so golfers, irrespective of their standard of play, may enjoy our traditional Scottish links.
Here's a link to the Club's website
http://www.kilspindiegolfclub.co.uk
The website has some good information about the course, including a pretty cool flyover.
https://www.kilspindiegolfclub.co.uk/course/
Here’s a couple of pics I took:
the tide goes out for miles on the forth, revealing that the channel itself is narrow.
A stay in Aberlady is no bad idea, as it’s easy to get to Gullane and North Berwick. I highly recommend staying at Duck’s Inn. Malcom Duck, the owner, is a terrific guy, there’s a great bar, he serves really good food. Check it out at: https://www.ducks.co.uk.
Malcolm I am sure will happily arrange for you to play several of the great local courses and probably join you too.
Trish, Steve, Susan, Clarke, Jeanne, Ed, Gill and me at Ducks.
Gill and me outside Ducks.