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The Golf House Club, Elie

Elie, Fife · Designed by Old Tom Morris (1895), revised by James Braid · Est. 1875

Golf has been played on the links at Elie and Earlsferry since the 15th century, and the present Golf House Club dates to 1875. This is where James Braid — five-time Open champion and one of the game's great architects — grew up and learned to play, and the course keeps a wonderfully old-world character. Its most famous quirk is the starter's box on the first tee, fitted with a salvaged submarine periscope so the starter can see over the hill and check the fairway is clear before waving players away.

The links itself is a delightful, quirky test of about 6,270 yards, unusual for having no par-5s at all — a run of stout par-4s and clever short holes along the Firth of Forth shore, with blind shots, humps and hollows and glorious views across to the Bass Rock. It is friendly, affordable and full of history, and pairs beautifully with Crail, Lundin and the other gems of the East Neuk of Fife.

Elie is really the golf of two ancient burghs — Elie and Earlsferry — and the game here predates almost everywhere. Braid was born in Earlsferry in 1870 and learned to play on these links before his five Open victories and a career spent shaping courses across Britain. With no long walks and no weak holes, and between the periscope send-off and the sea views to the Bass Rock, it is one of the most purely enjoyable rounds in the country.

Holes worth knowing

113th "Croupie" (par-4) — James Braid, who grew up here, called it "the finest in all the country": the approach must carry all the way onto a long, narrow shelf of green set fifteen feet above the fairway at the foot of the Kincraig cliffs.

Highlights

James Braid's home links
The famous submarine-periscope starter's box on the 1st
Historic East Neuk links — no par-5s, huge sea views

Good to know

→The blind opening tee shot is the ritual: wait for the starter to check the fairway through the salvaged submarine periscope before you play — a piece of golfing theatre found nowhere else.
→Book direct; Elie is friendly, affordable and easy to get on. The lack of par-5s makes for a brisk, characterful round — allow time to enjoy the views to the Bass Rock.
→It pairs beautifully with the other East Neuk gems — Crail, Lundin and Dumbarnie — with St Andrews about 45 minutes up the coast.
→Elie is famous for its starter’s periscope, salvaged from a Royal Navy submarine and used to see over the hill on the blind opening tee shot.
→The East Neuk fishing villages are among the prettiest in Scotland; the Ship Inn on Elie’s beach is a classic post-round pint, and St Andrews is 30 minutes north.

Visitor Information

Getting There

1h 10min drive

45min drive

Common questions

What is the story of the periscope at Elie?

The starter's box on the first tee at the Golf House Club, Elie, is fitted with a salvaged submarine periscope. The opening drive is blind over a hill, so the starter uses the periscope to check the fairway is clear before waving players away — one of golf's most charming quirks.

Is it true Elie has no par-5s?

Yes. The links plays to par 70 over about 6,270 yards and unusually has no par-5s at all — a run of stout par-4s and clever short holes along the Firth of Forth. It is also the links where five-time Open champion James Braid learned the game, having grown up in nearby Earlsferry.

How do I play Elie and what is nearby?

The Golf House Club welcomes visitors and books directly; it is friendly and affordable. Elie sits in the East Neuk of Fife and pairs naturally with Crail, Lundin, Dumbarnie and St Andrews for a Fife trip.