Who we are-

   Elmwood Golfing Society - Est 1998.

(Not quite a History, more, a Beginning!)

Perhaps the youngest Golfing Society in Fife, Elmwood does not have the long and glamorous history of many of its neighbouring courses who's traditions and fame are spread over hundreds of years and indeed to the very origins of the game. Elmwood in fact has used these inherent traditions found in most of our local members to build a new Society who's determination to succeed and to promote the game of golf is as strong as it is in other long established clubs. It was with this local determination to succeed in golf that the concept of a new Golfing Society evolved.

In the early 1990's there was talk that Elmwood College, Cupar, a world renowned Institution for the development and tuition of highly qualified Greenkeepers and golf management, was to build a new golf course in the local area to teach its Students. The course would be built on land already farmed by the College as part of its agricultural policy and was situated near to Cupar, Springfield, Pitlessie, Stratheden, Cupar Muir and Craigrothie which would prove to be ideal as the area already had a very strong golfing tradition.

Even more exciting at this time was the prospect that Elmwood College were determined they would provide a course for the study of "Excellence in Greenkeeping" which meant the course would certainly be built to the highest standards achievable with greens of the very best quality.

Local excitement grew as Elmwood College decided to go ahead with the project but the course was to be run on a "Pay as you Play" basis which somewhat disheartened many local people who had envisaged a new local club with competition golf, national handicaps available and a place to call home that really was near home. Many felt this would not be possible on a "Pay as you Play" basis. Undeterred, a few local Golfers decided they would form a small local Golfing Society to give them a formal platform to approach Elmwood College and perhaps negotiate the possibility of a more organised format to golf on the new course. This small Golfing Society very quickly became 50 members and after several years and numerous very amicable meetings between its elected officials and the Course Management Team from Elmwood it was agreed that a more formal set up could be put in place when the course opened, if there was sufficient local demand.

In January 1998 an open Public Meeting was held in the newly built Elmwood Clubhouse to ascertain local interest in formal golf at the Elmwood Course. I chaired the meeting myself as elected Captain of the local Golfing Society and to my absolute delight no less than 200 people turned up many of whom could not even get into the building. This, I must say, gave me considerable encouragement, not to mention a lump in my throat, but this situation helped me complete 5 years work in furthering the interests of golf in our local area. Thereafter an initial steering committee was established and ultimately they held an inaugural GM electing the following committee and calling themselves Elmwood Golfing Society for the first time. The committee was made up of representation from all local Golfing Societies including Springfield, Pitlessie, Stratheden and Craigrothie with several other experienced golfers who could be most helpful to our cause. We were on the way!

Allan D. Baldie (Captain) Carol Borthwick (Elmwood College)
Brian Whittaker (Vice Captain) Alan Curry (Craigrothie)
Ian MacAulay (Secretary) Brian Donaldson (Pitlessie)
Andrew McAulay (Treasurer) Bill Foreman (Elmwood)
Ian Barker (Match Secretary) David Franks (Elmwood)
Colin Brown (Handicap Secretary) James Rice (Social Convenor)

The Course. (Home)

The Course, designed and built by John Salvesen, opened for the first time on the 2nd August 1997 and then officially by Sir Michael Bonallack OBE on the 22nd May 1998. It was immediately recognised as a stern challenge of golf mostly due to the narrow fairways and unforgiving rough but a unique feature of the course was the introduction of designated conservation areas for wildlife which allowed a few areas around the course to remain completely untouched by development.

We knew then this was not to be an easy course although some concession has been made since to fairway widths and to lowering the rough. Indeed the course has now become very pleasant to play with a mix of difficult and easier holes which is providing enjoyment at all levels of golf though maintaining a most individual character. Around 2004, Elmwood worked very hard on a new course design, with considerable improvements being carried out over several of the older holes and indeed three completely new holes to be constructed on new land made available by the College. These improvements should see the course attain a Par 71 or perhaps a Par 72 status on completion. Thousands of trees have been planted over the years and as they mature I know this is going to become one of the gems of golf in the Fife area. We, the members of Elmwood Golfing Society, are very thankful to Elmwood College for their forward and progressive attitude to course quality, they are a remarkable group of people.

Constant course maintenance is carried out by an impressive Greenkeeping staff headed by Andy Mellon (Course Director) who, other than having these excellent members of staff, has the many students from the College who are often to be seen in large groups around the course inquisitively but considerately pondering the further improvement of this course while learning their much respected trade.

With all this in such a short period of time the members of Elmwood Golfing Society now consider themselves very fortunate indeed to have such a facility as a home course and we know we are privileged to be able to play our regular competition golf in such prestigious surroundings.

Competition Golf. (First Honours)

Once the committee was established our first objective was of course to play golf, competition golf. To do this correctly we required to have a Standard Scratch Score for the course and full affiliation to the Fife and Scottish Golf Unions which was given priority. These issues were achieved through much communication and various visits with the SGU and the FGA who eventually approved our SSS and our constitution as fair and effective and in the true traditions of the game.

While this was going on our Match Secretary at that time, Ian Barker, had by some miracle conceived a calendar of events for the rest of the season and competition golf began on the Elmwood course. We even managed to run a club championship that first year, won by Willie Cargill the local Bobby who's name now graces the first place on our Champions board and indeed began our history.

Competition golf now completely fills our calendar each year and makes our prizegiving ceremony in November take a whole evening to conduct. With so many prestigious prizes each year it's quite awesome (there's that lump in my throat again). Our Club Champion the second year was Brian Heggie who also set our first recorded course record of 63, a brilliant achievement which will also contributes to our history with the card now framed and displayed. Maybe one day.....

The Clubhouse. (The 19th)

The purpose built Clubhouse has a modern red roof design and is very distinctive from many miles away with its "Doocot" feature on top. Its panoramic views from the main lounge are quite awesome at times and look up towards Tarvit Hill over Crawford Priory at one side and the Cults Hills and Lomond Hills at the other. Inside the lounge area is spacious and modern with much emphasis on relaxation and of course superb cuisine. The ultra modern kitchen facilities are to the highest standard and expert Chefs create ever changing menu's to suit everyone from the hungry golfer just in from a hard 18 holes to the most discerning diner requiring Al a Carte cuisine. All are welcome in Elmwoods very friendly clubhouse facility which is not exclusive to Golfers. Bookings are recommended due to the popularity of their exceptional menu's. Oh! and I must say a word about the exceptionally cheerful staff who make visiting this Clubhouse such a pleasure.

Since opening, the clubhouse has already had two extensions built to accommodate more changing facilities which are now fairly extensive and to extend the bar seating area creating a relaxed area for golfers outwith the dining area. Outside lighting and parking facilities have also seen continuous improvements since opening with the long driveway now fully illuminated with more than enough parking spaces now provided. The drive has also recently been tarred and this is a great improvement on the previous condition.

Elmwood Golfing Society. (The People - The Future)

Well, we're now seven years down the road and I've retired as Captain already, it seems like only yesterday when I had the first lump in my throat, the thing is, its still there as I continue to be so impressed with the enthusiasm and absolute dedication of a group of people who, at the beginning, knew very little about actually running a Golfing Society. To have achieved full SGU recognition to begin with and to provide their members with a twice weekly calendar of events that spans the whole year then to go ahead and further provide a very active social life for all concerned is some kind of miracle to me. If this team continues with this type of work the future of Elmwood Golfing Society is secured with many new members each year and more and better facilities to improve golf for everyone involved, including visitors.
And so, to finalise this very brief history, I look to the future and wonder, could we ever have the fame and prestige of our neighbours, will the professionals ever come to visit, and will we have a course that will live up to the test of time. The determination's there, the quality of course is there so who knows, only time will tell. As a final thought, I wonder if the likes of Tom Morris and Davie Park had as good a start as we did....

Allan D. Baldie (President)  Elmwood Golfing Society