Story of a Golf Club: Kilspindie Golf Club
Kilspindie Golf Club, often overlooked by visitors drawn to its bigger, and more famous neighbours, sits nestled quietly down a single track road, in the small village of Aberlady, in East Lothian, and maybe… just maybe, that’s a good thing. Kilspindie is the quintessential Scottish golf club, and the lucky visitors who are curious enough to venture off the well-trodden East Lothian path, will be rewarded with what is hidden within.
Founded in 1867, The Luffness Golf Club was, at the time, the 35th registered golf club in the world. Back then, the course occupied a different site on the other side of the Peffer Burn, and after 27 years of play the landowner, George Hope, decided to create a new course which was closer to the village of Gullane. This met with disapproval from those who hailed from Aberlady, and ultimately the club fragmented: leading to the formation of Luffness New Golf Club in 1894 where it still operates today, less than two miles up the coastal road.
Fortunately, the neighbouring landlord offered the remaining members the links that we enjoy today, and the club was renamed ‘Kilspindie’ in 1899. What began as a feud, has become a time-honoured tradition, whereby Luffness New writes to Kilspindie requesting they drop the ‘New’ from their name, to which Kilspindie always replies “no’’.
The etymology of Kilspindie has its roots in Christianity, a nod to its worshippers that settled nearby. ‘Kil’ meaning cell, at the time representing a tribe or gathering of followers, and Spindie, of the Spindie monks, however today the course is a site of an altogether different kind of worship, and it’s parishioners who play in the wind and rain on this par 69 layout, will wax-lyrical about the beauty of their church.
Kilspindie is quirky, and encapsulates everything that makes the game enjoyable. It’s eminently walkable, and rewards all aspects of the game. Its real charm though, is that in many ways, it is the ultimate match-play course. With the elements providing changeable conditions, you can stand toe to toe with your opposition seeking to outwit them – something many golf courses would do well to consider today. Kilspindie is also blessed to have a huge number of ‘half-par’ holes, and match-play allows the golfer to abandon the concept of stroke play.
Now, when you first visit, you could be forgiven for thinking that the short length of the course has been overstated as you play the opening stretch from the 2nd through to the 4th, often into the prevailing headwind… but aside from their length and difficulty, these holes provide the most picturesque views on the whole course, looking out across the Firth of Forth and the Aberlady Bay, which incidentally, was made the first Local Nature Reserve in the United Kingdom in 1952.
Another standout hole is the 8th, named Gosford Bay. This is a wonderful, risk-reward par three, especially when the pin is placed on the right hand side of the green, and as you play your way in from there, down the stretch, the nods to its history and promise of golf in East Lothian are ever present with a time-worn wall flanking the closing holes – no doubt the culprit for many a weak finish, and its newest neighbour – Craigielaw – within chipping distance to the West.
It’s well-known that the stretch of golf in East Lothian is amongst the best in the world, steeped in history with courses to suit every taste and Kilspindie an important part of that tapestry, and Kilspindie is the perfect choice for a more gentle days links golf, on Scotland’s golf coast.
We hope you enjoy the film!