Earlsferry Thistle Golf Club instituted 1875. "Small Club Big History"
ARCHIVE NEWS
13 March 2021
As of Friday 12 March 2021 golf courses with a designated COVID Officer can permit organised golf for members who live within the local authority area. Play can take place in four-balls with no restrictions on the number of households.
View the latest COVID-19 Update from Scottish Golf.
View the latest updated COVID-19 Restrictions for Golf Activity by Level in Scotland.
22 February 2021
Online booking now available for Club Competitions on Master Scoreboard.
11 February 2021
Elie now rated the 27th best course in Scotland in Golf World's 2021 rankings of Top Courses in Scotland. A rise of 5 places from 2020.
15 January 2021
Memebers please note that competitions will continue to be played as per the fixture list though these at the moment will be restricted to members who live locally and will have to be played in twos.
View the latest COVID-19 Update from Scottish Golf.
View the latest updated COVID-19 Restrictions for Golf Activity by Level in Scotland.
5 January 2021
As of 5 January 2021 following the issue of new COVID-19 restrictions by the Scottish Government, it is now only possible to play golf in twoballs with players from two separate households. This will last at least until the end of January when the situation will be reviewed by the politicians. At least we are still able to play golf, which is no longer the case in England and Wales.
Entries are now being taken for J N Smith and James Braid Open Competition to be held on Saturday 5 June 2021. Download an Entry Form.
22 December 2020
View COVID-19 Restrictions for Golf Activity by Level in Scotland
20 November 2020
(Courtesy of John Bowers)
11 November 2020
Coming soon Club Guide to the New World Handicapping System.
View World Handicapping System Course Handicap Charts for Elie.
14 October 2020
The Braid Cup which was postponed on 3 October 2020 due to bad weather has been rearranged for Saturday 31 October 2020 at 11am.
25 September 2020
View Scottish Golf's Latest Guidance for the reopening of Phase 3.
See Link to Scottish Golf Union updates on COVID-19.
View World Handicapping System Player Reference Guide
It will be 150 Years on the 6th February 2020 when our most famous member James Braid was born in Earlsferry.
Made an Honorary Member of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, St Andrews in 1950 and commemorated in the World Golf Hall of Fame, Pinehurst, USA in 1976 his legacy continues to live on. Read about his achievements in our James Braid Biography.
Thistle Competitions Update (15 July 2020)
The Thistle Committee have issued the following update in relation to the resumption of Club Competitions:
Fixtures
The Lilburn Cup draw has already been made and 1st round ties should be played no later than 31/07, semi finals by 31/08 and the final by 30/09.
The 1st round of the Presidents Trophy will now be played at 11.00 on Saturday 22nd August 2020. This will also count as the first of two qualifiers for the Club Championship. The Burgh Medal will also be played for that day.
There will now be no event played on the 29th August 2020.
The 2nd round of the Presidents Trophy will now be played on Saturday 12th September 2020 at 13.10. This will also be the 2nd qualifying round for the Club Championship. Please note the Club Championship qualifying will be different this year. Only one score from two will count and the top 8 scratch scores will go through to quarter finals to be played by 20th September 2020 and the semi finals to be played by 26th September 2020. These ties are to be arranged between the 2 opponents. The final will be played on Sunday 27th September 2020 at 0800 and 1230.
As we missed several Cups earlier this year the plan is to replace any remaining medals with these missed Cup competitions. Details to be advised once agreed.
Sheets for all future fixtures will be posted in the Clubhouse as per our existing process. The Fixture List on the club web site has also been updated to take account of these changes.
If you do not feel comfortable to enter the Clubhouse due to COVID 19 please contact Andy Hodge the Handicap Match Convener or a member of the committee who will put your name down on your behalf.
COVID 19 - we will be organising hand sanitiser and ensuring the Clubhouse is cleaned and adhering to all Government guidelines.
Finally the Dumbarnie date of Sunday 13th September is getting closer! As we missed our away day this year it has been decided that Dumbarnie will be used to play the Jack McRoberts Cup. There are still places so get your names down to play one of the best courses in Scotland.
The Dykes Cup, which is a Golf House Club competitions which is open to members of both clubs, is to be played on the 15 August 2020.
COVID-19 Update (15 July 2020)
Scottish Golf has now published updated guidance for Phase 3 in the relaxtion of the COVID-19 lockdown measures by the Scottish Government.
Playing golf in Scotland following updated Phase 3 Guidance
The key changes to golf in Scotland under the consolidated updated Guidance are as follows:
Tee Times and Access to the Course:
- Tee-times should be managed and booked in advance – there should be no turn up and play allowed.
- Daily timesheets and intervals are at the discretion of the golf club – the following groupings will be permitted during Phase 2:
-
Groups of up to four golfers with no restrictions on the number of households represented provided they adhere to the Government’s physical distancing rules.
- Competition play (club competitions only, no open play permitted) may resume in accordance with the updated guidelines and schedule 1 as attached to this document. Use of digital scorecards must be in accordance with Handicapping Regulations and full compliance is required to permit scores for qualifying purpose.
-
Travel restrictions were lifted on 3 July 2020.
The Golf House Club has issued the following guidance for members playing the course at Elie:
- Players should only arrive at the first tee ten minutes before their time and leave the course immediately after completion of their game;
- A queuing system will be in place for the first tee to ensure social distancing;
- Players must follow all social distancing rules whilst walking over and playing on the course;
- The course restrictions that were in place immediately pre lockdown will remain. Bunkers will not have rakes, course furniture will be covered up or removed and players must not touch the pin;
-
Members can now invite guests from outside of their own household; and
- The oncourse toilet facilities are now open. There are hand sanitisers fixed to both toilet doors and these MUST be used before touching the entry keypad or any part of the toilet door or handle to ensure infection control. We would also advise using them again on leaving the toilet facilities.
Tee booking: Times will only be bookable from 8am one week in advance.
Competitions Update (6 July 2020)
Whilst the Thistle have not yet resumed Club competitions, members are now able to enter the Closed Links and Dykes Cup competitions which are to be played on the 11 July and 15 August 2020 respectively. These are Golf House Club competitions which are open to members of both clubs. The Captain, Jim Barrowman has emailed members regarding entering these competitions which is done through contacting the starter.
The Thistle Committee is meeting on 11 July 2020 to discuss the timetable for resumption of Thistle club competitions.
COVID-19 Update (6 July 2020)
Scottish Golf has now published updated guidance for Phase 2 in the relaxtion of the COVID-19 lockdown measures by the Scottish Government.
Playing golf in Scotland following updated Phase 2 Guidance
The key changes to golf in Scotland under the updated Phase 2 Guidance are as follows:
Tee Times and Access to the Course:
- Tee-times should be managed and booked in advance – there should be no turn up and play allowed.
- Daily timesheets and intervals are at the discretion of the golf club – the following groupings will be permitted during Phase 2:
- Groups of up to three golfers with up to three households represented (subject to mixing with only two households in a day) provided they adhere to the Government’s physical distancing rules.
- At the discretion of the club four-ball groups consisting of a maximum of three households are permitted so long as they adhere to the Government’s physical distancing rules.
- Competition play (club only – no open events) may resume in accordance with the updated guidelines and schedule 1 as attached to the Phase 2 guidance document. Relaxation of the rules in relation to scoring (rule 3.3b) remain active in Scotland for Phase 2 only whilst clubhouse facilities remain closed.
- Groups of up to three golfers with up to three households represented (subject to mixing with only two households in a day) provided they adhere to the Government’s physical distancing rules.
From Friday, 3 July, travel restrictions are now lifted (with exception of Annan, Gretna, Dumfries, Langholm and Canonbie, where 5-mile guidance remains in place).
COVID-19 Update (29 May 2020)
Scottish Golf has now published detailed guidance for the resumption of golf on 29th May 2020, following a proposed first phase in the relaxtion of the COVID-19 lockdown measures by the Scottish Government.
Playing golf following extension to exercise in Scotland
The following groupings will be permitted to play Golf in Scotland:
- Two Balls – may be from two households whilst maintaining physical distancing; and
- Groups up to 4 four players permitted at the discretion of the golf club (ensuring that only two households are represented in the group).
Travel to the golf course from your home must be in line with Scottish Government guidelines – in Phase 1 local travel is noted as broadly 5 miles from home.
Scottish Golf would like to highlight that the Scottish Government continues to monitor its response to the COVID-19 outbreak closely and have not ruled out the re-introduction of restrictions which could see golf paused again if these guidelines are not being followed.
The Golf House Club has issued the following guidance for members for the reopening of the course at Elie:
- Players should only arrive at the first tee ten minutes before their time and leave the course immediately after completion of their game;
- A queuing system will be in place for the first tee to ensure social distancing;
- Players must follow all social distancing rules whilst walking over and playing on the course;
- The course will remain closed until 8:30am each day to allow the greenstaff the ability to complete most of their essential cutting work in safety and relative isolation;
- The clubhouse will remain closed (this also applies to the Thistle clubhouse);
- The course restrictions that were in place immediately pre lockdown will remain. Bunkers will not have rakes, course furniture will be covered up or removed and players must not touch the pin; and
- Toilet facilities will be closed.
Tee booking: With us only allowing members to play in the initial phase of lockdown release, there should be no need for booking weeks in advance. With that in mind, times will only be available to members and will only be bookable from 8am one week in advance as per July & August rules. This will also allow us to closely monitor tee time utilisation day by day over the first few days. If it becomes apparent that we don’t have enough capacity to accommodate all players wishing to book, then a limit will be put on the number of games a player can have in the week to ensure no one misses out.
View Scottish Golf's Guidance for the reopening of Phase 1.
J N Smith and James Braid Open Competition Cancelled (15 May 2020)
Due to the ongoing restrictions on playing golf as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic our Open Competition on 6 June 2020 has been cancelled. For those who have already paid their entry fee for the competition you have the option to carry forward your payment to next year's Open or to request a refund. If you require a refund, please email earlsferrythistle@outlook.com with your address and the amount.