Earlsferry Thistle Golf Club instituted 1875.                           "Small Club Big History"

Earlsferry Thistle Golf Club

A warm welcome to the Earlsferry Thistle Golf Club. We are a small club with a great and proud history. Two Open Champions were former members of the club, Jack Simpson who won the Open in 1884 and James Braid a five times winner of the Open.  We have been playing as a Club on the Elie Links in the scenic East Neuk of Fife since 1875. Neuk is the Scottish word for corner and here in this part of Fife we enjoy all year round golf on the Links. Closure of the course is a rarity, mats are unheard of and the playing on temporary greens is hardly ever. The setting of the course is by the sea and golfers on it enjoys panoramic views over the Firth of Forth and beyond.  The design of the course at Elie was influenced by none other than Old Tom Morris.

We have a legal agreement with Elie Golf House Club and pay a green fee to enjoy playing rights on the links. We have an all year round fixture list of competitions and play inter club matches. We are limited to a maximum of 70 male members and the Earlsferry Thistle Ladies Club who also use our Clubhouse are limited to 30 lady members.

At the Thistle we enjoy our golf and welcome all fellow golfers to play in our Open that is held in June each year. We currently have our compliment of 75 full members however our waiting list has has now reopened.  Further information is available on our Membership Page. The Thistle Ladies Club also welcome new members. 

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Due to huge demand, booking for the J N Smith and James Braid Open

(Saturday 14 June 2025) has now closed. The waiting list has also now closed.

Latest News

25 February 2025

Celebrating our 150th Anniversary

(An anniversary we share with the Golf House Club Elie who own and maintain the links at Elie)

New photograph of prominent Thistle golfer Douglas Rolland taken circa 1881-1883.  Photograph courtesy of Peter Boswell who runs a company which has digitised 100 years of Golf Monthly from the first edition in 1911.  The photograph was passed to our Club courtesy of Iain Crawford who is aiming to have a book on Douglas Rolland published later this year.

The photograph shows an array of medals won by the bold and handsome Duggie including our Burgh Medal, which is still played for and, the now missing Edinburgh Medal.  He was a formidable golfer who was runner up twice in the Open Championship in 1884 and 1894 (see further details of his career in our History section).

10 February 2025

Download the Dinner Menu for the Thistle Dinner on Saturday 15 March 2025

6 February 2025

Glenmuir 150th Anniversary Order for Members

Link to the Glenmuir 2025 Catalogue

Link to the Sunderland 2025 Catalogue

Link to Thistle Logos/Crests

1 April 2024

See Latest Updates below to WHS Guidance including New Handicap Index Tables for Elie.

World Handicapping System Guidance Links

View World Handicapping System Mens White Course Handicap Table for Elie 2024.

View World Handicapping System Mens Yellow Course Handicap Table for Elie 2024.

View World Handicapping System Mens Red Course Handicap Table for Elie 2024.

View World Handicapping System Player Reference Guide 2024

View WHS Rules of Handicapping 2024

View CONGU Guidance on WHS Rules 2024

View the Rules of Golf - Effective January 2023

Download the Rules of Golf - January 2023

View Elie Golf Course Video

(Courtesy of John Bowers)