The Golf Hotel History

The history of The Golf Hotel, Crail, is that it is reputed to be one of the oldest licensed inns in Scotland. The present building dates from the early 18th century but tradition states that there has been an inn on the same site from the early 14th century.

The present building is thought to have been built by Thomas Young in 1721, and a marriage lintel from this period with his initials, along with those of his wife, Isabella Martin, is built into the fireplace of the public bar.

The most significant event to take place within the walls of the Hotel was on the 23rd February 1786, when according to the original minutes, “several gentlemen in and about the Town of Crail, who were fond of the diversion of Golf, agreed to form themselves into a Society which should be known by the name of the Crail Golfing Society.” So was formed what is now the 7th oldest golf club in Scotland,
a founder member being Mr Daniel Conolly, the then landlord of the Hotel.

The history of the golf club and the Hotel go hand in hand for the next 86 years, the minutes recording such gems as "ample justice was done to Mother Duff's Punch" or "Dicksons own" - referring to good nights spent at the inn.

There would seem to have been some underhand dealings in 1836 when Robert Duff, who had inherited the property from his mother, sold it to his boss Alexander Abbot of Haldane & Abbot, Commission Agents, Dundee for £100. The following year Mr Abbot, described as of the late firm of Haldane & Abbot, sold out to Sir David Erskine of Cambo, Baronet, for £290. It would seem that Robert Duff not only sold his inheritance for much less than its market value, but lost his job in the process.

We do not know when the Hotel was first given the name "The Golf". It certainly had this name when sold in 1886 and may have had for many years previously. It is thought that at one time it was known as "The Thane of Fife".