The 2019 tour, otherwise known as 'Jono's year', will see us heading to the golfing Mecca of Fife in Scotland. We will be based in the seaside town of Elie (think Scottish equivalent of Rock), not far from St Andrews. We have at least three full days of golf organised, with an option to play an additional round on the Sunday. Some have also opted for 36 holes at St Andrews on the Wednesday and there's an optional morning round on the Thursday morning too.

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We have rented three houses in Elie, all within a few hundred yards of each other. The proximity to the sea means that we should be able to continue the tradition of a cold sea swim on the morning of the Masters.

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As mentioned above, there is golf at Leven Links for those who want it on the Thursday morning, but the customary 'international' match will take place on the Thursday afternoon at Lundin Links. Originally laid out by Old Tom Morris in 1868 and subsequently re-designed by James Braid in 1909, it has a bit of everything: burns, blind drives, out-of-bounds, a nimiety of bunkers (many of which are deep and punishing), the ever present wind and truly excellent greens. A challenging course, it is the venue for final qualifying for The Open when it is at St Andrews. Ranked 6th in Fife and 33rd in Scotland, it is also renowned for its clubhouse which was voted "Clubhouse of the Year" in 2007 (not sure by who, but hopefully not just the Lundin members).

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Friday's Brown Jackets Open will take place at The Golf House Club, Elie, the course where the great James Braid cut his golfing teeth. Golf at Elie can be officially dated back to 1589 when a royal charter was passed granting the villagers official permission to play over the ancient links, but in reality golf was probably played here much earlier, as a competitor to archery. The actual club was founded in 1832. The original course was stretched to 18 holes by Old Tom Morris in 1895 and, like Lundin, it was later revised by James Braid. Ranked 8th in Fife and 43rd in Scotland, it is an exciting but challenging course, with no par fives and only two par threes.

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The Brown Jacket Masters on the Saturday will take place on the Craighead links at Crail Golfing Society, the ninth oldest golf club in the world (it was formed on 1786). Ranked 13th in Fife and 63rd in Scotland, this course was only designed in the mid-1990s, but it is nonetheless regarded as a very good interpretation of a traditional Scottish links, with bunkers similar in quality to Muirfield and very true and fast contoured greens constructed to USGA standards. A genuine, modern day golfing gem (and now ranked higher than its sister course the Balcomie links).

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There is an optional round on the Sunday on the Balcomie links at Crail Golfing Society. Ranked 15th in Fife and 74th in Scotland, it is laid out on a narrow promontory, often blasted by North Sea gales. Originally laid out by a local farmer, it was redesigned by Old Tom Morris in 1894 and extended to 18 holes four years later. By no means a championship course (it measures only 5,922 yards), the ever present wind nonetheless makes it a true challenge with a great deal of variety.

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Travel will be by air or train to Edinburgh, although people are of course welcome to drive. Most people seem to be arriving on Thursday morning in time for golf at Lundin on Thursday afternoon, although a few of the keener amongst us are kicking things off on the Tuesday evening.

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Tuesday night will be spent at The Ship Inn at Elie, but from Wednesday we will be in rented accommodation very close to Earlsferry beach in Elie.

 

The tour itinerary is as follows:

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Tuesday 17 September

• Saunders, Sam, Bazza and Koster arrive in the evening

• Stay at The Ship Inn in Elie

 

Wednesday 18 September

• Golf at St Andrews for Saunders, Sam, Bazza and Koster - 36 holes over the Jubilee and New

• Head back to Elie and check in to rented accommodation

• New arrivals Jono and Andy to be clapped in

• Dinner at The Dory Bistro in Pittenween, Anstruther

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Thursday 19 September

• 9.00am tee time at Leven Links for Saunders, Sam, Bazz, Koster, Jono and Andy

• New arrivals to be clapped in at lunchtime: Billy, Lemon, DB, Alex, Ricardo and Gilo 

• 'International' match at Lundin Links - tee booked from 1.30pm

• Head back to Elie

• Dinner at The 19th Hole in Elie

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Friday 20 September

• New arrivals to be clapped in: Vix, Chloe, Kezza and El Mel

• Open at The Golf House Club, Elie - tee booked from 1.00pm

• Walk back to accommodation

• Dinner at The Dreel Tavern in Anstruther, followed by the draw and auction

 

Saturday 21 September

• Drive to Crail GC

• Masters at Crail, Craighead Links - tee booked from 11.20am

• Post-Masters shenanigans, then head back to Elie

• Dinner at The Ship Inn in Elie

 

Sunday 22 September​

• Golf for those who want it at Crail, Balcomie Links - tee booked from 10.50am. Current takers Saunders, Sam, Bazza, Andy, Kezza, Koster bin Koster and, possibly, Alex

• Head home

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All transport has been booked - you will be notified of pick-up details, etc. via the WhatsApp group nearer the time.