The Recreation Park and Sports Club
One of consequences of the development of railway travel in the latter half of the 19th century was the ability of those living in conurbations to reach seaside resorts and open air activities which became much sought after. Village resorts, especially in Fife and those adjacent to the beach, competed with each other to provide facilities to attract more visitors to their area. Visitors meant economic benefits to the businesses which operated in that area. The explosion of rail travel meant that hitherto difficult journeys by road had become substantially easier by rail. A full day out at the seaside and return to home became possible. Certainly from Glasgow and the west the journey time by train was substantially reduced. The Forth Bridge opening (March 1890) anticipated that the whole of Fife would be much more accessible to the day tripper from east and west and also to second home owners and for lengthy residential holidays. Local authorities (mostly town councils) began to realise that the provision of facilities for visitors encouraged the economic welfare of their village. Of course golf courses and beaches were attractive to these visitors but often they expected more. Golf after all was still a preserve of the wealthy and beach bathing in inclement weather was not everyone’s cup of tea. It seems that towards the end of the 1880s (the bridge was started in 1882) pressure was being applied to town councils by their constituents to provide some extra form of recreation facilities not only to attract visitors to their area but also to provide the local residents with recreation and welfare facilities.
In the East Neuk between 1886 and 1900 many villages created recreation parks for visitors and residents alike – Anstruther, St. Andrews, Methil, Kilrenny, Auchtermuchty, to name but a few involved themselves in creating these recreation parks. The method would usually have been a petition by ratepayers to their local council asking them to promote such a venture in the interests of the constituents if the council itself had not taken the initiative. And so it was that in Elie in 1888 a few public meetings were held to promote such a venture in the village.
“The public meeting of the inhabitants of Elie and Earlsferry was held in Elie public school on Saturday afternoon (12th July 1889) to consider the advisability of procuring a public park for the district. Between 20 and 30 gentlemen were present. Mr Ketchen was called to the chair. ………..continuing the chairman said it was not needful to see much to prove the desirability and even the necessity of a public park for Elie district. He looked at places that fell under the category of “watering places” they would see that those in charge generally recognised the duty and necessity of providing as many attractions as possible to those who visited their shores and neighbourhood. Elie and Earlsferry for some years past fortunately for the inhabitants have become very favourite watering places and they had reached that point in their history when it became a question of the greatest moment whether they would keep the little prestige they had at the moment enjoyed or whether they would allow others to take away their prosperity providing greater attractions.
He did not pretend to say that a public park was an absolute requirement on the score of health but there were other reasons than health to be taken into consideration. The powers that be here have decreed that Elie and Earlsferry are not to become manufacturing places* and they were therefore obliged to make them more and more attractive as summer resorts. They all knew that these places must have considerable natural advantages in the shape of beauty and of situation or they would never have gentlemen from a distance coming there and becoming proprietors and tenants of houses. It required then very little to be said to show that Elie and Earlsferry very must be provided with a recreation park and he hoped to be able to show them how much could be obtained without incurring much expense. They all knew that the Kingdom of Fife had almost been in a state of painful isolation from the outer world on account of its railway system but they were looking forward to reaping considerable benefit from the completion of the Forth Bridge and he wished to impress upon those who had business in Elie and Earlsferry that whilst it was equally true that they should be so much nearer Edinburgh and Glasgow the other large centres of population by the Forth Bridge it was equally true that the railways would run to other places having very much the same natural advantages which they were possessed. It therefore became imperative that they should try and increase the attractions of Elie and Earlsferry so that they would retain their prosperity as a summer resort. For a considerable number of years now a few of them had been endeavouring to discover how and where they could get a public park.
Various steps were taken but unfortunately ours fell through. Within the last month or two Mr Robertson of Wadeslea had been approached and was quite willing to give a portion of the West Kirk Park between the Melon park and Park Place. They would have a space of 22 acres. Mr Robertson has secured a lease (from Baird his then Landlord) of the park as part of his farm and he was willing to give the southern portion** of the park for £25 a year for a period of five years or longer if circumstances would permit. These circumstances are that provided he again becomes the tenant at the end of that period then he would be willing to continue the agreement. At the last meeting of Elie Police Commissioners on Monday as they would have seen from the record a large, signed petition from the inhabitants was submitted complaining of the annoyance caused by the shows on shooting gallery’s*** in the High Street and asking that they should be removed on the ground that they were dangerous to the public and interfere with the quiet that was really needed to in the early hours of the night for children and invalids. If they had a park these shows and shooting galleries would be removed from the streets. Even supposing they had not these grounds of complaint he thought the inhabitants were quite entitled to insist upon a recreation park.
He also thought the police commissioners of Elie and Town Council of Earlsferry should take advantage of the powers they had under the act of parliament and to take up this question. He then asked for expressions of opinions from those present. In reply to Mr Glover (he lived in Earlsferry House) the chairman said that the act of parliament gave the police commissioners the power to provide a recreation park by assessment and he believed that the laying on a penny per pound on rental [i.e. rates] would raise all that was needed. If Earlsferry joined with them the share of Elie will be something like £20. ………………….Mr Currie**** moved and Mr Morrow seconded the first resolution as follows “that this meeting is of the opinion that a public recreation park should be secured and pledges itself through all its power to procure such streets. Mr Glover proposed seconded by Mr. Thompson the following: that this meeting considers the southern portion of the West Kirk Park between the Melon Park and Park Place would afford a suitable site for a public park. The resolution was also unanimously agreed to as was the following “that this meeting recommends that a petition be lodged with the Elie police commissioners and the town council of Earlsferry to provide funds out of the rates or common good. …..Various members were then appointed to a committee.
*“manufacturing places” – this is a reference to a recent proposal to build a paper mill at the Toft to make use of the water from the loch run – by this time the flax mill had fallen into disuse. The application was refused by the town council stating that it did not want industry in the area.
** “southern portion” – this was roughly a line from the current track from park place in a straight line to Elie Golf Course see below
*** “shooting galleries” – these had long been an irritation to the residents of Elie whose sleep was disturbed by rowdy behaviour associated with such travelling fairs. The shooting galleries’ successor, the penny arcade and side shows, were later accommodated on ground of the recreation park adjacent to the school during the summer holiday season.
**** Mr. Currie was one of the Currie family who were the main builders of the large houses in Elie after the arrival of the railway line. They had premises in South Street.
And so the petition with the 124 signatures was presented to the police commissioners in Elie (the forerunner of the Town council).
They met and…..
FOR ELIE. THE PROPOSED RECREATION PARK DEPUTATION TO COMMISSIONERS. A special meeting of the Elie Police Commissioners was held on Monday evening, to receive a deputation in support of the requisition by ratepayers in favour of the acquiring of the southern portion of the East Kirk Park as a recreation park. All the Commissioners were present. Mr Ferguson stated that he, as interim convener of the Committee appointed by the ratepayers at the recent public meeting, had to produce a requisition signed by 124 of the ratepayers which he understood represented a large majority both as regards the number of the ratepayers and the value of properties within the burgh. In addition to asking Mr Ketchen (the Clerk to the commissioners) to read the requisition with signatures attached he did not think it would be needful for him to say much in support of the requisition, he had for a good many years been in the habit of coming with his family to Elie as a watering place, and as most of them knew he recently became a proprietor within their burgh. He had been induced to purchase on account of the introduction of the water and the attractions of the place in the shape of a golfing course and the fine beach. As regards the golfing course he believed its recent extension (this would have been the addition of the Melon Park and the increase to 14 holes) would induce others to seek summer residences in their midst as it had done him, ……….As regards the proposed recreation park he was quite certain it was just what was wanted to meet the requirements of the place. As everyone knew who frequented the golfing course there was really no provision made for ladies and younger people, and unless such were provided it was quite clear that parties having families would go where such accommodation could be had, and judging from what had been done in the past he could not imagine that the authorities, in the face of the requisition which had been read to them supported, as it was by so many of the ratepayers, could not be attended to and carried out. Mr Blues said as a ratepayer and proprietor in Elie he confirmed every word that Mr Ferguson had uttered, and most strenuously urged upon the Commissioners to do all in their power to make Elie one of the finest watering places not only in Fife but in Scotland.
Mr Morris (the local Baker)as long connected in trade both in Earlsferry and Elie said he could assure the Commissioners that it was of the greatest moment to the place that all should be done that possibly needed to be, not merely to keep up the credit of Elie and Earlsferry as attractive watering places, but if possible to induce visitors to come to their shores in increased numbers, as not only the prosperity but almost the existence of the place depended on them doing that. Mr Dower confirmed Mr Morris’ statements. Mr Leitch (the convenor of the Police Commissioners) said it gave him the greatest pleasure to receive the deputation, and thanked them for the interest they were taking in the place, and he hoped the Commission would be unanimous in granting the prayer of the requisition. He thought the Commission should now express their views as to how they felt in regard to the matter. Captain Smith was not inclined to have anything to do with the matter. Mr Moon considered that the desire of the ratepayers should be carried out, while Mr Morgan and Captain Bonner, declined to give any expression of opinion in presence of the deputation. Mr Leitch again expressed his approval of the scheme, and thanked the deputation for their attendance, who then retired. Ultimately the meeting unanimously resolved that a special meeting be held on Monday to consider and dispose of the matter.
Such optimism turned out to be seriously misplaced. Because on the following Monday night:
The Proposed Recreation Park. —At special meeting of Elie Police Commission on Monday night to consider the desirableness of providing ground for a recreation park, asked by requisition signed by 124 ratepayers, Provost Leitch moved that the requisition be complied with, and urged the necessity of increasing the attractions of the locality for summer visitors. Mr Morgan proposed that the requisition be not complied with, and said the park would only result in an increase in the rates. Mr Ketchen (the clerk) pointed out that the requisitionists asked that the assessment for the public park should not exceed 1d per £1, so that it was not the case that there would be an increase in the rates above that. The amendment was carried by four to two.
In effect this scuppered the involvement of the local authority in the scheme.
However nothing daunted the 124 ratepayers took matters into their own hands, leased the ground and set about organising the Recreation Park for the benefit of the villagers and visitors.
RECREATION PARK FOR ELIE.—We are glad to say that the laudable efforts being made to get a recreation park for Elie and Earlsferry are likely to be crowned with success. The public meeting held on Saturday afternoon, (August 1889) although not largely attended was unanimous in demanding that the park should be secured as early as possible. Mr Ketchen, who has done so much for the district in the past, was called to the chair, and in a short but pithy speech, pointed out the necessity of increasing the attractions of Elie and Earlsferry when so many other places were doing their utmost to attract summer visitors. This is the principal trade of Elie and Earlsferry, and in order to keep it up everything possible must be done by the inhabitants to sustain the popularity of the towns. A good deal has been done in the past in this direction, but something more remains, and until a public park is provided, and a larger Hall is erected, the work will not be completed.
Fortunately Mr Ketchen went to the meeting fully prepared with the necessary particulars as to the park to be obtained. Everyone will admit that the agreement which Mr Robertson of Wadeslea is willing to enter into, to give 22 acres of the West Kirk Park for £25 annually, is a very moderate one, and inasmuch that the park is in every way suitable and convenient for the purpose asked there should be no hesitation in coming to a definite decision at once. The Elie Police Commission and Earlsferry Town Council will be consulting the interests of their constituents in helping to pay the rent out of the public funds. In no case can the tax exceed a penny per £ of rental for recreation purposes, and in this case it is not likely that that figure will be required. A good part of the yearly rent will be drawn from the Ladies’ Golf Course and other sources, and in these circumstances the ratepayers cannot grudge the small sum to be taken from the common good. The Committee, under the convenorship of Mr Gorman, who have been appointed to make the necessary arrangements to secure the Park should be heartily supported by everyone interested in the prosperity of the locality. We fully anticipate that a public park will soon be among the number of the many attractions which Elie and Earlsferry possess.
Things moved at a breathtaking speed hence this advertisement merely two days later from the above meeting in 1889
And the report the following Friday thus: “Elie Recreation Park. This park was opened yesterday by a ladies golf tournament being played. There was a large attendance of visitors and inhabitants at the park. The ladies golf course has nine holes and eleven couple started playing two rounds. Sir Henry Morland of Bombay , who agreed to present the prizes, congratulated the visitors and inhabitants on securing the recreation park which had been opened so auspiciously that day. Although the police commissioners had rejected it, Scottish Enterprise and perseverance had come forward and obtained the park.”
The fact that a tournament could have been organised is such a short time suggests to us that actually there already was a rudimentary golfing area because it seemed most unlikely even with the primitive golf courses that then existed a suitable course could have been created in such a short time. Of course the committee may well have anticipated the decision of the police commissioners and started the ball rolling before the anticipated rejection. This is compounded by the fact that the initial lease of the property was only the southern section and one wonders whether there was room in that area for 9 holes (even if it was only the ladies who were playing!). However it was up and running and became very popular for various activities.
One of the early uses was the Elie Annual Sports – this became an institution and held each year. It seemed to be a most popular event hence this report in 1899.
Hardly surprising then that works outings were arranged thus:
Keillor was a major employer in Dundee producing jams and marmalade which became and still are world famous.
And this in 1892
1893
ELIE ANNUAL GAMES. The annual athletic gathering took place in the Recreation Park, Elie. yesterday. in presence of a large attendance of spectators. The weather was highly favourable, and the sports proved a great success. The programme included 23 events, all of which were keenly contested. A special attraction was provided in the band of the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons, who played several excellent selections, all of which were much appreciated. Several well-known athletes were present, and the open events were keenly tested. Brodie, Anstruther. was a good first in the 100 yards, while Andersen, Jedburgh, after a good race in the quarter-mile, won the red flag. A ladies bicycle race was also run, but only two entrants started. Egg and spoon race and obstacle race also provided some amusement.
The competitions for driving the golf ball were strongly contested, nearly a score of pros, and amateurs entering. A wheelbarrow-potato race also afforded great laughter, Pringle, Edinburgh, being the first to arrive with his small load. Much disappointment was expressed at their being no appearance of ” lady cyclists, for whom two handsome prizes had been provided. A race for the bandsmen was substituted, and a capital event it proved, the whole of the military going off at a fine sprint for ten prizes. The trotting races for ponies and horses were well contested, four starting in the former and six in the latter competitions. The horsemanship of the Masters Braid in both events was quite a feature, and they deservedly got a place in both events. Nearly £55 were drawn at the “gate,” representing an attendance of nearly 3000. The judges of the various events were Colonel Outhwaite and Mr John Foggo, Mr J. Scott Davidson acting as starter.
1896 ELIE AND EARLSFEURY ATHLETIC SPORTS. Charming weather the Elie and Earlsferry Athletic Sports were held yesterday the Recreation Ground, Elie, in presence of between 2000 and 3000 visitors. The gathering, which proved a most successful one, was under the patronage of Sir Ralph Anstruther, Bart, of Balcaskie; Sir John Gilmour, Bart, of Montrave; Mr Wm. Baird of Elie ; Mr J. Scott Davidson of Cairnie ; Mr W. R. Ketchen, Largo; and Mr David Adams, Muircambus. The entries were good all over, and some capital sport was witnessed. C. Thomas, Lasswade, was outstanding winner in the flat races. In the mile race he started scratch, and though he lost some distance by falling towards the close he finished in grand style a yard or so in front of T. Graham, Cowdenbeath. The consolation sprint of 100 yards, which was won J. McEwen. Glasgow was the keenest contested race of the day. P. Scott, Muircambus, Colinsburgh, was the first for putting the stone and throwing the hammer, his distance in the latter being 86 feet 7 inches, and feet 2 inches further than the second prizeman. In the golf-driving competition A. H. Scott, Earlsferry, was first with distance of 236 yards, while in the amateurs’, Mr H. Zambre, a visitor from London, won with, only three yards less. The pony trot was a bit of a farce. Only three entered, and the “material” two of the competitors had to handle was, as a country gentleman remarked, “a disgrace to the county.” Master Oswald Braid, though his pony was somewhat ‘”dour” to start, got first past the post. The donkey race was provocative of much mirth. About dozen “cuddies” were requisitioned from one of the shore people, and riders, being plentiful, start was soon made. Some went forward, others turned back, others went across the field, and so on, but with the kindly assistance of the Mars boys, who are at present on holiday at Elie, and who were accommodated with space inside the enclosure, the stubborn brutes were eventually pushed into the course. All the donkeys got home in a bunch, but the prize was awarded Richard Christie, Elie. During the afternoon the pipe and brass bands the 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders, who were engaged fee of £25, and the brass of the Mars Training Ship, provided grand musical treat. The revenue from the gate amounted to over £60. In addition to the music the committee might another year introduce variety into the proceedings by engaging a troupe of acrobats, dancers, or some other form of exhibition entertainment.
Principally the recreation ground in its early days was used as a ladies golf course and much is owed to Lord Anstruther who opined in 1881 after the opening of the Golf House club that provision was needed for the ladies to play golf. Such that the Recreation park become known as “The Ladies Course” for many years and even today despite sundry name changes.
In 1892 
By 1903 bowling had their own patch too. 
The area was still regulated and operated by the Recreation Park Committee independent of the town councils of Elie and Earlsferry although Earlsferry agreed to make a contribution to the various sports events held there. It certainly had served its purpose by bringing more people into the villages. The committee decided that there should be a more permanent facility to cater for the various users of the park. In 1911 Glasgow staged the Scottish Exhibition of National History, Art and Industry. The venue was Kelvingrove Park. There were a number of pavilions built for this exhibition and sold off at its conclusion. in 1911 Mr Cook and Mr Garland (two very well-known Elie names) visited the exhibition and arranged to purchase the shell of one of the buildings and transport it to Elie to be erected as a “pavilion” for the users of the park. It was then and subsequently turned out to be an inspirational idea but it was not initially without its pitfalls. In 1913 this article appeared.
ACTION AGAINST ELIE RECREATION COMMITTEE. The record was closed in Cupar Sheriff Court yesterday in an action at the instance of John F. Glass, wood merchant, Glasgow, against the Elie Recreation Park Committee for the sum of £30 3s 4d. It is set forth in the condescendence that the pursuer deals largely second-hand building materials. In 1911 he purchased for removal from the sites then covered by them many of the buildings which formed part of the Glasgow Exhibition of 1911. The defenders entered into negotiations with the pursuer for the purchase of part of these building materials to be used in the erection of pavilion at Ladies’ Golf Clubhouse at Elie. Mr Alex. M. Cook, solicitor, Elie, secretary of the Company, went to Glasgow in December 1911, and agreed to purchase from the pursuer windows and other materials. The pursuer in due course delivered to the committee the windows and other building materials. The defenders contended that the material was not delivered within the stipulated time agreed upon, and the material ultimately delivered did not include the sills, transoms, lintels, and standards of the windows of the Grosvenor Restaurant.
It seems however that good sense prevailed and the action was settled without much pomp and ceremony. So in 1913 the Pavilion was first used and became an Elie institution which is still going. Many alterations and additions over the years but essentially the same structure and material as in its original state.
However the park was not confined to sports and athletics. There was cricket played we suspect on the area of ground between the Park Place entrance and the current driving range. One less successful venture was an archery range proposed by Mr Cook and more recently a boules pitch which did not seem to catch on.
By 1909 it was so successful that 
The committee sought the advice of James Braid who was in Earlsferry visiting his mother who was seriously ill at the time. His recommendation was “Mr Braid stated that the ground available for the extension will not permit an increase In the number of holes, but by a rearrangement of the course, with longer distances between the greens, there would be the advantage of more players being able be on the course at the same time. Meanwhile the Committee await the proposed new plan. The new course is expected to about 3000 yards.” These plans were implemented and it is substantially the same lay out as at current.
It would not have been the same without football.
And in 1922 the putting green was extended
But not only was golf, tennis and bowling featured in the use of the park but this in 1928 
In May 1928 there was also a proposal to relieve the congestion of the main 18 hole course so another golf course could be established. It did not come to fruition.
The Recreation park was operated successfully for a number of years and often the Ladies course were harbingers of changes because in 1958 the Golf House Club had decided to continue the ban on playing golf on a Sunday but the Recreation park (now sports club) went in a different direction allowing play on the sabbath. It did not take long for Golf House Club to review that decision. But again it was not without its hiccups e.g.in 1943
During the second world war the recreation park doubled as a parachute training area for the polish parachute brigade stationed in the East Neuk which included a fuselage of a redundant Whitney bomber for practice purposes although the local children probably had better fun. Part of the course was ploughed up for vegetable planting and even part of it had been “corrugated” by plough to make it unsuitable for landing the airborne gliders of potential invaders.
However in 1962 the financial position of the recreation park/ladies course/sports club was not healthy and the committee solicited assistance from the Golf House club. So in 1962 the Golf House Club took over
Whilst this may have brought about some financial stability there were problems in relation to amalgamation. In order to upgrade the tennis courts and generally improve the facilities which the funds of the recreation park could not maintain it became necessary to borrow money from certain sporting bodies. The application came from the Golf House Club now that the two bodies were amalgamated but met an insurmountable (in these days anyway) obstacle that the membership of the GHC was not inclusive – lady members not being permitted.
Thus in order to be able to upgrade the facilities on borrowed money the amalgamation of the two clubs had to be unpicked – at least ex facie. In fact the management of the Sports club became very much an adjunct of the Golf House Club with the Captain of the latter chairing the committee. Another rough passage prevailed when the committee (no doubt under the Golf House Club’s initiative) decided to change the nine hole ladies course into a par 3 18 holes. At this time the attraction of a short course seems to have been in the public perception. Accordingly the whole area was redesigned to produce 18 holes par 3. This however totally destroyed the traditional ethos of the Ladies Course because it was a prime area for young families and small children to get their first taste of the game without intruding into a conventional golf course.
A few years later the par three idea was abandoned and the course reverted to very much what it was in the 1900s. Since then the nature of the institution of the sports club has in many respects blossomed. It became and still is a focal point for youngsters on holiday in Elie to congregate, sip their coca colas, plough money into a juke box and shoot the breeze if not a golf ball. Parents of young children anxious to be their chaperones could sip their lattes and watch as their offspring made their first tentative steps towards Wimbledon or the GHC. A driving range was added and reassembled in a different location, golf teaching facilities were up graded, and paddle tennis courts are in the course of construction. Meantime the bowling club goes from strength to strength with probably one of the finest greens in Fife meticulously cared for the by golf house club green keepers.
The originators of the Recreation Park would reflect now that it was worth the gamble of going it alone and one suspects that the relative town councils looked on enviously at the institution wishing they could administer it. Actually it is just as well the councils did not have control since now administration would have been in the hands of Fife Council and the autonomy of the Recreation Park would have been seriously compromised.
Graham Johnston ii/mmxxiv: