Scotland is a land of hidden gems – and for golfers Kilspindie Golf Club is one of the finest, lying hidden among the nature reserve of Aberlady Bay, the quaint village of Aberlady, and the teeming waters of the Firth of Forth.

Playing these traditional Scottish links, you may witness sea-birds diving for food, migratory geese, and seals sunning on the sand. In the distance, you can see the profile of Edinburgh, its Castle, and the long extinct volcanic cone of Arthur’s Seat. The course is secreted away from the village via a few hundred yards of private, single-track road.

Golf has been played over this piece of links land prior to 1850 but it was not until 26 November 1898 that the links was officially opened by Luffness Golf Club which was re-named Kilspindie Golf Club in 1899.

The links were designed by Willie Park Jr. and Ben Sayers, with minor modifications over the years. The first hole, a par 3, is due north, followed by three holes directly into the prevailing wind. The 2nd hole is the only par 5, but it can play more like a par 6 or 7. Imagine what it must have been like with hickories.

How many courses can boast of a “magazine” and a “target” on their course? These small buildings were exactly that up to the end of the First World War when the local territorial army unit used the course as well as the golf club – in those days, golfers had to deal with hazards other than bunkers and the rough.