In an historic first for golf’s seventh oldest club, Crail Golfing Society members unanimously elected Pam Smith as their first female captain at the club’s annual general meeting on Monday (5/12/16).

Crail Golfing Society, located just a short distance from the Home of Golf at St. Andrews, has broken with 230 years of tradition and in a decision believed ensures the club is the oldest golf club in existence to make such an appointment.

And Pam brings to the position a wealth of experience working within Scottish golf having spent many years promoting the ancient club-and-ball game at various Open Championship’s, Ryder Cup’s and European Tour events for Event Scotland.

Crail Golfing Society creates history with the appointment of a first female captain in Pam Smith.

“I’m delighted and really honoured to have been chosen by the Crail members to be their captain,” said Pam.   “The Society has been very successful in attracting members and visitors for many years, so we have solid foundations for continued success.”

Pam had never played golf before joining Crail in 2002, but she has succeeded in winning many competitions in her 15 years of membership. She served as Ladies Captain in 2008 and on the management committee for eight years.   For the past year she has been the Society’s Vice Captain.

Outgoing Captain David Maiden commented, “Pam has both the experience of the club and the personality to be a great captain and I’m sure the Society will continue to move forward under her leadership.”

Originally from Yorkshire, Pam moved to Scotland in 1973.   She started her working life as a PE teacher, but in a varied career, she ran her own self catering business for 16 years and worked with VisitScotland for 12 years, including on the exhibition stand at Opens and Ryder Cups.

She has served as President of Dundee and Tayside Chamber of Commerce and on the board of the High School of Dundee.   Now retired, Pam has two grown up children and 4 grandsons.

“I started playing golf because I wanted to meet people at Crail and have an enjoyable, healthy activity,” said Pam.  “We have such a wide variety of members at the club, with many from overseas, and that makes it such a good place to play.   This has developed a real passion in me for the Society and the enjoyment of the game.”

And proved a double celebration for Pam, for as well as being elected captain, it was her birthday.

Crail boasts two courses:  Balcomie Links, which was laid out by Old Tom Morris in 1895, and Craighead Links, which was designed by renowned Gil Hanse in 1998 and who designed Castle Stuart and the Rio Olmpic Games venue.