If you’re not altogether confident with the driver then put it away when you take on the 2nd hole at Lundin Ladies – you don’t want to damage an ancient monument.
If the club, one of Scotland’s oldest single-sex courses, and its 2,365-yard 9-hole course weren’t intriguing enough, then the unusual obstruction you will find as your round really starts to get into gear certainly will be.
For in the fairway, not too far from the tee, lie three enormous and ancient stone monoliths. They have been there a bit longer than the club, which was officially opened in 1891, and probably date back to the Bronze Age.
Reaching about five metres into the air, they are made of red sandstone and are described as the Standing Stanes.
But the the jury is out on what their purpose was.
Were they a burial ground, a ceremonial spot for druids, or the remnants of a shelter? Who can be sure?
What we do know, though, is that they date between 2000 and 1500BC and that there was probably a fourth stone at one point in time.
Lundin Ladies’ course is rather more modern in comparison. It was built around the Stanes by James Braid, the five-time Open champion, and the ladies moved to what is known as Standing Stanes Park in 1910.
Even that sounds incredible to a modern audience. Can you imagine them building a golf course around Stonehenge?
As for the club itself, while only ladies can be members of the club, men can play the course and can also purchase a season ticket.
If the only question on your mind was whether you can get a free drop if you are impeded by the stones, then where is your sense of history?
But, no, you don’t. In a local rule, they’re considered an integral part of the course and no relief is given. Harsh? Perhaps but you’d better steer well clear.
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