If you say the words ‘golf’ and ‘Fife’ it is likely you immediately think of St Andrews. The Home of Golf is a wonderful place to spend time and play golf, but just a few miles to the south you will find some of the most authentic and pleasurable links golf anywhere in the world.
The south coast of Fife is blessed with some wonderful courses and, beyond the golf courses, is a really pretty, and interesting place to visit. You can take time away from the links on spectacular coastal walks to picture postcard villages where you can enjoy fresh fish pulled straight from the harbour or a quiet pint overlooking the Firth of Forth.
WHERE TO PLAY
Crail Golfing Society - Balcomie Links (click for full review)
At the very south-easternmost point of Fife you will find the Crail Golfing Society. It is home to two courses - the Balcomie Links, dating back to the late 19th century and the modern Craighead course. Like oh-so-many courses in this part of the world, Old Tom Morris takes credit for designing Balcomie.
This is holiday golf, perfect for golfers of all skill levels and generations. The land is pretty open and there isn’t much rough to talk of at Crail. But that’s not to say it’s without its challenges.
It’s right on the coast and, while this is a dry part of Scotland, you should certainly expect some wind. This means you will get to craft and create some pretty unusual shots, which all adds to the fun! Also, while it’s pretty wide off the tee, the greens are mischievous in places. Humps, hollows and even a double green all feature.
A great fun course and, like every course in these parts, has some fantastic views to enjoy too.
The 5th hole at Crail is called ‘hell’. How much of the corner can you cut off?
Dumbarnie Links
Dumbarnie is the newest addition to Fife’s links, opening in May 2020. It may be new, but it has received huge acclaim in its short life. The course was designed by ex-BBC commentator and European Tour player Clive Clark and he has built a course which allows players of all abilities to open their shoulders and have some fun.
Many tees are elevated, the fairways are usually wide and the rough not too punishing. Add to that a clutch of driveable par 4s and par 3s that don’t ask you to hit anything too long and you have a recipe for success.
The routing means that you will get plenty of lovely views of the Forth and over to East Lothian. I don’t think I’ve played many courses which have had me reaching for my camera so frequently.
The whole course, from tee to green, is in great condition. It’s an expensive tee time for sure, but . a visit here will be a really special experience and you will remember for a long time.
Fantastic bunkering and great conditioning are assured at Dumbarnie Links
Lundin Golf Club
In 1860 Old Tom Morris laid out a links course along the land between Leven and Lundin Links. Clubhouses were situated at each end and players from the two clubs teed off at either end of this shared links.
As time went on, and golf flourished, the logistics of sharing the course became too difficult to manage and they built a wall down the middle of the course. Each club took 9 holes and James Braid was employed to add 9 inland holes to create the course we know as Lundin today.
Those original holes are some of the very best in the whole of Scotland and, while the inland holes don’t quite manage to maintain the high standards, the views from the plateau are wonderful.
The early holes at Lundin are amongst the very best in Scotland
Elie
If you like old school links golf - where guile and skill rather than brute force are the order of day - then you will love Elie. The course is a par 70 - 6,273 yards from the back tees - and just over 6,000 from the yellows. The ground is largely classic, fast-running links.
It’s fairly wide from the tees, and while there are definitely lines to take to hit the speed pockets that will get you close to the pins, you can usually hit with confidence from wherever you are.
The real highlights come on the stretch of holes along the water which will give you some of the most breath-taking views in the land.
Elie is a really fun course with plenty of quirk, and some great views
Kingsbarns
Over the last 25 years several new courses have been built in Scotland, but none have bettered Kingsbarns. Tom Doak describes this as one of the best routings and shapings he has ever seen and that’s high praise indeed. Kyle Philips took a piece of dull farmland and transformed it to one of the most imaginative courses built for many years.
Kingsbarns is unashamedly built for fun. The course is created from sculpted dunes on two plateaus which means the views are tremendous - you can see the water from virtually every hole.
There are some breath taking moments like the stunning par five 12th hole on the cliff edge and the par 3 15th over the water. But the course doesn’t just rely on one or two highpoints - the quality is relentless pretty much all the way through.
As you would expect for one of the most expensive tee times in Scotland the conditioning is always excellent, but for a real treat you can’t do much better than a round at Kingsbarns.
The 12th at Kingsbarns is one of the iconic holes in Scottish golf
WHERE TO STAY AND THINGS TO DO
Your only half an hour from St Andrews to most of these courses so many will choose to stay in the Auld Grey Toon. However, for those wanting to stay even closer, there are are some great little fishing villages and towns with good restaurants and pubs to enjoy and you are never far from a wonderful golf courses.
Crail has The Golf Hotel and Balcomie Links Hotel - both have golf packages available.
Anstruther is probably the liveliest of the coastal towns with The Bank and Royal Hotel in the heart of things. It’s a picture postcard village and make sure you stop off at the Anstruther Fish Bar. It uses the freshest local ingredients and has been voted the best fish and chip shop in Scotland. The position right on the harbour makes it a great place to eat your dinner - just watch out for the seagulls!
Anstruther harbour - home to some of the best fish and chips in Scotland! Picture - Visit Scotland
Elie is considered one of the more refined villages in Fife and has several guest houses and Airbnbs. The Ship Inn is a good place to stop for food and drink and has 6 bedrooms but if you want to stay there make sure you book early.
If you have some time between rounds then take a walk on the Fife Coastal Path. It goes all the way along the coast from Kincardine to Newburgh. It’s well signposted all the way and you will usually be walking on pretty good paths. It’s a great way to see the coastline and it helps to put all the villages in perspective.
Discover one of the many fishing villages on the Fife Coastal Path
Having walked much of the coastline myself, I would particularly recommend the stretch from St Monan’s to Anstruther. It will take you an hour or so to cover the walk but there are plenty of diversions on the way - including a truly excellent ice cream shop in the beautiful village of Pittenweem.
WHEN TO GO
Fife is one of the driest parts of the country and golf is played here all year round.
June, July and August are the warmest and sunniest months of the year but expect to find green fees at their peak too. If you are looking to cram in lots of golf you will easily manage 36 holes here in the summer - the sun rises just after at 4am and you can be playing still close to 11pm on the longest day!
Golf is played on the Fife courses all year round and you will rarely find a temporary green in play so don’t rule out some winter golf if you fancy a quick trip to this golfing Mecca.
Annual average climate in Leuchars. Source Met Office
GETTING THERE AND AROUND
One of the things that makes Fife so attractive for a short break is it’s proximity to transport links. Arrive in Edinburgh by air or train and within 30 minutes you can be teeing it up on one of the great Fife links.
You don’t even need to hire a car, the local bus service will take you from course to course along the coast and is a really great way to get around.
To win a trip to the Fife coast courtesy of Your Golf Travel just follow the instructions on this tweet. Prize includes 2 night’s accommodation at Hotel du Vin, St Andrews, and rounds for 2 people at Dumbarnie, Crail and Lundin. Prize to be taken Sunday-Thursday and subject to availability.
