MONIFIETH GOLF LINKS - 15 POints
Monifieth is a sporty Scottish course set over classic links ground
Scotland has distinct areas for golf famed throughout the world - Fife, East Lothian, Ayrshire and The Highlands all spring to mind. However, the courses along the Firth of Tay often go under the radar. Carnoustie will pull most of the visitors but Monifieth and Panmure are two notable Scottish courses well worth stopping off at if you are in the area.
The two courses are fairly closely related. Rather confusingly, Panmure Golf Club played their golf over the links at Monifieth in the mid-nineteenth century. It was only when the course became too busy at the end of the century that Panmure broke off and built their own course just a few miles up the road.
As at some other Scottish courses, the layout we see today has taken many years to evolve. Allan Robertson set out the original 9 holes, close to the town, in 1845. They evolved over the next century and it wasn’t until 1930 that the course, more or less as we know it today, was settled on.
It has one of those classic Scottish layouts, starting in the centre of the town then heading straight out along the coast on the front 9 before coming back inland. This is proper links land - centuries of footfall giving turf which is bouncy and fun to play on. On this course you can embrace the ground game.
From the yellow tees it plays almost 6,500 yards and the fast-running turf meant it wasn’t playing very long. However, it isn’t an easy course by any means. On the early holes you have a railway line running hard up the right hand side and anything moving right in the air threatens the passengers! As a result, many will veer to the left on these holes - but heavy rough awaits you there if you stray too far off line.
The fourth hole is an early highlight. It’s a long par 4 - 445 yards - and getting to the green in two is a real challenge. The green is set amongst the dunes with only a narrow channel to get onto the putting surface. Suffice to say it was a three shotter for me.
The first par 3, another good hole, comes next. It’s almost 200 yards from the tee but, once you clear the bunkers at 150, it’s all downhill from there.
While the challenge has been, until this point, largely trains, rough and bunkers, at the 6th and 7th a snaking burn comes into play short and left on both holes.
As you head to the inland portion of the course the landscape takes on a slightly different look. You’ll start to find trees in play more and more as well as patches of heather. There really is lots to interest you all the way round.
It would be fair to say the test isn’t quite as stern over this section of the course, but there is definitely fun to be had. The 8th is a short par 4 where, if you go for the green in one, a birdie is definitely in play. But so are some devilish bunkers. A great match-play hole for sure.
On the back nine the 10th to 15th holes play on a square piece of land at the corner of the course before you head back to town on the stretch from 16 to 18. There aren’t any poor holes to be found on the course and strong par 4s like the 13th and 15th remind you just how blessed Scotland is to have courses of this quality which are quite unknown.
I really enjoyed Monifieth. The undulating ground, strong bunkering and variety of hazards all help elevate the experience. It would be a real shame to be in this part of the world and not play the course - it deserves more fame than it has today!
BOOKING THE COURSE
The course at Monifieth is run by the an organisation - Monifieth Golf Links - rather than the clubs who play over the course (there are three of those). You can book with them over here. Green fees range from £80 in April to £125 in the summer. The course appears to be open only April - October. However, there are various deals to be found on the site - including day tickets if you are playing the Ashludie course as well, twilight deals and stay and play packages. So it’s worth having a good look at the site if you are trying to find the most cost effective way to get on. To me, £125 in the summer is a bit spicy for what you get…
TOUR TIPS
At Monifieth, you check in with the efficient starters by the first tee. However, if you want to go to the pro shop you need to allow a bit of time as it is basically a converted house a few minutes walk away. As for the clubs, there are three of them next to the 18th green and one will be the designated ‘visitors' clubhouse’ on any given day.
Monifieth is only 20 minutes from Dundee which is the obvious place to stay, though you are in St Andrews in under 40 minutes too so there are plenty of options to choose from. As for courses in the area, Panmure and Carnoustie are the obvious candidates but Montrose is only 40 minutes north so you have plenty of options for classic Scottish links golf. If you are looking to do 36 holes in a day then the second course at Monifieth - the Ashludie - is a nice easy walk and some good fun holes too. Well worth looking at.
CONTACT DETAILS
Monifieth Golf Links,
Princes Street,
Monifieth,
Angus,
DD5 4AW,
Scotland
Web - https://monifiethgolf.co.uk/
Phone - +44 (0)1382 532767
