Monifieth
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(Medal)
Letham Grange (Old)
There are two courses at Letham Grange: the Old and the Glens.
The Old is not actually that old, being designed by Donald Steel
and opened in 1987. It is a parkland course with a strong and
interesting mix of holes. There are heavily tree-lined fairways,
where the height and density of trees add a peacefulness to
proceedings, there are water features providing charm and
danger in equal measure, and there are open holes where
fairways glide across the landscape using the undulating terrain
to maximum effect. The course is also of good length so with
greens that are best targeted through the air you will need a
good day with your driver. The Glens course is a par 68.
Leven Links
A links course through and through, and of that low-lying,
deceptive and mischievous variety that makes you think holes
look straightforward. Even the scorecard suggests you’ll have an
easy day of it… until you look closely. From the forward Yellow
tees there are three par fours of over 450 yards (two of these
are par fives from the back tees). The wind will taunt you all day
and this is a course that requires accuracy to find the fairways
tucked between rough strewn dunes. Bump and run isn’t always
on (the memorable 456 yard 18th has the Scoonie Burn in front
of the green) but when it is, it’s a delicious opportunity to attack
flags on the large, mostly smooth greens. And mind the bunkers:
slopes and hollows can steer your ball unerringly into the sand.
That’s a links for you!
Monifieth (Medal)
This course is well known for its narrow running fairways, deep
revetted bunkers and fast greens. It is strong links golf by any
standard and there’s a second course here, too. The course
moves over undulating dunes which lure you along and invite
intelligent play. The first six holes run alongside the railway line
(out of bounds) and the longest par four and hardest hole arrives
at the 4th. The fairway narrows quickly to a green lost in a nest of
dunes. Only the sharpest approach will do and this is a common
theme between shoulders of medium sized dunes. The stands
of pine trees add to the setting and this is another of the many
excellent links courses that has been used in Open Championship
qualifying.
Lundin
Two courses sit side by side on this narrow strip of links land on
the Firth of Forth: Lundin and Leven. Little separates them… just a
low wall known as ‘Mile Dyke’. Lundin’s current 18 holes date back
to 1909, thanks to the great James Braid (and Old Tom before
that). He created an intriguing mix of links holes and parkland
holes, divided by a disused railway line. You play links holes first,
right next to the sea, and you can expect some blind shots, a
burn or two and fabulous greens. Then it is nine holes of rising
and falling parkland before you return to the links to finish. It is
not long but Lundin requires a sharp short game – the bunkering
sees to that. The par three 14th is named ‘Perfection’ which may
be the simplest and most apt description of any hole in Scotland.
An Open Final Qualifying course.
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