Elie
Crail (Balcomie)
Laid out along a promontory which juts into the North Sea, the
Balcomie links is a par 69, measuring 5,900 yards from the back tees.
Don’t let that fool you though, for the ever-present wind has to be
tackled all day long. This is traditional, open links, laid out by Old
Tom Morris, and several holes are on show from the high 1st tee. It
promises an adrenaline-fuelled start, which continues as you must
drive over the beach on holes 4 and 5. The course is quite narrow
as it works its way along the seashore and the six par threes use the
dune tops (and a cliff or two) to perfection. Stunning views. The
Craighead course makes Crail a delightful double act.
Elie
A crafty, cunning and quirky links, Elie has been entertaining
golfers for generations. None other than James Braid began his
golf here and, after Old Tom Morris extended the course to 18
holes in 1895, it was Braid who later revised it. This is the sort
of links that plays with the golfer’s ambition: it is not long but
it requires the utmost respect. There are blind shots, perfectly
positioned and treacherous bunkers, and large greens with
surfaces like glass. There are stunning views, too, both from high
up and down next to the Firth of Forth. There are 16 par fours
and two par threes but you won’t have time to notice… you’ll
be far too focused on Elie’s thrills. Enjoy the periscope in the
starter’s hut… how’s that for quirky?
44
Dunfermline
The golf course at Dunfermline is a gentle and charming parkland,
routed around the old Halkett estate. Indeed, the clubhouse
embraces its 15th century heritage (Pitfirrane House) so there’s a
certain elegance to it all. The course moves over a lightly rolling
landscape and between the trees, which can certainly present
problems on the doglegs. The course was designed in the 1950s (the
club dates back far longer) and the five par fives and five par threes
add a little twist to your round, especially as three of those par fives
are in your last four holes. The course is well known for the thrills
of its par threes with the 9th and 16th proving particular favourites.
Arranged in two loops of nine and promising a short par 72, this is as
relaxing a day’s golf as you could ask for.
Edzell (Old)
The tall trees stretch elegantly across this landscape to give Edzell
its easy air and pace. The highly regarded firm of Mackenzie and
Ebert upgraded the course in 2015, but there’s little doubt that
the masterful design came from James Braid in the 1930s, and
Bob Simpson before that. The course combines heathland and
parkland traits, with tree-lined corridors framing holes while still
offering a generous enough width to make driving a pleasure. The
quality of the course’s presentation is also worth noting and the
gently contoured greens will appeal to everyone. Located between
Aberdeen and Dunfermline, the Angus Glens create a backdrop
that’s easy on the eye and helps to establish the rhythm of the golf
course.