DESTINATIONGOLF. TRAVEL PERTHSHIRE & HEARTLANDS
Kingsbarns
Kyle Phillips worked his magic to create this spectacular course in the late 1990s. It is fluid, it is velvet and it is unforgettable. The course embraces the subtlety of links golf while lavishing it with charm and elegance. Set on Kingsbarns Bay, golfers will play over wide and rhythmic fairways to sweetly undulating greens. It is as hypnotic as it sounds and the course stretches for almost two miles along the coast, embracing three separate coves. The views of sea and coastline are only the turn of a head away and such beauty is reflected on the course with the wispy rough adding a golden hue, the series of slopes presenting holes on different levels and the variety of greens promising huge amounts of fun.
Ladybank
Dating back to 1879( and Old Tom Morris), this attractive heathland course races through a landscape drenched in gorse, heather, pine and silver birch. It is bursting with colour and the club’ s mascot – the red squirrel – tells you a lot. Even the drive in is wonderful, that long avenue of trees setting the tone and offering glimpses of golfers and fairways. The sandy soil promises tight turf, gentle undulations to fairways and fast firm greens. Combined with some deep bunkering it is little surprise that golfers wax lyrical about its links-like traits. The links resemblances end there, however, for this is a course where the trees call for caution and the narrow fairways reward accuracy. There is barely a straight hole and with only four par fours over 400 yards, beating the doglegs and subtle curves is your number one priority.
St Andrews( The Craigtoun Course)
The Craigtoun Course opened in 1995, and was designed by fivetime Open winner, Peter Thomson. It lies inland from the famous golfing town and is best described as a muscular heathland course, one of quality and intrigue, routed through gentle hills above St Andrews. Considerable work in recent years has given the course the feel of a bygone era and the 118 jagged bunkers certainly help in that regard. The white sand adds tremendous shape and drama to holes, and plotting your way through them is hugely rewarding. Trees also frame holes constantly and it is a charming respite from non-stop links golf nearby. An impressive clubhouse awaits and the balcony offers wonderful views over the course, towards St Andrews and the North Sea. Everything about The Craigtoun Course is big- the golf experience most of all. Now part of the St Andrews Links Trust.
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 greens. And mind the bunkers: slopes and hollows can steer your ball unerringly into the sand. That’ s a links for you!
St Andrews( The Craigtoun Course)
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