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Balcomie Links, Crail
Par 69, 5922 yards
Crail Balcomie Links is a real touch of golfing history as it is the
7th oldest golf club in the world - golf has been enjoyed here since
1786. The course was first used permanently by the Crail Golfing
society in 1885 when golfing legend Old Tom Morris laid out the
original nine holes. Tom stated at the time "there is not a better
course in Scotland." It remains a beautiful course, superbly
maintained, not too long and full of interest with magnificent views
of the sea from every tee. The sea comes into play on a number of
holes where a decision to gamble with the beach or take the easier
dogleg has to be made. Positioning of the tee shot is more important
than length on most holes and you will experience some excellent
short holes.
Blairgowrie, Rosemount
Par 72, 6588 yards
There are two eighteen hole courses at the Blairgowrie Golf Club -
the Rosemount designed by James Braid and the Lansdowne designed in
the 1970's by Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas. In addition there is an
excellent 9 hole course - The Wee Course - so it is easy to arrange
a full day's golf at Blairgowrie. The Rosemount is a beautiful
heathland course lined with forest of pine and silver birch, and is
one of the most admired in this area. There is a liberal sprinkling
of heather, broom and gorse off the fairways which at the right time
of year add considerable color to a lovely setting. Greg Norman won
his first ever European tour event on this course.
Craigielaw
Par 71, 6601 yards
Craigielaw is the newest links course to have been built in East
Lothian and offers a challenge for all levels of golfers. A wide
variety of holes and rolling greens characterize this course which
enjoys magnificent views over Aberlady Bay and the Firth of Forth.
Cruden Bay
Par 70, 6395 yards
You may well remember some of the great holes at Cruden Bay, you may
even remember some of the putts you made or the tee shots you played
but you will never forget the views of Cruden Bay itself. This place
enjoys some of the most spectacular views in the world of golf. The
course itself is ranked in the top forty in Britain but in terms of
spectacle if it is not first in the line it cannot be far off it.
Throughout the year Cruden Bay is a truly magical golfing venue - on
a crisp autumn day it could hardly be surpassed.
Dalmahoy
Par 72, 6684 yards
The championship East Course is a challenging inland masterpiece.
Designed by James Braid in 1927, its celebrity status should not
deter the higher handicapper as its open fairways offer the chance
of a very competitive score. You will need to be on your toes
however as the par 3 15th is not called "The Wee Wrecker" for
nothing!
Devlin Links
Par 72, 7049 yards
Designed by Bruce Devlin, this championship course is challenging
with undulating fairways and greens perched on the cliff tops
overlooking St Andrews bay. The Devlin Course has five sets of tees
to choose from, each with their own degree of difficulty so golfers
can decide their own fate! Having designed more than 150 courses
around the world, none has given Bruce Devlin as much pleasure than
his newest at St Andrews Bay.
Glasgow Gailes
Par 72, 6535 yards
Less than an hour's journey from Glasgow takes you to a marvellous
stretch of links between Troon and Irvine on Scotland's famous
Ayrshire Coast. It is an ideal centre for a week's Golfing Holiday -
challenging and varied. This is the home of Glasgow Golf Club at
Gailes. With its undulating fairways, fine greens and subtle
qualities the course attracts many visitors.
Gullane #1
Par 71, 6466 yards
The Gullane courses differ from all other Scottish links courses in
that they are hilly. There are the characteristic heather, gorse and
whins but there are also downhill holes that one might more readily
associate with an inland course. The panoramic views from the number
one course and from the top of Gullane Hill on the seventh are some
of the most famous in golf. The number two course is another great
course; renowned especially for the quality of its short holes. It's
also an Open qualifying course. Incidentally, Gullane was Jack
Nicklaus' first ever experience of a Scottish links course.
Leven Links
Par 71, 6427 yards
The championship course at Leven is used as one of the four final
pre-qualifying courses when the Open Championship is played at St
Andrews. The 11th oldest golf club in the world, the Leven Golfing
Society, hosts the Oldest Open Amateur Strokeplay Championship In
The World. A true sea-side course - the editor of Golf Monthly
described the older part of the Leven Links as 'being one of the
best stands of Bent and Fescues in Scotland'.
Lundin Links
Par 71, 6394 yards
Lundie, as it's fondly known, like most of the world's fine links
courses can play several completely different ways depending on the
strength and direction of the wind. Many of Lundie's greens are an
'upturned saucer' shape with the result that a poor approach
meanders into a more difficult situation than would otherwise be the
case. A good short game is therefore essential. Oh, and most of the
greens contain subtle borrows making the 3 and 4 footers that little
bit harder to negotiate.
Nairn West
Par 71 6452 yards
Although Nairn was founded in 1887 it was made the great links
challenge that it is today, firstly by Tom Morris and then by the
renowned James Braid of Earlsferry. Their great achievement was to
leave well alone. Nairn seems merely a track through whins and
heather but one only has to play it once to appreciate why it is
considered one of the best championship courses in Scotland. Nairn
is far from a casual walk through the dunes, it requires that you
call on the whole spectrum of shots available in the golfer’s
repertoire. Nairn has hosted the Walker Cup and the British Amateur
Championship among other prestigious tournaments.
North Berwick
Par 71, 6420 yards
North Berwick is one of Scotland's oldest golfing venues with a
character all its own. The beach, the burn and low walls present
hazards that make it that little bit different. The great mound of
the Bass Rock sitting out in the Firth makes a splendid backdrop to
an unforgettable course. Probably most renowned (and most imitated
by architects all over the world) is The 'Redan', the fifteenth
hole, which has remained unchanged for over 150 years, as has much
of the course. The timeless nature of the course is reflected in the
little jigger approach shots that one is forced to play. North
Berwick is a wonderful year round golfing venue that plays very
differently depending on conditions; changing subtly as wind and
weather change.
Murcar
Par 71, 6314 yards
Simply a continuation of the links at Balgownie, Murcar's holes run
in and out of high dunes with tees set high and greens nestling
behind great banks of whin and gorse. Murcar is certainly a
challenging course where even the simplest error can prove
punishing. Like all old links courses, every club in the bag and
every shot in the textbook will be required to get around this
course.
Royal Aberdeen
Par 71, 6372 yards
The Balgownie links of the Royal Aberdeen Golf Club lie on the edge
of the town running alongside endless yellow sand and the sea. Golf
has been well documented on Balgownie since the 18th century and the
place remains today in the top rank of the world's great golfing
venues. This great course's spectacular setting amidst some of the
most spectacular dunes in Scotland makes for some of the most
memorable holes in golf. All of Balgownie's holes are special but
some on the front nine transcend superlatives.
St Andrews Jubilee Course
Par 72, 6742 yards
Originally opened on Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897, it
underwent a re-design by Donald Steele in 1988 and is now reputed to
be the toughest of the St Andrews' Championship links. Created on a
narrow strip of land between the sea and the New, the raised tees
provide great views but also expose golfers to wind which sweeps in
from the bay.
St. Andrews New Course
Par 71, 6604 yards
Opened in 1895 it is hardly a 'new' course! It is in fact a classic
links and a first class golfing challenge, With the traditional out
and back layout, its characterized by well designed greenside and
fairway bunkers and tough homeward holes.
Torrance Links
Par 72, 7026 yards
The Torrance Course is one of two courses that are part of the St
Andrews Bay Resort and officially opened in October 2001. Designed
by Gene Sarazen and Sam Torrance, this exciting championship course
is a great test of golf with stunning views across the bay towards
St Andrews and Carnoustie.
Turnberry Kintyre Course
Par 72 6504 yards
The Kintyre Course designed by Donald Steel offers a serious
challenge to golfers of every level and is a fine complement to its
sister course. The Kintyre was used as a final Open Championship
qualifying course in 2004 when The Open returned to Royal Troon.
Western Gailes
Par 71, 6639 yards
Sited on a narrow tract of land between the Atlantic Ocean and the
Ayrshire coast's railway line, the Gailes is a marvelous classic
flat links that has shades of Troon, Turnberry and Prestwick all
rolled into one. With the well-sheltered holes winding through low
dunes, the Gailes is long and testing enough to have played host to
some significant championships including the Curtis Cup- it's also a
regular Open qualifying venue. Western Gailes is a course of great
variety that is at once challenging for the experienced player and a
test for the able beginner.
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