Top 5 courses near the Home of Golf
With Scotland’s national day around the corner, what better time to visit the Home of Golf? And where better to play a round than one of GOLFNOW’s incredible courses near iconic St Andrews? Celebrate St Andrew’s Day (30 November) in style with a tee time at one of these terrific destinations…
Fairmont St Andrews, Fife
Coastal views of the North Sea and historic St Andrews greet you at the Fairmont St Andrews Golf Resort. These can be admired from the greens of either of its two fine golf courses, as well as from the clifftop setting of the clubhouse. The facilities here are second to none and include a large putting green and expansive short-game area.
Opened in August 2001 and named after one of its three designers, Sam Torrance, this Open-qualifier course offers some fantastic links golf. The greens take a while to get used to, purely due to the fact they are so fast, which adds an extra challenge to contend with after you have successfully navigated the perfectly-positioned bunkers that protect the approach. Views around the course are spectacular, especially from the 8th green which looks down over the remaining holes.
This American-style course was originally named the Devlin Course after one of the three designers who worked on it (the other two being Gene Sarazen and Denis Griffiths). The natural makeup of this coastal location has been used to its fullest, even to the extent of incorporating a deep ravine known as Kittock’s Den within the layout. Due to its proximity to the North Sea shoreline, the Kittocks Course vaunts many dramatic holes, but it is the 15th that takes the honorary title of signature hole: A long, par-4 dogleg that leads to the cliff-edge green.
An Open Championship Qualifying Course, Leven Links boasts large, true-running greens and one of the finest finishing holes in golf. This gem will live long in the memory of anyone who plays it and visitors are made most welcome for a unique golfing experience. The strength of the course lies in its fine variety of quality links holes with undulating fairways, revetted bunkers, wonderful approaches and greens that provide a stern test for even the most accomplished putter. At the end of it all two, well-struck shots are required on the 18th to find the fairway and avoid the yawning, demonic Scoonie Burn which winds its way around the right and front of the green.
Drumoig Golf Course is set on 250 acres of spectacular Fife countryside, which weaves through a natural bird and wildlife haven. Water comes into play on four holes, with two greens nestling in the old whinstone quarries. Each hole offers an array of unique features. From the back tees, Drumoig Golf Course provides an excellent challenge for the more advanced golfer, while from the front tees the amateur golfer can not only enjoy their game, but marvel at the views across St Andrews Bay and the River Tay to Dundee and Carnoustie beyond.
Scotscraig Golf Club is conveniently located only 15 minutes from the famous Old Course, St Andrews. Although the course doesn’t sit exactly adjacent to the coastline, there are a few sea breezes to consider when playing this links, heathland mixture. Since 1984, Scotscraig Golf Club has hosted the Final Open Qualifying when The Open is played over at St Andrews. When the championship returned to St Andrews in 2010, Scotscraig once again hosted Final Open Qualifying. Ian Baker-Finch, Brian Barnes, Justin Rose, Mark Mouland, Duffy Waldorf and Sam Torrance are just a few of the famous players to have graced this renowned, classic Fife course.
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