FIFE AND TAYSIDE

Fife is the spiritual heart of golf. It was at St Andrews that the game was first played over eighteen holes and many of the greatest moments in the history of the game have taken place on this historic ground. It is home to some of the highest ranked courses in Scotland like The Old Course (ranked 3rd in the world) and Kingsbarns (ranked 81) and a huge number of other courses steeped in the game’s history.

The Fife coast is rich with wonderful courses and lovely towns which have golf at the heart of their communities. It’s just over an hour from Edinburgh airport to St Andrews which makes it a great place to start or end a golf trip to Scotland. The town of St Andrews itself is a vibrant student centre with a great range of restaurants, pubs and hotels.

Every golfer should make the pilgrimage to St Andrews once in their lives. It is a truly special place.

COURSE HIGHLIGHTS

There are over 40 golf courses in Fife - ranging from the Home of Golf itself at The Old Course to modern classics such as Kingsbarns. Most of the best courses in the area are set on the coast, with wonderful views. While it may be tempting just to play the big guns it would be a shame to visit the area and not visit some of the less-heralded classic courses like Elie or Crail. We have played them all so will be able to advise on the perfect combination for a truly memorable golf trip.

  • The Old Course

    GOLF MAGAZINE WORLD RANKING - 3
    OUTPOST CLUB WORLD RANKING - 8
    GOLF MAGAZINE GB & I RANKING - 1

    Ask any golf architect working today what course has had the most influence on his or her designs and you will most assuredly receive one overwhelming response: the Old Course at St. Andrews. It’s so influential because it represents the very essence of strategic golf. There’s no one way to play the Old Course and each round asks new questions that must be answered. There are few places anywhere in golf that stir that blood quite like the Old Course.

  • CARNOUSTIE

    GOLF MAGAZINE WORLD RANKING - 39
    OUTPOST CLUB WORLD RANKING - 51
    GOLF MAGAZINE GB & I RANKING - 12

    Mention Carnoustie and most people would think ‘difficult’. Its nickname, “Carnasty,” conjures images of deep rough, dastardly bunkers, and the winding Barry Burn ready to swallow all but the most expertly played shot. And it is an exacting layout, the closing three holes might be the toughest in all of championship golf, but it’s also a strategic masterpiece. Added to the amazing championship history of this storied links it’s an experience not to be missed.

  • KINGSBARNS

    GOLF MAGAZINE WORLD RANKING - 81
    OUTPOST CLUB WORLD RANKING - 29
    GOLF MAGAZINE GB & I RANKING - 26

    It’s hard to believe that Kingsbarns was once a mostly flat piece of land. It’s hard to believe because Mark Parsinen, Kyle Phillips and team did such a masterful job of shaping the land that you just assume that it’s always been beautiful, natural linksland. Taking advantage of the frontage along the North Sea, the course is a wonderful blend of great, strategic golf holes combined with drop-dead, gorgeous views. The inherently modern Kingsbarns is not to be missed on any trip to Fife.

  • ELIE

    GOLF MAGAZINE GB & I RANKING - 80
    GOLF WORLD (UK) SCOTLAND RANKING - 27

    When people ask which ‘hidden gem’ they should play on a trip to Fife the answer is simple - Elie ticks all the boxes. Golf has been played in Elie since the 15th century but it was Old Tom Morris who laid out 18 holes in 1895. James Braid was born and bred here and made some changes to his home course in 1921; since then it’s pretty much untouched. You will find a course that rewards guile over brute strength in the most wonderful setting on the south Fife coast.

  • DUMBARNIE LINKS

    GOLF WORLD (UK) GB & I RANKING - 69
    GOLF WORLD (UK) SCOTLAND RANKING - 24

    Building a new golf course on the Fife course is not for the faint-hearted. But Clive Clark’s Dumbarnie Links has been greeted with huge praise from locals and visitors alike. The course is a real crowd-pleaser. Wide fairways and fast-running turf means few will feel beaten up on this course. With several half-holes, some glorious green settings and wonderful views over the Firth of Forth, Dumbarnie is proving a worthy addition to the Fife coastline.

  • THE NEW COURSE

    GOLF WORLD (UK) GB & I RANKING - 62
    GOLF WORLD (UK) SCOTLAND RANKING - 28

    Ask the St Andrews locals which course they prefer and the answer will, more often than not, be The New. The turf is virtually identical to the Old Course but it may be a slightly sterner test. The fairways are more defined than on The Old and there is more gorse in play. But you will find other similarities, with some shared greens and the wonderful backdrop of the town of St Andrews as you head for home.

WHERE TO STAY

Staying in St Andrews itself will appeal to many. It’s not a large town and it will be very easy to walk from your hotel to the golf course, restaurant or pub. However, there are plenty of options outside the town too. You may like to stay in one of the delightful local towns like Elie or Anstruther. The city of Dundee is only 30 minutes drive away and has a greater range of accommodation where you are sure to find something, whatever your budget.

  • THE OLD COURSE HOTEL

    The iconic Old Course Hotel is probably the most famous hotel on a golf course anywhere in the world. Situated overlooking the 17th fairway, you can expect 5 star service and luxurious accommodation.

  • RUSACKS ST ANDREWS

    Overlooking the 18th fairway on The Old Course, the newly refurbished Rusacks hotel is where old-world Scotland meets new-era amenities in this luxurious accommodation..

  • HOTEL DU VIN ST ANDREWS

    Hotel du Vin St Andrews is in the heart of the old town, with stunning views of the West Sands. The stylish bedrooms and stunning suites, all feature luxuries such as comfy handsprung mattresses and powerful drench showers.

SAMPLE ITINERARY

DAY 1

Meet your driver for the week at Edinburgh airport.

Play Dumbarnie Links (ranked 24 in Scotland) for your irst round. Dumbarnie is the perfect course to play straight off the plane. The course is great fun - wide off the tee, with a gentle introduction to the links shots you’ll need to master over your trip.

After your round you will check in at the Hotel Du Vin. This 4 star hotel is in the heart of the town, and just a minutes walk from the first tee of the Old Course!

DAY 2
Make the short drive from Fife to Tayside to play Carnoustie (ranked 39 in the world). Even the most casual follower of the game will have heard about Carnoustie - it is one of the most famous golf courses in the world. You will be able to recreate the shots of some of the best golfers in the world on what, for many, is golf’s ultimate test.

DAY 3
After the test of Carnoustie, you will go down the Fife coast to a more gentle links course at Elie. Elie is a lovely course and everyone who plays it raves about it as the ultimate ‘hidden gem’ . Ranked 80 in the UK & Ireland, and 27th in Scotland, Elie is a course which will stay in your memory for years to come.

DAY 4
If you are coming to Fife you have to play one of the courses in the heart of St Andrews. We will be able to advise on getting a round on The Old Course - only a few places can be booked in advance but the daily ballot and walk-up queue are both options. The New Course would be a good alternative and is wonderful addition to your tour with stunning views of St Andrews as you play back into the town.

After your round we highly recommend a visit to the R&A World Golf Museum, just behind the 1st tee. It really is a treasure-trove of golf memorabilia and a great place to spend a couple of hours. After all of that history we can organise a pub tour of St Andrews if you would like to get a taste of where the local drinks!

DAY 5
You will head back to Tayside to play one of Scotland’s most historic courses, Panmure (ranked 37 in Scotland). Ben Hogan only came to Scotland once, for the 1953 Open at Carnoustie. He spent the 2 weeks before the tournament adjusting to the links game at Panmure before winning the Claret Jug. Panmure has hosted Open Qualifying on multiple occasions, as well as co-hosting The Amateur Championship, amongst other top events.

DAY 6
You make the short drive down the coast to the modern classic that is Kingsbarns (ranked 81st in the world). Many people believe that Kingsbarns is the best course built in the UK for generations, and everyone who plays it is blown away by the quality of the routing and the excellence of the architecture.

After the round you can stop off at the nearby Kingsbarns Distillery to enjoy some of Scotland’s other great national industry - whisky!

DAY 7
Transfer back to Edinburgh airport for flights home or add on a trip to another of Scotland’s great golf regions. The North East or East Lothian are both close by and make for a great extra few days.

Contact us now to book a great Fife and Tayside golf trip.

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