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Home Scottish Links Golf The Basics Detailed information AFSD - how to determine the real length of a golf course Helpful Websites Platinum Page Upscale golfing products & services Aberdeen & Grampian Highlands Royal Aberdeen, Cruden Bay... Ayrshire Royal Troon, Turnberry, Prestwick... Just east of Edinburgh Scotland's Golf Coast Muirfield, Gullane, North Berwick... Northern Highlands Royal Dornoch, Brora, Nairn... St. Andrews area Carnoustie Charleton Crail - Balcomie Crail - Craighead Drumoig Duke's Course Elie Fairmont St Andrews Kingsbarns Ladybank Leven Lundin Scotscraig St. Andrews Old Course St. Andrews New Course St. Andrews Jubilee Course St Andrews Castle Course St Andrews Eden Course St Andrews Strathtyrum & Balgove Courses St. Michaels Other golf courses Machrihanish, Pitlochry... . Links Lite Great links golf for the not-so-great golfer Donate What others say |
Scotscraig Golf Club © When Scotscraig Golf Club was founded in 1817, there were only twelve other golf clubs in the world. I love playing such an old and historic course, and really enjoy being part of the ongoing history.
Scotscraig golf club is a final qualifying course for the Open ChampionshipScotscraig Golf Club is not just an historical monument to golf’s past. It’s a good course and well worth playing. In fact, it is so highly thought of that when the Open Championship is held at nearby St. Andrews Old Course, Scotscraig Golf Club is used as a qualifying course. This honor alone makes it quite special.
This is not your typical Fife links golf course, however. First of all, while not situated alongside the sea, it does have many of the characteristics of a links course. It’s got humps and hollows in the fairways. It’s got lots of rough, including patches of that nasty gorse. It also has the hard and fast-running greens that make links golf so challenging. Yet there are lots of trees, which links courses typically don’t have. This added dimension makes the course all the more demanding and makes your drives all the more important, not to mention the beauty it adds to the landscape. Scotscraig golf course is a great choice for the independent golferScotscraig golf course is a great choice for the independent golfer. Golf tour operators will seldom schedule it simply because it's not that well known, and that's a shame, really, because it's a good choice if you're looking for a great day of golf at a moderate price.When you play Scotscraig Golf Club, ask the pro if you can get a game with a member. It’s an interesting course and a member will make the game all the more appealing. It’s not always obvious what the best line off the tee is (or even where the next hole is!). When I called for a game the first time I played it in 2000, I didn't think to ask to play with a member but the pro arranged that on his own. Typical of the thoughtful Scottish professionals, they realize how much a game is enhanced when someone who knows the course plays with you. He took it upon himself to call someone who was scheduled to tee off a half hour after me and asked him if he would like to start a bit earlier with “a visiting Yank.” It was a gracious touch and so typical of Scotland and of the members and staff of this club.
About the course Scotscraig has beautiful greens and they are kept in perfect condition. It's a pleasure to putt on them--even when the ball doesn't go in. With none of the exaggerated wrinkles and folds of some other courses in the area they do not look as impressive, but that doesn't mean they are easy. As I said, most of the breaks are subtle, so take some time reading them. When you do putt your ball, however, you can be sure it will roll true. The fairways are very fair and are cut three lengths. The first cut is the fairway itself. The second is cut a bit longer and usually extends about 15 or 20 feet on either side of the fairway. If you land in this longer grass it will cost you on average about a half a stroke, especially if you are trying to hold the green with your next shot since you will inevitably have grass between the ball and your club and will not get the necessary backspin. Next cut (I should say "non-cut!") is the really long grass. This will easily cost a stroke because, unless you are blessed with an extraordinary lie, you will have your hands full just getting the ball back on the fairway. And last but not least is the gorse and broom. How many strokes will hitting into those cost you? As they say in Brooklyn, New York..."Fuhggedaboudit!." One of the members characterized his course as a "links course with trees." That's a simple and accurate thumbnail of the course even up to the authentic links turf that is used throughout. Also, unlike typical USA courses which have only a 2 or 3 foot apron of short grass around the greens, Scotscraig has a generous cut of 10 or 15 feet of short grass around each green and much, much more short grass in front. On the 17th hole, for example, there is at least 50 yards of short cut. This allows putting from far off the green which is so typical of links golf. Play It smart Pay attention to your position off the tee on this course. On many holes it’s better to take a 3 wood off the tee and play for position rather than automatically banging away with the driver. There is lots of rough and lots of gorse, neither of which is a bargain and both of which will almost certainly cost you strokes. The 7th is a good example of this. It plays 401 yards off the championship tees. Sounds easy--after all, how difficult can a 400 yard hole play? Plenty, because the first half of the fairway is on a higher plateau than the last part of the fairway, the two halves separated by a gully. So you have a choice off the tee of hitting less than a driver to a raised plateau but leaving yourself a second shot that is downhill and is at least 180 yards to the pin. Or you can belt a driver and hope it carries beyond the plateau into the humps and hollows and rough. If it does, you have a much shorter second shot but you run the risk of a bad lie because this portion of the fairway has much undulation.
The 4th is another thinking person’s hole. At only 366 yards it seems like an easy par 4. Trouble is, there is a deep valley running diagonally in front of the green and the green itself must be approached carefully because it is like an inverted saucer and very difficult to hold. If the wind is at all active, throwing up a high shot that will sit nicely on the green is chancey. Both holes are quite typical of this nicely laid-out course. You have to think your way around it and take your bogie if you have to, rather than taking a double or triple bogie. There are some good opportunities for birdies, so be patient. Scotscraig Golf Club is one of the fine hidden gems of Scotland.I really believe that, and don't know why it is not more popular. Perhaps because it is a mile or so inland and golfers think it is just another parkland course. It's not. It's a links-ish layout that will test the skills of the most talented golfer (just ask the professionals trying to qualify for the Open Championship) while giving the mid-handicapper a fun-filled day of challenges.This is a VERY friendly club. Take advantage of any chance you get to strike up a conversation with a member or the staff. It will add great enjoyment to your day.
The Golf Nook Scotland rating -- a BIRDIE. www.scotscraiggolfclub.com . See below for things to do nearby |
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