Crail Golfing Society - Balcomie Links Course

Your experience at Crail (Balcomie Links) largely will depend on your expectation.

You will get the same stunning coastal views that you get just down the coastline at Kingsbarns, but not the conditioning. You will get the centuries-old history like you do a couple of miles back in town at the Old Course at St. Andrews, but not the experience.

If you want an everyday, meat-and-potatoes, townie links experience, Crail will be to order. I believe that courses like Crail, Brora and Western Gailes are the glue that holds Scottish links itineraries together. This is the essence of golf in Scotland. We decided to forego caddies, carried our own bags and were invited to play with a member and his son while on the putting green, which moved our tee time up half an hour.

This was the round - one of 13 total - that we experienced all four seasons over the course of a round. Started pleasant and warm. Rained four holes in causing a brief delay. Sun came out. Sweater came off. Turned cool again. Sweater back on. Little more rain. Hot again. Sweater off. Wind picked up and turned cool again. Sweater back on!

The course is quirky. Plays to a par of 69 and measures only 5,800 yards. There are three par 5s and six par 3s. The ever-present wind, however, renders the yardage on the scorecard meaningless. The theme of the course is simplicity and true minimalism. There isn’t much rough to speak of. Bunkers are low-slung in the flattish ground and
greens largely follow the cant of the surrounding slopes. Remember, this course was created in the days when course design was governed by the natural lie of the land and not mechanical earth movers.

There are Viking fortifications that run throughout the course. These stone walls provide a nice border to many holes.

Notably, the greens are a little slower than most courses we
played, due to the high winds and exposed sites found here.

Balcomie comes close to the perfect golf course. Each hole is interesting in its own way. The course rewards good shots and penalizes bad shots. And the views are fantastic. At GBP95 for a full day of golf, playing both Balcomie and Craighead, it's a bargain. If you are choosing between the two courses, Balcomie, to me, is the better choice in almost every respect. We stayed in Crail, so add convenience to the list.

If you want to play an historic course more interesting than St Andrews and a true links course, Balcomie is he place. Ever time I come to Scotland it is on my list and has not changed over the 25 years since I first played it.

Having lived for over twenty years within just a few miles of Crail but having never played Balcomie (never felt the desire to be honest as I always believed it to be over-hyped) I succumbed to playing with two friends earlier this month; to be fair we had played all other (proper) Fife courses and despite my protestations I was dragged along to Crail. Weather was breezy and chilly. Crail Golfing Society make a big fuss about their course and a whole historical bit about being one of the oldest clubs although the actual course (as opposed to the 'club') was opened in 1895 so the course (which is what really matters after all) isn't as old as a great many courses. Sure the views are great but I come for the challenge of the course and in this respect I was left as disappointed as I had expected. My wife (with a handicap of +1) had warned me of a likely disappointment such as she had a few years earlier with her shock at such a generous ladies' par of 70 for such a short track. I digress. The front nine can all be seen from the first tee so it is not only a short track but a cramped one with too many simple par 3s and a strange finishing stretch set inland and accessed after a long walk away from the shore. The course would be less used by visitors were it not for being close to St Andrews; I guess Crail makes the most of what it has but it's not bucket-list material and were it located anywhere but close to the Home of Golf then it would struggle to sell tee-times. Overall, it's fine for a short walk for higher handicap players but it's not for the purest nor for the accomplished player: I came away still shaking my head at the over-hyping of Crail.

This course took us all by surprise. Others have said dont let the yardage fool you and they would be correct. It gets pretty windy so you really have to keep it low and play for position. Most of the holes were quite unique and along the water and hills....though there are a few boring holes that run up and down from each other. Good thing there is that makes the effective fairway like 150 yards wide :D The greens rolled great and were of moderate speed (id say a 9 -10). Fairways were typical links. Overall a very fun course!

Basically a gem, don't be fooled by the yardage was blowing a hoolie 3 up/down to play shots 60/70 left/right of greens to approach lightening greens like links golf should be. Coulped with stunning views value for money you won't beat it, friendly staff beautiful modern club house epic views at the 19th hole, add to your list if playing up here you won't be disappointed!

One of those hidden gems, save yourself 200 GBP and play here instead of Kingsbarns. Classic out and in links, been around forever, great sea views, friendly staff. This place is what links golf is really all about. A pleasant stroll with generous fairways, some quirky holes (#13!). Time well spent at Crail Balcomie

Our 2nd time playing this old track, and 2nd day in a row at Crail Golfing Society. This course has beautiful views of the sea and different parts of the course due to the elevation changes. Not a very long course but it plays every inch and feels like a longer course. Wind off the water is always a factor, and can cause you a lot of problems. I think this is a must play for any golf trip and the course offers a deal if you play both the Balcomie and Craighead courses. They are worth the money!

Great course if you want to get away from the big boys (St. Andrews, Kingsbarns etc.) and pay half the price. Very playable, an easy walk with great views. A true links with dog legs left and right, uphill and downhill shots, strong par 3's. Very friendly staff. Does have some shared fairways so keep an eye out for oncoming golfers. Well worth the drive down from St. Andrews (10 minutes). Highly recommended.

A wonderful historic golf course. A great place to begin a trip, as the course doesn't beat you up.
The staff was great, from the pro shop, to the caddies, to the bar.

My favorite round of my trip. The course, caddy, and staff were great. Even the weather somewhat cooperated. The course itself was challenging, but fun. The views were great, just a beautiful location for a golf course. Could not recommend this course high enough.

Booking arrangements were very efficient. My wife and I were put with two brothers (Ralph and Joe), who were real gentlemen and excellent company. Staff were very friendly. I (handicap 8) found the course fairly easy. My wife (handicap 31) thoroughly enjoyed the course. Great views along the coast, very well presented.

It is a pure, historical links course, one of the oldest in Scotland. Many parallel running holes and sometimes a little difficult to figure out which flag to play to. Nevertheless a worthwhile experience.