The Balcomie course in Crail

The Balcomie course in Crail is one of my all time favorites. It is still a little bit of a secret because on paper it does not sound very challenging. It is a short course, only 5800 yards from the back tees, a par 69, so most people pass it by. What they don't know is that the wind protects the course making it quite a challenge, as the course literally runs along the coast and is on higher, less protected ground than St. Andrews. In fact, there are a couple of tee shots that demand a decision on how much you want to cut across the beach to leave a shorter shot into the green. Chris and I both left our drives short, but luckily it was low tide and we were able to find our golf balls on the sand. Unfortunately you can no longer actually play off the beach as it is now staked out of bounds.

This course has a rich history. The Crail Golfing Society was founded in 1786, making it one of the oldest in Scotland, and the original nine holes of the Balcomie Links were laid out by old Tom Morris in 1895 - another 9 holes were added a few years later. The clubhouse also has some of the best views in Scotland and is a great place to have a beer after your round. Speaking of which. I lost five of the seven beers I was up from the New Course back to Chris after he shot an 80 and I shot a 92.