Best Values In FIFE, per Golf magazine (attn. R.F. Goodale!)

[David_Tepper]

The April issue of Golf magazine has an article on "The Best Values in Fife, Scotland."

The recommended value courses (defined as costing less than $100 on several days of the week) are Lundin, Ladybank, Crail, Scotscraig and the Eden.

Aberdour GC is noted as the Best Value under $50.

"This funky track south of St. Andrews is a rare parkland layout by the sea, but its quirks go far beyond that. The starting holes are both 160-yard par-3s, with number one clearly one of golf's most memorable openers. While the quality eventually ebbs, it's still good stuff for a fair price."   

[Rich Goodale]

Thanks, David

I've tried to upload photos of the 1st two holes at Aberdour, but I get this message:

"The upload folder is full. Please try a smaller file and/or contact an administrator"

I'm baffled....

[ward peyronnin]

Congrats Richard; maybe now you all can proceed with that clubhouse renovation or at least fix the windows.

I must mention Burntisland just down the road from Aberdour as a best valueunder 50 lbs. Talk about a quirky course with unbelievable views of the small bay on the north side of the firth of forth and a wild ride up the top of a very tall headland and then down and around; i thought it very cool. Will try to upload pics after RG has his moment in the sun.
 

[Rich Goodale]

Hi, Wardo

Go ahead an post the pics of Burntisland, which as you and many know is one of my favorite "small" courses, and not only because it proves that Willie Park Jr. gave good GCA before he came under the thrall of the Arts and Crafts Movement down in London Toon....

The webiste seems bent on not letting me post my pictures.  Maybe I'll send them to somebody who have a more favored nation status than I seem to on GCA.com.....

Stuart your caddie sends his best, as of course do I.

Rich

[Phil McDade]

Has anyone played Cupar? I think it's the oldest-intact nine-hole course in Scotland, dating to the mid-1800s. Other value-oriented Fife-area courses I'd  be curious learning about would be Arbroath, a links just north of Carnoustie; Leslie, said to be nearly intact Old Tom Morris design; and Kinghorn, a combination of OTM and Willie Fernie. I enjoyed Ansthruther, a nine-hole links with its coast-hugging, doglegging par 3.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

I agree with the article and all but Scotscraig as great places to play. However the word value and the UK are as silly to use together as competancy and GW Bush

[ward peyronnin]

Some photos of BUrntisland. I am starting with just a couple to see if it works- my maiden image voyage-
No. 17 is a crazy totally blind 1 shotter about 130 yardsover an embankment (note the candycane sightstick in the first image)to a totally blind punchbowl green with a further 15' drop off/bunker green left and bunker green right.

Hey Richard my picture files ar allegedly too large also, Must some zip trick we don't know or something?

[Brian_Ewen]

Phil
As everyone else is too polite , I will point out that Arbroath is not in Fife .

I have posted photos of Arbroath several times , they are out there somewhere 

[Rich Goodale]

Phil

Kinghorn is a bit weird, but interesting.  I'm told by ancient members that pre-WWII it was a superb and well kent course, but they never reclaimed 5-6 holes after RAF requisition in 1940 or so and fitting 18 into the remaining land after the War was a task of Cinderella-Slipper-Ugly-Stepsister proportions.  The putting green has better links grass than any other course in Fife.  Well worth a vist, and dead cheap.

Rich

[Phil McDade]

Phil
As everyone else is too polite , I will point out that Arbroath is not in Fife .

I have posted photos of Arbroath several times , they are out there somewhere 

Brian:

Well, I knew that, although the post did say "Fife-area," and I know lots of folks who base themselves in St. Andrews for a golfing vacation often head to Carnoustie-area courses (in 1999, they ran speedy hovercrafts from St. Andrews to Carnoustie for the Open, whcih was pretty neat to see).

I'll hunt down the threads on Arbroath. Thanks for the tip.

[Stan Dodd]

I played Arbroath once and would play again.  After hunting for someone to take our $, it was cheap.  We were the only people on the course.  There are some really fun greens with fantastic undulations.  Good course but its hard to stop between Carnosutie and Montrose.

[Doug Spets]

I think the outward nine at Scotscraig is pretty strong...narrow driving and a memorable table-top green on a short par 4.   Old and interesting.

But...the inward nine was incredibly unmemorable.  The terrain is fairly flat and feature-less.  I'm not sure where my take-home literature from the course is...but it was pretty obvious the inward nine was an add-on to a fine 9-hole golf course.

The course at one time was a local qualifying site for Open Championships played at the Old Course...and the club is one of the 7 or 8 oldest in Scotland.  Of those listed in the magazine article, I'd most strongly recommend Crail, Eden and un-mentioned Leven Links and Elie.

[Mark Pearce]

I think the outward nine at Scotscraig is pretty strong...narrow driving and a memorable table-top green on a short par 4.   Old and interesting.

But...the inward nine was incredibly unmemorable.  The terrain is fairly flat and feature-less.  I'm not sure where my take-home literature from the course is...but it was pretty obvious the inward nine was an add-on to a fine 9-hole golf course.

The course at one time was a local qualifying site for Open Championships played at the Old Course...and the club is one of the 7 or 8 oldest in Scotland.  Of those listed in the magazine article, I'd most strongly recommend Crail, Eden and un-mentioned Leven Links and Elie.

You won't get on Elie for less than £50 nowadays, I'm afraid.

[Brian_Ewen]

Phil / Stan
A lot of Golfers in my area just dont rate Arbroath , boring is the most used comment.

I think the problem seems to be its so flat for a links course , and its also a slicers nightmare .

Personally I love it , especially the 13th which one of my favourite short par 4's , a cracking blind par 3 at the turn , and some of the railway line holes are ........... interesting !

I also have never seen a course dry as quick as Arbroath . A few years back , desperate for a game of golf after a night of torrential rain , all courses in my area were closed including Montrose . Not Arbroath though , not even a puddle was to be seen .

Stonehaven has a recipricol agreement with Arbroath , so we get on for a tenner . What a bargain .