Rank Crail, Elie, Levin and Lundin?

[Richard Phinney]

Thanks for the great input on a similar thread and I promise this will be the last one...
How would you rank Crail; Elie, Leven and Lundin if you could only play one (or two).
Cheers.

[Mike Leveille]

Richard:

I would rank the four courses as follows in order of my personal preference:

1.  Elie - one of my favorite "B" level courses in Scotland, from the submarine periscope on the 1st tee, a couple of first-class holes alongside the North Sea, a short and truly enjoyable course, and the neat Golf Tavern alongside the 4th tee and 17th green (definitely worth a stop for a pint or two after (or during) your round).

2.  Crail (Balcomie) - just a really fun links course with a clubhouse that features great views and a nice bar/dining area where you can share a pint with the locals.  A bit on the short side and perhaps not as good a "test" of golf as Lundin, but as much fun as anyone could ask for in a round of golf.

3.  Lundin - the first few holes alongside the sea are wonderful (as is the 18th) and the views from the par five 13th and par three 14th out over the Lundin and Leven golf courses are spectacular, but not quite as much fun as Elie and Crail in my opinion.

4.  Leven - my least favorite of the four courses, but still a course I would enjoy playing on a daily basis.  Not sure I'll ever figure out how best to play the 18th hole, with the grassy area in the middle of the fairway and the long second shot over the burn.  Into a breeze, one of the toughest finsihing holes in links golf.

Mike

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Mike, I agree with your ranking, but only the on the strength of a couple of rounds each at Elie and Crail and one each at Lundin and Leven.

[Ally Mcintosh]

I am playing all 4 of these courses this week. I know Crail & Elie well, have never stepped foot on Lundin and last played Leven when I was a 13 year old so couldn’t really remember a thing.


Let me tell you, I’ve just stepped off Leven yesterday and it is an awesome course.


Perfect ground contours, highly individual holes and some lovely green movement. Way exceeded expectations.


Only reservation I might have is playing it in a big wind on an off-day with lush rough. I had none of those things but it could possibly seem too tight in the wrong conditions.

[Niall C]

Well clearly Elie is no. 1 as it has the Ship Inn. Lundin and Leven are neck and neck since they share the same chip shop/pubs, while Crail is clearly last without a decent pub to talk of.

Niall

[Rich Goodale]

1. Elie
2. Leven
3. Lundin
4. Crail


There's no great space between all of them

[jeffwarne]

Well clearly Elie is no. 1 as it has the Ship Inn. Lundin and Leven are neck and neck since they share the same chip shop/pubs, while Crail is clearly last without a decent pub to talk of.

Niall

Finally -an objective based quantitative analysis

[Mark Pearce]

Elie
Lundin
Leven
Crail


It's odd with Balcomie.  Lots of really good golf (1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 15, 17 and 18 are all at least very good) and I've played some of my best competitive golf there but for some reason it doesn't grab me the way Elie and Lundin do.  Leven's new holes may be a bit better than Lundin but I do think Lundin has the best of the original 18.


As Rich says, not a huge amount between any of them and all places I'd happily play a lot of golf. 


I should declare my slight bias in being a member of two of them.

[David McIntosh]

Elie > Lundin > Leven > Crail

That’s my ranking anyway but, as has already been stated, you wouldn’t go wrong with a game on any of the four.

I’ve played Leven more than the other three combined and my view is that it’s a solid course which is of generally the same level all of the way round. It doesn’t quite hit the highs of Lundin (that said, Leven isn’t as up and down in terms of quality yet Lundin is better as an overall package) nor does it have the charm of Elie, which is just a really enjoyable place to play with its great short par fours, terrific pair of par threes and testing back nine.

[Sean_A]

For me, Elie is so far in front that the four aren't comparable.  Crail, Lundin and Leven are more or less in the same class.  I would probably take Crail over the others because of the views, but it has just as many if not more very good holes.  Bottom line, the one of the four I am really interested in seeing again is Elie...these others are good enough golf, but really trip fillers.

Ciao

[Stephen Northrup]

Played all four for the first time in April.


Elie
Lundin
Crail
Leven


It's a close call between Lundin and Crail -- Crail has higher highs than Lundin, but I felt the overall consistency of holes at Lundin was better from a strategic standpoint.

[Alex Miller]

For me, Elie is so far in front that the four aren't comparable.  Crail, Lundin and Leven are more or less in the same class.  I would probably take Crail over the others because of the views, but it has just as many if not more very good holes.  Bottom line, the one of the four I am really interested in seeing again is Elie...these others are good enough golf, but really trip fillers.

Ciao

Agree with this.

[Ally Mcintosh]

1. Elie
2. Leven
3. Lundin
4. Crail


There's no great space between all of them

I agree with everything in this post (despite my love of Crail).


Elie is better kept than the others and has some fine individual architectural features but there certainly isn’t much daylight between it and some of the fantastic holes at both Leven and Lundin.

[Doug Wright]

Richard:

I would rank the four courses as follows in order of my personal preference:

1.  Elie - one of my favorite "B" level courses in Scotland, from the submarine periscope on the 1st tee, a couple of first-class holes alongside the North Sea, a short and truly enjoyable course, and the neat Golf Tavern alongside the 4th tee and 17th green (definitely worth a stop for a pint or two after (or during) your round).

2.  Crail (Balcomie) - just a really fun links course with a clubhouse that features great views and a nice bar/dining area where you can share a pint with the locals.  A bit on the short side and perhaps not as good a "test" of golf as Lundin, but as much fun as anyone could ask for in a round of golf.

3.  Lundin - the first few holes alongside the sea are wonderful (as is the 18th) and the views from the par five 13th and par three 14th out over the Lundin and Leven golf courses are spectacular, but not quite as much fun as Elie and Crail in my opinion.

4.  Leven - my least favorite of the four courses, but still a course I would enjoy playing on a daily basis.  Not sure I'll ever figure out how best to play the 18th hole, with the grassy area in the middle of the fairway and the long second shot over the burn.  Into a breeze, one of the toughest finsihing holes in links golf.

Mike

I agree with Mike, and for the reasons he stated too.

[Rich Goodale]

Richard:

I would rank the four courses as follows in order of my personal preference:

1.  Elie - one of my favorite "B" level courses in Scotland, from the submarine periscope on the 1st tee, a couple of first-class holes alongside the North Sea, a short and truly enjoyable course, and the neat Golf Tavern alongside the 4th tee and 17th green (definitely worth a stop for a pint or two after (or during) your round).

2.  Crail (Balcomie) - just a really fun links course with a clubhouse that features great views and a nice bar/dining area where you can share a pint with the locals.  A bit on the short side and perhaps not as good a "test" of golf as Lundin, but as much fun as anyone could ask for in a round of golf.

3.  Lundin - the first few holes alongside the sea are wonderful (as is the 18th) and the views from the par five 13th and par three 14th out over the Lundin and Leven golf courses are spectacular, but not quite as much fun as Elie and Crail in my opinion.

4.  Leven - my least favorite of the four courses, but still a course I would enjoy playing on a daily basis.  Not sure I'll ever figure out how best to play the 18th hole, with the grassy area in the middle of the fairway and the long second shot over the burn.  Into a breeze, one of the toughest finsihing holes in links golf.

Mike

I agree with Mike, and for the reasons he stated too.

Doug


If views from the clubhouse float your boat, so be it.  If so, visit Aberdour.  The views from there over to Edinburgh blows Crail into the German Sea.


Rich


PS--how's the blackthorn project getting on?  Last time I visited Kelly he was still infested.


rfg

[Mark Pearce]

The best view on a fine day at Crail isn't from the clubhouse, or the course, it's your first view of the sea as you come over the crest of the hill on the road to the clubhouse.

[Mark Pearce]

For me, Elie is so far in front that the four aren't comparable.  Crail, Lundin and Leven are more or less in the same class.  I would probably take Crail over the others because of the views, but it has just as many if not more very good holes.  Bottom line, the one of the four I am really interested in seeing again is Elie...these others are good enough golf, but really trip fillers.

Ciao

Sean,


Would you change this after Friday's visit to Lundin and Leven?  I know I would now reverse the two in my ranking.


Mark

[Ally Mcintosh]

For me, Elie is so far in front that the four aren't comparable.  Crail, Lundin and Leven are more or less in the same class.  I would probably take Crail over the others because of the views, but it has just as many if not more very good holes.  Bottom line, the one of the four I am really interested in seeing again is Elie...these others are good enough golf, but really trip fillers.

Ciao

Sean,


Would you change this after Friday's visit to Lundin and Leven?  I know I would now reverse the two in my ranking.


Mark

Mark,


Does this mean you would now take Leven over Lundin when previously it was the other way round?


If so, I’m with you. I like the compactness of Leven, a few quirky holes, some great undulation and some lovely green contours.


Lundin has its share of excellent holes but it’s a longer round and I can’t forgive the three or four holes on heavier grasses and lesser ground.

[Tom_Doak]

Elie > Lundin > Leven > Crail

That was my order as well.


On second thought, though, I should maybe have Crail at #2.  I have never played Lundin or Leven, because I can’t stand the thought of going onto the “new” holes for either one; every time I have walked them I’ve stuck to the original, combined eighteen.

[Marty Bonnar]

The once-a-year delight that is the McDonald Cup (no relation) allows the members of Lundin Golf Club, Leven Golfing Society and Leven Thistle to play the original 18.
What a Golf Course it is! I’ve waxed extremely lyrically about it here before. If it was ever to be fully resurrected, it would be right up there amongst Scotland’s very finest.
The boys played Lundin and Leven on Friday. I wonder if they could combine the holes in their heads and give an opinion!
F.

[Ally Mcintosh]

The original course must definitely be one of the greatest, Marty.


Would love to try it just once.

[Thomas Dai]

The once-a-year delight that is the McDonald Cup (no relation) allows the members of Lundin Golf Club, Leven Golfing Society and Leven Thistle to play the original 18.
What a Golf Course it is! I’ve waxed extremely lyrically about it here before. If it was ever to be fully resurrected, it would be right up there amongst Scotland’s very finest.
The boys played Lundin and Leven on Friday. I wonder if they could combine the holes in their heads and give an opinion!
F.

I believe Royal Aberdeen and the immediately adjacent Murcar have just started something similar (although in the case of RA-M they were never one course).
Atb

[Scott Warren]

Marty,


I’ve tried to do that in my head over and over since Friday. I can’t help but feel it would probably be the best course I’ve played in Scotland (Dornoch & TOC the two leaders otherwise)


Can you just confirm, was the routing Leven 1-5, Lundin 15-18, Lundin 1-5, Leven 13-15 & 18?


TBH I am still on a bit of a high from Leven. It blew me away. The start, the finish and most points in between.

[Marty Bonnar]

Marty,


I’ve tried to do that in my head over and over since Friday. I can’t help but feel it would probably be the best course I’ve played in Scotland (Dornoch & TOC the two leaders otherwise)


Can you just confirm, was the routing Leven 1-5, Lundin 15-18, Lundin 1-5, Leven 13-15 & 18?


TBH I am still on a bit of a high from Leven. It blew me away. The start, the finish and most points in between.

Exactly right, mate. Played from either end alternate years.
Which of course is the right routing to put the original 7th as the Leven Hole. (Lundin 16 now).
High praise indeed! Glad you liked Leven. We’re the greens as good as next door?
Cheers,
M.

[Mark Pearce]

For me, Elie is so far in front that the four aren't comparable.  Crail, Lundin and Leven are more or less in the same class.  I would probably take Crail over the others because of the views, but it has just as many if not more very good holes.  Bottom line, the one of the four I am really interested in seeing again is Elie...these others are good enough golf, but really trip fillers.

Ciao

Sean,


Would you change this after Friday's visit to Lundin and Leven?  I know I would now reverse the two in my ranking.


Mark

Mark,


Does this mean you would now take Leven over Lundin when previously it was the other way round?


If so, I’m with you. I like the compactness of Leven, a few quirky holes, some great undulation and some lovely green contours.


Lundin has its share of excellent holes but it’s a longer round and I can’t forgive the three or four holes on heavier grasses and lesser ground.

Absolutely.  The difference between the two is in the "new" holes.  Playing both on Friday I was more impressed than I have been before by the quality of the new holes at Leven.  Far better than those at Lundin.  They're on proper links ground and there's far more character to them.  Perhaps the highest praise is that on several we had to think hard as to whether holes were "new" or original.  And a great set of greens.  Leven was undoubtedly the scruffiest presented course we played last week but that meant it was the firmest and sportiest, which showed it off brilliantly.