A Pictorial: The Crail Golfing Society's Balcomie and Craighead Links!!!

[Kyle Henderson]

In most corners of the world, Crail would be the centerpiece of the local golfing scene. But, with St. Andrews, Kingsbarns, and a few dozen other courses to compete with along the adjacent coastline, Crail plays the honorable role of an authentic, accessible, affordable, affable alternative for the alliterative.

I was able to enjoy The Crail Golfing Society’s pair of seaside, 18-hole courses in the magnanimous company of my host and GCA brethren  Mark Pearce and the jovial Martin Glynn Bonnar in pristine weather conditions (70 F, very slight breeze, sunny) on the last day of May. Such is the making of golf’s finest occasions. I actually met Mark the night before when I happened to finish my round on the St. Andrews Old Course at the exact time he suggested we meet by the R & A clubhouse, though I never received his email. That was but one of many fortuitous blessings that permeated my trip to Scotland.

Our triumvirate actually played the Craighead Links (Gil Hanse design, 1998,stretches to 6728 yards in total length, par 72) in the morning, enjoyed awarding fish and chips in Anstruthers for lunch, and then returned for an afternoon round on the Balcomie Links (mainly an Old Tom Morris design, 1890’s, 5861 yards, par 69), but I’ll present the courses in alphabetical order while overusing parenthetical text.
Enjoy!

FYI: My other pictorial threads from this trip can be viewed at the following links:
Royal Dornoch http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,40107.0/
Brora http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,40120.0/
Golspie http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,40126.0/
The Castle Course http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,40204.0/
Murcar http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,40281.0/
Crail: Craigshead & Balcombie http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,40325.0/
Lundin Links http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,40387.0/
Muirfield http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,40439.0/
Cruden Bay http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,40565.0/
Gleneagles - Kings Course http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,40675.0/
St. Andrews - Old Course http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,40696.0/
Gullane #1 & #2 http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,41085.0/
Panmure http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,41122.0/
Gleneagles - Queens Course http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,41152.0/
Kingsbarns http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,41184.0/
Royal Aberdeen - Balgownie Links http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,41498.0/
Carnoustie – Championship Course http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,41834.0/
North Berwick - West Links http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,42104.0/

*not featured: Nairn, Eden, New, Castle Stuart (tour)


This hastily fashioned (and erroneously labeled in a few places) map might help orient viewers to what they’re seeing in the following photos.

After the opening hole takes players down from the lofty perch of the clubhouse, the 2nd (par 5 , 493 yards)plays between the beach and a series of inland  hillocks to a peninsula green site.


 A look back at the 4th hole (par 4, 354 yards from the medal tees/ 315 yards for visitors), doglegging to starboard around the shoreline. An easy par if one does not get greedy, especially with helping winds, but trouble lurks as the beach is strictly out-of-bounds at Crail.

The 5th hole (par 4, 447 yards) also doglegs right around an ocean cove, but the angle is less acute. As such, the tee shot is reminiscent of the closing hole at Dye’s TPC Sawgrass (Stadium Course), though it turns in the opposite direction and there are no trees guarding the bailout area left. Kingsbarns golf links is just up the coast from the 5th green. The 6th (par 3, 188 yards) hole is seen coming back from elevated teeing grounds (scroll right to see the green’s front edge).

-->Panning right, one sees the 6th green, and the 5th tees near the right border of the frame.

-->And a bit further still to the right one sees the 7th (par 4, 364 yards) fairway playing along the boundary wall before spilling down to the lower plateau.

This view shows the 7th green on the right with the 4th green left. A manmade berm (2-3 feet high and under my feet as I took this photo) runs across the front of the 7th green at a 45-degree angle from short right to long left – a simple but vexing feature.

The 9th hole (par 4, 306 yards from medal tees, 250 yards for visitors)plays slightly uphill , with the centerline angled towards the boundary wall right and long of the green. The 10th hole (par 4, 336 yards) is seen beyond, also playing up to the stony partition.
 
Landing short and left is no bargain either. The sand at Crail was not so light and fluffy as at most of the nearby links, making it very tough to play high and soft recovery shots with my 50-degree wedge… I suffered. On the horizon behind me, the left-most building by the flagpoles is the new clubhouse (still under construction). The 1st tee is just below and right of the new clubhouse playing to the flag right of the smaller building on the lower plateau. Did you follow all of that?


The 13th hole (par 3, 224 yards from the tips) plays up onto the inland plateau adjacent to the 1st tee. The flag is red and visible at the left center of the photo near the left edge of the coupled, gray-roofed buildings. The last ~60 yards of the approach are on the upper level.

From the 14thtee (par 3, 147 yards, steeply downhill), one sees the large greenside bunker with planked flanks (I believe the green was protected by two smaller, boardless bunkers until recently). The front half of the green (which is 35 yards deep) is heavily tilted towards the tee. On the left, the first fairway leads to a green left of the shack. The 2nd tee is just right of the 1st green, leading players to the distant corner of turf in the top center of the frame. The trail leading to the right of this picture passes a cave that is purportedly the inspiration for “MacDuff’s Cave” in the novels “Golf In The Kingdom” and “In Search of Burningbush.”

My final offering from the Balcomie Links  is from the course’s southernmost  edge. The 15th hole (par 4, 264 yards) plays towards the camera along the shoreline. Just left of the 15th green , the 16th tees (par 3 162 yards, up hill) play to the green seen amongst the strands of gorse near the right side of the image. The 17th hole (par 4, 462 yards, 417 for visitors) plays straight away to a green just short and left of the small oceanside hillock. The 18th (par 3, 205 yards) plays back towards the rock wall on the left, bordering the Craighead Course. And, of course, the fledging clubhouse sits on the promontory.

The Balcomie provides a prime example of an architect adapting to what the land offers rather than conforming to convention. How many courses do you know that finish with a par sequence of 3,3,4,3,4,3?

On to the Craighead Course…
This relatively new addition to the golfing scene in Fife plays much tougher than its older sibling due to its greater length and some tricky shaping in and around the greens. Though it also wanders up, down, and around sweeping terrain above the sea and incorporates a number of stone walls into the strategy of several holes, the fairways due not feature the “linksy ripples” or whimsical charm of the Balcomie. The Craighead course is a bit more business-like and serves as a worthy companion to its elder. It also “enjoys” a much greater proximity to the motor speedway…

The 7th hole (par 3 198 yards) plays directly to the Forth of Firth. This view is from left of the green. That nasty little pot bunker has 3 sisters guarding the right and rear of the green.  The turf around the greens is kept a little shaggier on the Craighead, limiting the chances of success with low-running recovery shots.
 
Looking back toward the 10th (par 4, 303 yards) green and 11th tee from short of the the 11th fairway (16th green from the Balcombie Links seen beyond the wall).

Another seaside par 3 (how many can one golf club boast?!), the 13th is 160 yards in length. Playing over the pot bunker, one can utilize the right-to-left slope of the green and avoid the stone wall found port side. Note how the earthworks soften the visual impact of the  barn.

A stunning test of nerves, the 14th (par 4, 422 yards) hugs the natural line of the shore. The fairway feeds left, but the green approach is more open from the right.

A look back at the 14th green reveals the folly of flirting with the left-hand boundary along with the potential perils associated with bailing out towards the rocky hedge behind the green.

Thoughts? Comments? Let’s discuss!

-Kyle

[Tony_Muldoon]

Thanks Kyle, i hope to get there for the first time this summer. 


I'm enjoying your travelogue and I guess you are too

Crail plays the honorable role of an authentic, accessible, affordable, affable alternative for the alliterative.

 

[Ally Mcintosh]

Thanks Kyle, i hope to get there for the first time this summer. 


I'm enjoying your travelogue and I guess you are too

Crail plays the honorable role of an authentic, accessible, affordable, affable alternative for the alliterative.

 

Tony,

I saw you were in St Andrews this August. I am there for the last two weeks and one of my very closest friends lives in Crail and belongs to the club... I will certainly be playing the Balcomie at one stage if you care to join us?...

Nice photos Kyle... Lovely club, lovely village... Highly recommended

[Phil McDade]

Kyle:

I have fond memories of my round at the Balcomie links -- played in similar conditions (sunny, breezy, temps in the low 70s). I particularly enjoyed the front nine of the old links, with its shore-hugging holes and esp. those holes that incorporate the old stone wall (like the 7th). A great example of terrain dictating routing -- unconventional by today's standards, but Morris squeezed a lot of good golf into a narrow spit of land.

[Mark Pearce]

Kyle,

It was a pleasure to host you.  I think you got pretty much everything right.  The clubhouse is being substantially renovated rather than completely rebuilt, so much of the original structure survives.

Ally,

I'll be in Fife for the first two weeks of August, so will miss you, otherwise we could have made up a fourball.  The clubhouse should have reopened by the time you're there.

[Anthony Gray]

  Kyle,

  Thanks again. I love Crail. Love the par 3 13th. After round fish bar is iceing on the cake.

  Anthony

[Tim Gavrich]

My father and I had an absolutely marvelous time in Fife last June.  We ended up playing the Balcomie Links twice because the Craighead course had been punched a couple days before we arrived...bad luck.  Nonetheless, the Balcomie was tons of fun.  Hopefully I'll play Craighead the next time I'm there.  The 13th hole on the Balcomie Links is one of the best par 3s I have played.

Thanks for the pictures, Kyle.

[Carl Nichols]

Were your fish and chips free with the hat?

Seriously, very cool pics here and throughout the trip.  Which of these two courses did you prefer?

[Kyle Henderson]

Kyle,

It was a pleasure to host you.  I think you got pretty much everything right.  The clubhouse is being substantially renovated rather than completely rebuilt, so much of the original structure survives.

I knew that. Doy.

Thank you again, Mark. I had a blast!

[Kyle Henderson]

Were your fish and chips free with the hat?

 Which of these two courses did you prefer?

The hat saves me from unsightly melanoma lines.

I'd probably have to lean towards the Balcombie as my favorite of the two. I'm a sucker for quirk and charm. However, I think the Craighead would probably be a better course on which to improve my game (longer, more demanding of short game skill). The courses compliment each other well.

[Bill_McBride]

Were your fish and chips free with the hat?

 Which of these two courses did you prefer?

The hat saves me from unsightly melanoma lines.

I'd probably have to learn towards the Balcombie as my favorite of the two. I'm a sucker for quirk and charm. However, I think the Craighead would probably be a better course on which to improve my game (longer, more demanding of short game skill). The courses compliment each other well.

It's fun on a 36 hole day there playing the holes where the courses come together.  #10 is a great little par 4 which reminded me of I think #6 at Apache Stronghold.  The holes on both courses in that area are very sporty.

[Mark Pearce]

Were your fish and chips free with the hat?

 Which of these two courses did you prefer?

The hat saves me from unsightly melanoma lines.

I'd probably have to learn towards the Balcombie as my favorite of the two. I'm a sucker for quirk and charm. However, I think the Craighead would probably be a better course on which to improve my game (longer, more demanding of short game skill). The courses compliment each other well.

It's fun on a 36 hole day there playing the holes where the courses come together.  #10 is a great little par 4 which reminded me of I think #6 at Apache Stronghold.  The holes on both courses in that area are very sporty.

Kyle will have fond memories of No 10 on the Craighead, he nearly drove the green, chipped and putted for birdie.

[Andrew Mitchell]

Kyle

I always look forward to the latest instalment of your photo tour of Scotland and once again you haven't disappointed

I've played Balcomie a few times now and have always enjoyed it.  A good old fashioned links, usually with a decent breeze to test you.

I've only played Craighead once (about seven years ago) and recall it as a longer and tougher test.  I was disappointed with it at the time as we played it as an afternoon round following a morning on Balcomie and it seemed a slog in comparison.  In addition it was in very poor condition when viewed with the other course.  It may have grown in better now.  Having said all that Kyle's photographs of the 14th bring back happy memories of holing a 4 iron for an eagle 2   

[Mark Pearce]

Kyle

I always look forward to the latest instalment of your photo tour of Scotland and once again you haven't disappointed

I've played Balcomie a few times now and have always enjoyed it.  A good old fashioned links, usually with a decent breeze to test you.

I've only played Craighead once (about seven years ago) and recall it as a longer and tougher test.  I was disappointed with it at the time as we played it as an afternoon round following a morning on Balcomie and it seemed a slog in comparison.  In addition it was in very poor condition when viewed with the other course.  It may have grown in better now.  Having said all that Kyle's photographs of the 14th bring back happy memories of holing a 4 iron for an eagle 2   

Andrew,

I've only been a member a couple of years but understand a fair bit of work has been done on the Craighead in the past few years.  There certainly isn't a condition issue now, indeed I'd probably say it was in better nick than the Balcomie most of the time.  In addition they have cut back some of the rough to make it more playable (though that's relative, the SSS is 74 and more often than not CSS goes out to 77 in medals).

When  I'm there on holiday I probably choose to play the Craighead at least as often as the Balcomie, perhaps because I'm a bit of a golf masochist.

A 2 on the 14th is some golfing.  That hole averages well above 5, even in competitions like th Club Championship that only good players play in.

[Kyle Henderson]

Kyle

I always look forward to the latest instalment of your photo tour of Scotland and once again you haven't disappointed

I've played Balcomie a few times now and have always enjoyed it.  A good old fashioned links, usually with a decent breeze to test you.

I've only played Craighead once (about seven years ago) and recall it as a longer and tougher test.  I was disappointed with it at the time as we played it as an afternoon round following a morning on Balcomie and it seemed a slog in comparison.  In addition it was in very poor condition when viewed with the other course.  It may have grown in better now.  Having said all that Kyle's photographs of the 14th bring back happy memories of holing a 4 iron for an eagle 2   

My eagle 2 came next door at Kingsbarns' 6th. It included a 10 foot putt.

While your feat is mightier, mine is more impressive in that it was accomplished by someone with my skill set.

BT: How would you like to play for Nor Cal in next year's KP...

[Andrew Mitchell]

Kyle

I always look forward to the latest instalment of your photo tour of Scotland and once again you haven't disappointed

I've played Balcomie a few times now and have always enjoyed it.  A good old fashioned links, usually with a decent breeze to test you.

I've only played Craighead once (about seven years ago) and recall it as a longer and tougher test.  I was disappointed with it at the time as we played it as an afternoon round following a morning on Balcomie and it seemed a slog in comparison.  In addition it was in very poor condition when viewed with the other course.  It may have grown in better now.  Having said all that Kyle's photographs of the 14th bring back happy memories of holing a 4 iron for an eagle 2   

My eagle 2 came next door at Kingsbarns' 6th. It included a 10 foot putt.

While your feat is mightier, mine is more impressive in that it was accomplished by someone with my skill set.

BT: How would you like to play for Nor Cal in next year's KP...

The eagle 2 was the highlight of an otherwise disappointing round.  Nice 2 on 6 at Kingsbarns.  it must have been a good drive

Where was the flag?  Last time i was there it was back right which would have been a helluva drive/putt.  I look forward to the photographic evidence

I'd love to play for North Cal (or South Cal) in next year's KP.  is it all expenses paid?

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

I still find Crail to be a place of beauty and a wonderful golf experience. I never miss playing a round at Balcomie when in the area. There par 3's take a backseat to no place. The head pro is one of us.

[Sean_A]

Kyle

Thanks for the pix.  They remind me of the two days I had there - what a lovely spot.  The walk along the beach after playing the 14th was my favourite part of Crail.  Though the 5th was a very good hole.  However, and sorry to break up the lovefest, unlike most others, I wasn't terribly impressed with Crail.  There are a lot of hum drum holes in the middle of the course.  Mind you, I was hit twice so that never settled well.  Now with the green fee at ~£50 it isn't really a cheap excursion like it used to be.  Given the quality it should be a £30 course, but others in the locale hoick the price up.

Ciao

[Mark Pearce]

Kyle

Thanks for the pix.  They remind me of the two days I had there - what a lovely spot.  The walk along playing the 14th and walking the beach was my part of Crail.  Though the 5th was a very good hole.  However, and sorry to break up the lovefest, unlike most others, I wasn't terribly impressed with Crail.  There are a lot of hum drum holes in the middle of the course.  Mind you, I was hit twice so that never settled well.  Now with the green fee at ~£50 it isn't really a cheap excursion like it used to be.  Given the quality it should be a £30 course, but others in the locale hoick the price up.

Ciao

Sean,

It's not entirely clear from your post, particularly the reference to the 14th, but I guess you're talking about the Balcomie?  In which case I probably agree to an extent.  The Balcomie has lots of quirk (the 3,3,4,3,4,3 finish, the 7th, the double green (8 and 11), the 13th and 14th, the 16th) but and it's a great, fun place to play.  As a course, however, I'd rank it behind Lundin, Elie and most of the St Andrews courses. You are right that a number of the holes are a little ho-hum (6, 7?, 10, 11, 12 (though that is tough), 15, (though it's a fun driveable par 4) and 17).  I'd also, and I may be in a minority here, rank it behind the Craighead as a course.  If I'm taking a guest to Crail and we're only playing one round I'll almost certainly take them on the Balcomie unless they are a proficient golfer and likely to enjoy the challenge of the Craighead.

Mark

[Sean_A]

Kyle

Thanks for the pix.  They remind me of the two days I had there - what a lovely spot.  The walk along playing the 14th and walking the beach was my part of Crail.  Though the 5th was a very good hole.  However, and sorry to break up the lovefest, unlike most others, I wasn't terribly impressed with Crail.  There are a lot of hum drum holes in the middle of the course.  Mind you, I was hit twice so that never settled well.  Now with the green fee at ~£50 it isn't really a cheap excursion like it used to be.  Given the quality it should be a £30 course, but others in the locale hoick the price up.

Ciao

Sean,

It's not entirely clear from your post, particularly the reference to the 14th, but I guess you're talking about the Balcomie?  In which case I probably agree to an extent.  The Balcomie has lots of quirk (the 3,3,4,3,4,3 finish, the 7th, the double green (8 and 11), the 13th and 14th, the 16th) but and it's a great, fun place to play.  As a course, however, I'd rank it behind Lundin, Elie and most of the St Andrews courses. You are right that a number of the holes are a little ho-hum (6, 7?, 10, 11, 12 (though that is tough), 15, (though it's a fun driveable par 4) and 17).  I'd also, and I may be in a minority here, rank it behind the Craighead as a course.  If I'm taking a guest to Crail and we're only playing one round I'll almost certainly take them on the Balcomie unless they are a proficient golfer and likely to enjoy the challenge of the Craighead.

Mark

Mark

Yes, I was referencing the BL.  I used to be a big fan because it was a welcome break from back braker courses, but with the prices rising so steeply (I seem to recall paying £20 for the day on thw weekend) I lost a lot of my enthusiasm for the place.  Still, Crail is a lovely spot and on a nice day it will raise a smile.

Ciao

[Kyle Henderson]

FWIW,

Lundin Links fetches similar visitor rates (£55). I'd rank the three courses:

1)Balcombie 2) Craighead 3) Lundin 

Kyle

Thanks for the pix.  They remind me of the two days I had there - what a lovely spot.  The walk along playing the 14th and walking the beach was my part of Crail.  Though the 5th was a very good hole.  However, and sorry to break up the lovefest, unlike most others, I wasn't terribly impressed with Crail.  There are a lot of hum drum holes in the middle of the course.  Mind you, I was hit twice so that never settled well.  Now with the green fee at ~£50 it isn't really a cheap excursion like it used to be.  Given the quality it should be a £30 course, but others in the locale hoick the price up.

Ciao

Sean,

It's not entirely clear from your post, particularly the reference to the 14th, but I guess you're talking about the Balcomie?  In which case I probably agree to an extent.  The Balcomie has lots of quirk (the 3,3,4,3,4,3 finish, the 7th, the double green (8 and 11), the 13th and 14th, the 16th) but and it's a great, fun place to play.  As a course, however, I'd rank it behind Lundin, Elie and most of the St Andrews courses. You are right that a number of the holes are a little ho-hum (6, 7?, 10, 11, 12 (though that is tough), 15, (though it's a fun driveable par 4) and 17).  I'd also, and I may be in a minority here, rank it behind the Craighead as a course.  If I'm taking a guest to Crail and we're only playing one round I'll almost certainly take them on the Balcomie unless they are a proficient golfer and likely to enjoy the challenge of the Craighead.

Mark