A Pictorial: Lundin Links!!!

[Kyle Henderson]

Having spent the morning playing my best round of the trip at Kingsbarns, I decided to pop over to Elie for an afternoon gambol on the grounds that had such great influence on James Braid. Sadly, a ladies tournament was taking place, forcing me elsewhere.
My next choice was to head a bit further east to Lundin Links, a course I heard good things about and hoped would extract a smaller financial toll than most of my other choices. I was a little disappointed on both fronts, as the guest fee was still over $90 U.S.D. and the course was a clear step down from some of the other “modest” links I’d visited (e.g. Golspie, Crail).

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)


Clearly, I was a bit spoiled after 10 days/20 rounds playing Scotland’s finest. The Lundin Links does boast some compelling golf. But a “must play“ it is not.

Here are a few images I captured. Enjoy.

The routing.

The 1st  (par 4, 420 yards) was perhaps my favorite hole on the course, at least in terms of visual appeal. The tee shot is played down from the dunes along the firth of Forth to an inland-sloping fairway and then back up to a skyline green.
 
Looking back down the 1st to the distant clubhouse.The 18th hole is a par 4 of 440 yards that plays slightly uphill to a green perched between the 1st tee right and the road (o.b.) on the left.

The 2nd hole (par 4, 345 yards) also plays down from the dunes and features a burn that crosses the fairway75 yards short of the putting surface. Tee shot placement is critical.

This view is of the 3rd (par 4  331 yards) fairway and green after a weak snap hook off of the tee. The 15th green is right of the small shack and the 16th tees are just above the 3rd’s fairway bunkers.

The 5th (par 3, 141 yards) plays downhill from the sea over the Silver Burn while the 14th (par 3 , 177 yards) plays back towards the camera from tees at the left edge of the upper plateau. The Leven Links, which used to be a part of the same golf course, are just left of the frame.

From behind the 5th green, the Silver Burn runs towards the shore line 4th hole (par 4, 455 yards), which it crosses just in front of the 4th green in the distance.

Standing on the 14th tee, a lovely panoramic view displays the 14th green (red flag near the right edge if you scroll over), 5th green (yellow flag just left and long of the 14th green past the 6th tees), Leven Links right of the boundary wall, 11th tee in the left foreground, and the 10th green (red flag behind 11th tee).

Panning to the left, one sees the island bunker protecting the 10th green, the shared fairway of the 10th and 11th holes running along the hillside, the 6th fairway just beyond, the 15th fairway beyond that, and the 4th fairway running along the coast above the 10th green.

[Mark Pearce]

Kyle,

A shame you didn't enjoy Lundin.  As you know, I'm a member at CRail and I love Elie, but I think Lundin has the best holes of any of them (1-5, 9, 10, 14-18).

Mark

[Kyle Henderson]

Kyle,

A shame you didn't enjoy Lundin.  As you know, I'm a member at CRail and I love Elie, but I think Lundin has the best holes of any of them (1-5, 9, 10, 14-18).

Mark

I did enjoy it, and you've correctly listed its best holes, but I found the course too repetitious (blind tee shots on 6, 7, 17 were carbon copies),] and lacking in memorable green contours. I'd hate to play the course in strong winds as the holes all run parallel except for 5 and 14 (both par 3s).

I'd give it a Doak 4 at the most.

[Jamie Barber]

Has it been quite a wet summer up there (maybe a stupid question for Scotland)? Was amazed by how green it is.

[Bill_McBride]

Kyle,

A shame you didn't enjoy Lundin.  As you know, I'm a member at CRail and I love Elie, but I think Lundin has the best holes of any of them (1-5, 9, 10, 14-18).

Mark

I did enjoy it, and you've correctly listed its best holes, but I found the course too repetitious (blind tee shots on 6, 7, 17 were carbon copies),] and lacking in memorable green contours. I'd hate to play the course in strong winds as the holes all run parallel except for 5 and 14 (both par 3s).

I'd give it a Doak 4 at the most.

The only hole I've been really disappointed in at Lundin is the par 5 13th up on top of the hill   The green is really tucked away back in those trees.  I guess you heard about how those hillside holes came to be, when Levin and Lundin were split in half and new holes added to each?

There are some other fascinating elements at Lundin, such as the abandoned rail line that runs through the course and presents a constant danger of OB when you least expect it.  The 10th and 11th holes are very solid par 4s.

I love Lundin, particularly since the rousing match I had with nephew Martin last Buda Cup!  It was GCA gagging golf at its finest! 

[Marty Bonnar]

Unka Beel, I knew it was only a matter of time before you couldn't contain yourself any longer!!! Damn fine point though - that was a proper GCA Spanking!

Now, I love Lundie, and have probably played it more than most GCAers (I LOVE saying that about Fife Courses!!! )
but,
I am always overcome by sadness and general melancholia when surmounting the hill after #11 to play those holes 'up the top'. They're just so, well, dull after what has gone before and what comes after. I actually find it IMPOSSIBLE to play #12 well cos I dislike it so much. In fact, I drive past it almost every week and 'fart in it's general direction' whenever possible. 14 at least is a cracking long drop shot par '3' (which needs Driver in a good Westerly, yahoo!)

I'm not much a fan of #8 either and I can see what Kyle means about the repeating blind drives being a bit dull. For me, though, the highlights of the course more than compensate for some of the boredom.

FBD.

[Jason McNamara]

Kyle -

Thanks for this and the pvs photo tours.  Sorry in advance for a couple non-Lundin-specific questions, but

1.  Did the Elie round fall through because they added something late, or had you not made a tee time?

2.  For how many days (if any) after your return did you not even want to think about holding a golf club?  :-)

Thanks again.

[Bill_McBride]

Unka Beel, I knew it was only a matter of time before you couldn't contain yourself any longer!!! Damn fine point though - that was a proper GCA Spanking!

Now, I love Lundie, and have probably played it more than most GCAers (I LOVE saying that about Fife Courses!!! )
but,
I am always overcome by sadness and general melancholia when surmounting the hill after #11 to play those holes 'up the top'. They're just so, well, dull after what has gone before and what comes after. I actually find it IMPOSSIBLE to play #12 well cos I dislike it so much. In fact, I drive past it almost every week and 'fart in it's general direction' whenever possible. 14 at least is a cracking long drop shot par '3' (which needs Driver in a good Westerly, yahoo!)

I'm not much a fan of #8 either and I can see what Kyle means about the repeating blind drives being a bit dull. For me, though, the highlights of the course more than compensate for some of the boredom.

FBD.

Now Martin, I made no mention of how the match went, just that we were both involved in that gag-a-thon!    It was a joy treading the sacred turf of Lundin with you.   I agree on the upper holes although the par 3s are okay.  Actually 12 isn't awful and 14 is a good hole at its length.  13 on the other hand should be summarily executed.    I do love all the little par 4s on that course, but 4, 11 and 18 make up for any shortness.  And like Kyle, I love the first four holes along that dunes line and down below, wonderful stuff.

[Jeff Doerr]

Kyle,

Again a big thank you for giving us insight into your great trip!


Cheers, Jeff

[Mark Pearce]

13 isn't a dreadful golf hole.  It's just dreadful on that course.  It would be fine on an English parkland course.  On a links it's a horror.  12 isn't so bad, it serves its purpose as a way of getting up to the top level and 14 is a really good hole (particularly played into a strong wind) which couldn't be there if 12 didn't get you to the top level to come back down again.  8 would also be better on a parkland course but would be ho-hum wherever.

I don't get the issue with the blind drives, though.  Each hole then plays very differently on the second shot.  It is, I guess, a shame that all three play in the same direction, so are affected by the wind in the same way.

[Jason Topp]

Kyle:

Thanks for the pictures and viewpoints.  I think you were a bit jaded from so many great courses on your trip. My guess is that if you would have given Lundin Links 3-4 rounds, the course would have grown on you.

In the BUDA cup last year I was thoroughly charmed by Lundin Links and would consider it so far superior as a golf course compared to Crail that there really is not a comparison.


As to your criticisms:

1.  Holes running the same direction - Just like the Old Course, Brora, Troon, Dornoch, Western Gailes, etc.

2.  Repetitive tee shots - I do not remember them being repetitive but the same criticism can be levelled at 4, 5, 6 at Dornoch or nearly every tee shot on the front side at the Old Course

3.  Lack of interesting green contours - I do not recall that being the case but must admit I do not recall particularly interesting green contours.


 

[Mike Jansen]

I had the pleasure of playing there about a year ago today... it's great looking at the pics... takes me back.  I enjoyed the course, however it didn't stand out compared to the other courses I played on that trip.

[Kyle Henderson]

Kyle:

As to your criticisms:

1.  Holes running the same direction - Just like the Old Course, Brora, Troon, Dornoch, Western Gailes, etc.

2.  Repetitive tee shots - I do not remember them being repetitive but the same criticism can be levelled at 4, 5, 6 at Dornoch or nearly every tee shot on the front side at the Old Course

3.  Lack of interesting green contours - I do not recall that being the case but must admit I do not recall particularly interesting green contours.
 

1. Absolutely true. I'm not a big fan of the old school out and back loop. Royal Aberdeen and North Berwick-West also share this weakness. I hate playing 3+ consecutive holes with the same wind trajectory.

2. I can see 3-5 at Dornoch as similar tee shots if you don't lay up on 5, but 6 is a different animal. The Old Course is indeed a bit repetitious off of the tee in many respects. But, both courses make up for those "flaws" with some very special contours in the fairways and greens.

3. Crail also lacks fairway contour on both courses, but I thought both courses there offered more interesting risk/reward angles for tee shots (Balcomie 4,5,9,15 Craighead 2,3,10) compared to Lundin (2,3, 10). The Balcomie has a superior set of par 3 as well, undiluted though numerous and bunched (3,6,13,14,16,18).

These three courses are all in the same ball park (Doak 3-5), enjoyable and distinct. But, if asked by a friend, I would recommend Crail before Lundin Links.

[Mark Pearce]

None are a Doak 3 (average).  All three are at least a 4. I guess where we differ is in rating them and that's the beauty of GCA.  I do, however, suspect that you would like Lundin more with a few more plays.

[Sean_A]

Thanks for the pix.  It is lovely to see an extensive tour such as this.   

Ciao

[Ben Stephens]

Kyle

Great pics of Lundin - it brings back memories of playing for Dundee University Golf Club vs Lundin! (We also played against Leven, Elie and Ladybank clubs).

Did you know that there is an annual tournament by both Lundin and Leven playing on the original course which connected the two towns. They both use 9 holes nearest to the coast on a out and back loop like the Old course. Having played both courses - I believe that the composite course is a much stronger one than the two separate courses. Ideally I would start and finish at Leven with 9 and 10 at Lundin clubhouse. Leven's 18th is a scary finish!

Elie is a must go if you can 1- never had so much fun on a golf course until I played Brancaster! no par 5s but 5 or 6 drivable par 4s and a great par 3 - 3rd.  I even got out of a giant pot bunker with a 5 iron there!

Cheers

Ben

[David Stamm]

Kyle, these presentations are marvelous! Thank you!!! It's great to have some recent photos of these courses to refernce here. I didn't see if you had played Leven. Did you make it there?

[Bill_McBride]

1. Absolutely true. I'm not a big fan of the old school out and back loop. Royal Aberdeen and North Berwick-West also share this weakness. I hate playing 3+ consecutive holes with the same wind trajectory.

"Weakness"?

Some of my favorite courses have out and back routings - Pebble Beach, Cypress Point, Valley Club of Montecito, National Golf Links, Pacific Dunes - and that's just on this side of the pond!  The more modern double loop routing is great when it works out, but sometimes out and back works better.  I certainly wouldn't call it a weakness.

JMHO of course.

[Kyle Henderson]

1. Absolutely true. I'm not a big fan of the old school out and back loop. Royal Aberdeen and North Berwick-West also share this weakness. I hate playing 3+ consecutive holes with the same wind trajectory.

"Weakness"?

Some of my favorite courses have out and back routings - Pebble Beach, Cypress Point, Valley Club of Montecito, National Golf Links, Pacific Dunes - and that's just on this side of the pond!  The more modern double loop routing is great when it works out, but sometimes out and back works better.  I certainly wouldn't call it a weakness.

JMHO of course.

I don't know the Valley Club well enough, NGLA doubles in on itself a bit, the others you mention certainly don't qualify as out and back loops nor does Lundin Links. But Lundin Links does have almost all of its holes running parallel to the shore, as do the "out and back" routings I mentioned. Don't get me wrong. Those courses are spectacular. But they aren't perfect by my personal rubric for the reasons I stated.

[Kyle Henderson]

Kyle -

Thanks for this and the pvs photo tours.  Sorry in advance for a couple non-Lundin-specific questions, but

1.  Did the Elie round fall through because they added something late, or had you not made a tee time?

2.  For how many days (if any) after your return did you not even want to think about holding a golf club?  :-)

Thanks again.

1. I had no tee time and I didn't want to wait three hours before following a ladies tournament.

2. I started playing crap golf again during the last two days of my trip, so I hit the range about 3 days after I returned to California. THe crap persists, but the photo tours bring me back to happier times.

[Kyle Henderson]

None are a Doak 3 (average).  All three are at least a 4. I guess where we differ is in rating them and that's the beauty of GCA.  I do, however, suspect that you would like Lundin more with a few more plays.

I think Doak himself gave Lundin a 3 and Crail (Balcomie) a 4. I'd be more generous than him but I also haven't seen nearly as many of the great courses.

I'd play Lundin again if I lived near to it. I didn't dislike the course. As I said, it had the tough task of following Fife's best.

[Kyle Henderson]

Kyle, these presentations are marvelous! Thank you!!! It's great to have some recent photos of these courses to refernce here. I didn't see if you had played Leven. Did you make it there?

I did not play Leven. I'd really like to play the old sequence of holes from both clubs.

Glad you and the other are enjoying my chronicles, Stammy Sosa!

[Mark Pearce]

None are a Doak 3 (average).  All three are at least a 4. I guess where we differ is in rating them and that's the beauty of GCA.  I do, however, suspect that you would like Lundin more with a few more plays.

I think Doak himself gave Lundin a 3 and Crail (Balcomie) a 4. I'd be more generous than him but I also haven't seen nearly as many of the great courses.

I'd play Lundin again if I lived near to it. I didn't dislike the course. As I said, it had the tough task of following Fife's best.

If that's right, then he got it as wrong as he got the North East of England.  There is no way a sane man could argue that Lundin Links is at the level of the "average" golf course.  Just the first 4 and last 4 holes lift it above that.  I suspect that, perhaps, Tom was so spoiled by playing great courses that he forgot how mundane genuinely average golf courses are.  I know the Confidential Guide is a holy work for some on here but 3 for Lundin Links?  Nonsense.

[Bill_McBride]

1. Absolutely true. I'm not a big fan of the old school out and back loop. Royal Aberdeen and North Berwick-West also share this weakness. I hate playing 3+ consecutive holes with the same wind trajectory.

"Weakness"?

Some of my favorite courses have out and back routings - Pebble Beach, Cypress Point, Valley Club of Montecito, National Golf Links, Pacific Dunes - and that's just on this side of the pond!  The more modern double loop routing is great when it works out, but sometimes out and back works better.  I certainly wouldn't call it a weakness.

JMHO of course.

I don't know the Valley Club well enough, NGLA doubles in on itself a bit, the others you mention certainly don't qualify as out and back loops nor does Lundin Links. But Lundin Links does have almost all of its holes running parallel to the shore, as do the "out and back" routings I mentioned. Don't get me wrong. Those courses are spectacular. But they aren't perfect by my personal rubric for the reasons I stated.

I define a double loop course as two separate loops where #1 and #10 tee off at the clubhouse and #9 and #18 greens are near the clubhouse.  Please tell me how any of the courses I listed meet those criteria.  VC, NGLA, Pebble, the 9th is as far from the clubhouse as you get.  The others, 10th tee and 9th green are nowhere near the clubhouse.  This is not complicated stuff!

But the point is, an out and back routing, or other non double loop routing, is not a weakness - unless you run out of balls during the front nine!

[Kyle Henderson]

If that's right, then he got it as wrong as he got the North East of England.  There is no way a sane man could argue that Lundin Links is at the level of the "average" golf course.  Just the first 4 and last 4 holes lift it above that.  I suspect that, perhaps, Tom was so spoiled by playing great courses that he forgot how mundane genuinely average golf courses are.  I know the Confidential Guide is a holy work for some on here but 3 for Lundin Links?  Nonsense.

Agreed.