Just returned from a trip to St Andrews which included a game at Scotscraig. I had played there once but that was 30 years ago and didn't really have a clear memory of the course. I also have to say until I just did a search I hadn't remembered starting this thread or that work was supposed to have been done on the course.
Firstly it is lovely course but it is a members course in the Scottish tradition, which is to say keeping the ball in play is a large part of the game. Those expecting the wide open vistas of the high-end modern pay and play courses will be disappointed. That said it is eminently playable. Our group played the Eden course the day before where the winds were strong enough to effect putts and have the ball oscillating on the greens, and our game at Scotscraig was played in similar conditions, and yet we managed to get round without too many dramas.
In appearance it is similar to Gailes before it get its recent going over, with pine/birch trees, gorse and whin aplenty and lots of ground movement. Due to the topography it wasn't always, or indeed it was seldom obvious what all the options were or what was the best play, all of which speaks again of it being a members course.
While I enjoyed the course I was disappointed in the condition which wasn't great compared to what we got the day before. I also thought some of the green complexes were disappointing and if the club have done some work on them then they haven't always made the most of it. In terms of gorse clearance they appear to have taken the minimalist approach and done very little. I don't want to sound down on the course because it is certainly well worth a play but I can't help feeling it could be better.
Am I being too harsh ?
Niall