One round in the Kingdom (with conditions)

[James Brown]

So, playing the Old Course on a Monday next July 2018.   New Course the next morning and have an afternoon free that day.    What course would you play?   Have played TOC 3 times before and New, Castle, Jubilee, Crail, and Kingsbarns.


I am torn between Crail, Kingsbarns, Ellie, Lundin/Levin and Carnoustie.  Or Lottery TOC.

[Marty Bonnar]

Go see Scotscraig. It’s great.


F.

[Brian_Ewen]

Leven

[Matthew Essig]

Elie

[Ally Mcintosh]

Ballybunion.... Wrong Kingdom?..... Why not try 9 at Kingarrock with hickories, a free dram and a history lesson?

[Mark Pearce]

Elie. 

[Ian Galbraith]

Carnoustie or Elie

[Richard Fisher]

Usual warning note about driving times in the UK, even though you have a July date and huge amounts of evening light

How about a 4pm start at Elie? Could be a blissful time to play.

[astavrides]

Carnoustie

[Tim Gallant]

Elie!

[Brett Wiesley]

I played Elie this past fall and thought the course and layout were fun with plenty of interesting holes.  The only downside was the length of the rough.  Just off the fairways, which are tight, it was deep cabbage.  We lost many many balls from just a few yards off the fairways.  Disappointing and dampened what could be a delightful course to play.

[Alex Miller]

Another vote for Elie

[Jon Wiggett]

Elie or Scotcraig as Marty suggests.

[David McIntosh]

On the basis you’ve already seen TOC, Crail and Kingsbarns, I’d play either Carnoustie or Elie. I’d have Lundin over Leven marginally but try to play both at some point to compare the two neighbours.

Scotscraig is a good course too and has more of a heathland feel than any of the others mentioned so may make any enjoyable alternative if you’re after something a bit different.

[Doug Bolls]

James - Over the last 25 years I have been to "The Kingdom" 3 times and at this point in my life will not get back there again.  I have played every course you have mentioned - TOC 5 times including once in reverse on a Masters weekend.
I look back with great pleasure at my time spent there, and have but two regrets.


I did not get to Musselburgh Links and play a round with Hickories and I did not spend an afternoon at the St. Andrews Ladies Putting Club (Himalayas) right there in town.


I would recommend either one of those would be a memorable way to spend an afternoon.

[Mark Pearce]

I played Elie this past fall and thought the course and layout were fun with plenty of interesting holes.  The only downside was the length of the rough.  Just off the fairways, which are tight, it was deep cabbage.  We lost many many balls from just a few yards off the fairways.  Disappointing and dampened what could be a delightful course to play.

Honestly, you have to be playing very, very badly to lose a ball at Elie, even with the rough up.  I have no idea how anyone could lose many balls there.  The rough can be deep but the playing corridors are miles wide.

[Sean_A]

I played Elie this past fall and thought the course and layout were fun with plenty of interesting holes.  The only downside was the length of the rough.  Just off the fairways, which are tight, it was deep cabbage.  We lost many many balls from just a few yards off the fairways.  Disappointing and dampened what could be a delightful course to play.

Honestly, you have to be playing very, very badly to lose a ball at Elie, even with the rough up.  I have no idea how anyone could lose many balls there.  The rough can be deep but the playing corridors are miles wide.

This is wildly inaccurate. There are spots at Elie where balls can be lost... including right on the opening hole... the left is no picnic either. Playing links in high season almost invariably means lost ball rough is in play with far from poor shots . Still, Elie is a good call. Nobody has mentioned Burnside... a wonderful course.


Ciao

[Marty Bonnar]

As a resident of ‘The Kingdom’, I must point out that neither Carnoustie or the Burnside can be considered as ‘in it’.
 

Love,
F.

[James Brown]

Thanks a bunch.  This is helpful as it is always hard for me to choose my side courses on UK trips because there are so many gems. 


Scoreboard:


Elie 7
Carnoustie 3 (Point taken on NOT Kingdom)
Scottscraig 3
Leven
Lundin
Burnside

[Sean_A]

As a resident of ‘The Kingdom’, I must point out that neither Carnoustie or the Burnside can be considered as ‘in it’.
 

Love,
F.

And who is the king of the "Kingdom" 


Ciao

[Marty Bonnar]

Dear old Malcolm Canmore:
The King sits in Dunfermline Toun,
Drinking the bluid-red wine...


F.

[Sean Walsh]

I'd wander past the starter's box and see how long the wait is for TOC. Pick that if I was going to be playing within an hour.


Otherwise I'd keep walking (or jump back in the car and drive around) to the Eden. After a nice quick round on the Eden I'd hot the Himalayas on the way back to town.

[Ken Moum]

I'm sort of astonished that no one has  mentioned Crail.


Anyway, I'd add a vote for Elie.


You have to play the best course I've ever seen without a  par five.


K

[Brian_Ewen]

I'm sort of astonished that no one has  mentioned Crail.

It was mentioned .... in the OP.

[Thomas Dai]

As a resident of ‘The Kingdom’, I must point out that neither Carnoustie or the Burnside can be considered as ‘in it’.
 
Love,
F.

Marty,
Out of historical curiosity, have the boundaries of the KoF changed much over the centuries? Not suggesting some of the courses mentioned were likely inclusions though.
Atb