Crail Golfing Society – Balcomie Links
TOP 10 FACTS
Name:
Balcomie Links, Crail Golfing Society
Location:
Crail, Fife, Scotland
Opened:
1895
Designed By:
Old Tom Morris
Category:
Classic Scottish Links
Stats:
Par 69 / 5,360 metres (5,861 yards)
Rating and Slope:
Information not available
Tournament History:
Host of regional amateur events and a favourite on the Fife open competitions circuit
Facilities:
Clubhouse with restaurant, pro shop, practice facilities including driving bays and putting greens
Signature Features:
Coastal holes hugging the North Sea, blind shots, shared fairways, and railway sleeper bunkers
Unique Fact:
Crail Golfing Society, founded in 1786, is the seventh oldest golf club in the world
Balcomie Links at Crail Golfing Society is one of the most scenic and historic golf courses in Scotland. Located just a short drive from St Andrews, this hidden gem sits atop a rugged stretch of the Fife coastline, delivering a classic links challenge with stunning sea views on nearly every hole.
Designed by the legendary Old Tom Morris in 1895, Balcomie Links is part of the Crail Golfing Society, which dates back to 1786, making it the seventh oldest golf club in the world. The course is a living tribute to traditional links design, where natural features dictate the routing and the coastal winds are as much a part of the game as the clubs in your bag.
Playing to a par 69 and measuring 5,861 yards, Balcomie isn’t long by modern standards, but it demands creativity, accuracy, and touch. With its compact layout, tight fairways, and small, fast greens, the course rewards strategy over brute force. Notable features include stone walls, shared fairways, and bunkers lined with railway sleepers, all adding character and challenge.
Highlights include the dramatic 5th hole ("Hell’s Hole"), a tough par-4 that skirts the rocky coastline and requires pinpoint placement, and the 14th, a par-3 played from an elevated tee to a green framed by the sea — one of the most photographed holes in the area.
The clubhouse offers warm hospitality, with a restaurant overlooking the 18th green, a well-stocked pro shop, and full practice facilities, including a driving range, short game area, and two putting greens. Caddies and equipment hire are available, and visitors are always welcome to book tee times online or via the club.
A round at Balcomie Links delivers the perfect mix of heritage golf, coastal scenery, and traditional links charm. It’s an essential stop for anyone playing the East Neuk of Fife or adding to a golf itinerary near St Andrews.
Packages including this course or that can be added with Tailormade packages
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