A
few miles up the road from one of the most picturesque Scottish
villages on Fife’s East Neuk, Crail Golfing Society can
be found. The Balcomie course is one of the best in Fife. Crail
Golfing Society was established on February 23rd 1786 making
it the seventh oldest golf club in existence anywhere.
In 1895 golfing legend Old Tom Morris was invited
by the Society to design an extension to an existing 8 hole
course. That course was Balcomie Links, now one of Scotland’s
classics and has an enviable reputation for superbly maintained
greens all year round.
The
links commands lovely views over the Firth of Tay, Firth of
Forth and the North Sea. There are many memorable holes with
the most demanding being the par 4 5th Hell’s Hole, a
right dogleg playing over the jagged rocks of Tullybothy Crags.
A second newer course named Craighead is longer and a formidable
compatriot to the links of Balcomie. American designer Gil Hanse
has used the abundant panoramic seascapes to great effect. Each
hole changes direction constantly challenging the abilities
of the golfer coupled with penal rough ravenous bunkers and
the closing holes being the most severe.
