Crail Golfing Society
Fife, ScotlandOverview
Famous for its boathouse near the first green of the Balcomie Links, the historic Royal Navy training school on the approach to the club is the best-preserved RNAS in the world!
The club still plays for the Lindesay Medal, dating from 1830, making it one of the oldest medals in golf!
Crail Golfing Society Videos
Cookie Jar's Old Tom's Trails can be seen here
Watch the club's promo video here
No Laying Up's visit can be seen here
Watch Haversham Bakers video here
Golf Course Review
Crail Golfing Society dates from 1786 when 11 gentlemen established the Crail Golfing Society on the 23rd of February. Crail Golfing Society is the 7th oldest golf club in the world!
Crail Golfing Society Balcomie Links
The current iteration can be attributed to Old Tom Morris from 1895 when he laid out the first 9 holes. He returned 5 years later in 1900 to lay out the additional 9. The course makes the most of the shoreline and the holes are quirky - exactly what you would expect from Old Tom Morris from 1900! The design also is known for its bunkers clad with old railway sleepers.
Donald Steel wrote that not even North Berwick brings the beach into play than Crail Golfing Society Balcomie Links. The opening holes from 2 through 5 run along the seaside before holes 6 through 13 make use of the inland property. The final stretch from 14 through 18, finishes near the seaside. The course measures less than 6,000 yard and sports five one-shot holes on the back nine - four of them in the final six holes to finish!
Crail Golfing Society Craighead Links
Craighead Links is perched atop the cliffs affording breathtaking coastal views of the North Sea, the Firth of Forth and the Isle of May National Nature Reserve. The most is made of the medieval dry stone walls are used as part of the courses strategic design.
Summary
Uniquely, the club features two 18-hole links golf courses which contrast harmoniously. An Old Tom Morris design alongside a modern-day Gil Hanse production is a study in the evolution of golf course design on one location.
Perhaps surprisingly, you'll pay £20 more to play Old Tom Morris' Balcomie Links than the new and shiny Gil Hanse Craighead Links. Opened in 1998, Craighead Links is Gil Hanse' first international and solo design. It isn't as well known due to flashier clubs nearby like Kinsgbarns and Dumbarnie but no doubt as Gil Hanse' reputation and legacy continues to grow, so too will that of Craighead Links.
Golf Course Photography
Purchase photography of this course here.
Evalu18Featured Architect: Old Tom Morris
Old Tom Morris used the natural golfing terrain and the site's best features to perfection. Limited by circumstance and the naturalness and rugged nature of the best sites available means Old Tom's minimalist work is still amongst the best in the game. Wide & shared fairways allowing for width and...
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Evalu18Featured Architect: Old Tom Morris
Old Tom Morris used the natural golfing terrain and the site's best features to perfection. Limited by circumstance and the naturalness and rugged nature of the best sites available means Old Tom's minimalist work is still amongst the best in the game. Wide & shared fairways allowing for width and...
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