First in Fife
Duration: 5 days
As you might expect, the Kingdom of Fife
has a wide range of golf courses to suit all levels of golfers and
all budgets. There are golf courses by the sea and courses built on
beautiful parkland.
The Kingdom of Fife is easily accessible from
Edinburgh and Glasgow via Kincardine & Forth Road Bridges
and many golf courses are within 30 minutes drive of each
other.
Start your golfing journey into Fife with a stop
at Dunfermline Golf Club (on the A994 at
Crossford). Pitfirrane is a lovely golf course which although
relatively flat is an excellent test of golf. The club has recently
renovated the entrance and changing facilities within the 600 year
old category A listed tower house that forms the backdrop to
several of the holes.
From Crossford, go to Canmore Golf
Club which celebrated its centenary in 1997 with the help
of Ryder Cup player and runner up in the 2003 Open Championship,
Thomas Bjorn. It is not a long course but provides excellent
opportunities to test your accuracy and short game.
Next, move down towards the Fife coast crossing
the M90 and joining the A921 to Aberdour Golf
Club. This is a parkland course by the River Forth and has
some very interesting and challenging holes. The course, which has
proved popular with visitors, affords extensive views across the
river to Edinburgh and beyond from all around the course and this
is complemented by another commanding view from the clubhouse.
Burntisland Golf Club should be
your next stop. It is one of the ten clubs which were established
in Scotland before 1800 with a character quite unlike any other in
Fife. Superb panoramic views from all areas of the course which is
set above the coastal fringes with a selective mix of parkland
fairways and links greens.
Continue your drive up the A921 towards Kirkcaldy
where Kirkcaldy Golf Club will give you a warm
welcome. Another challenging parkland course in a beautiful rural
setting with spectacular views. From here drive to the north to
Thornton Golf Club which is a very scenic, easily
walked 18 hole course bounded by the river Ore. It has as fine a
finishing five holes as you will find. It is also a course that is
renowned for the condition of its greens.
From Thornton, first drive south to join the A915
and travel north east to Charleton Golf & Country
Club - A spectacular golf course, set in stunning parkland
surroundings, offering a challenge to golfers of all standards. It
is an easy drive west towards Markinch which is home to
Balbirnie Park Golf Club. This is the perfect
choice for the keen golfer who enjoys playing in beautiful wooded
parkland with fine panoramic views. Chosen by the Scottish PGA for
professional tournaments, it is a true test of golf.
Travel west along the A911, curving around the
top of Loch Leven, to Kinross. Here you will find two spectacular
courses. Firstly, Kinross - Montgomery course
which is generally regarded as perhaps the more testing of the two
courses, with all the holes presenting very different challenges
and often culminating in raised greens with wicked contours – an
enjoyable test of golf for players of all standards. The second
course to play is the Kinross - Bruce Course
which is a thoroughly enjoyable test of golf – indeed many members
and visitors prefer playing it. There are few courses where par for
the opening nine holes is 39, including a sequence of four par 5s
in the space of six holes – punctuated by the infamous pond hole
(6th).
Returning to Dunfermline, Pitreavie Golf
Club should be your next stop. Opened in 1922, the 18
hole, par 70 Pitreavie courses designed by Dr Alister MacKenzie is
a parkland course with superb views over the Firth of Forth. A true
test for golfers of all abilities, with the Mackenzie greens sure
to test your putting skills.
Finish your golfing break in Fife at one of
Scotland's newest golf courses - Forrester Park
resort. This par 72 golf course is set in 350 acres of beautiful
parkland. It has oversized greens, tees and 32 bunkers all of which
are built to strict USGA specification. It is becoming one of
Scotland's finest golfing challenges.
You can play all these golf courses by using the
First in Fife Golfpass that also gives you information on hotels
and other places to stay in the area. Visit the website First in
Fife Golf Pass: www.firstinfifegolf.com.
