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Crail Golfing Society — Balcomie Links

Crail, Fife · Designed by Old Tom Morris (1895) · Est. 1895

The Crail Golfing Society was founded in 1786, which makes it one of the oldest golf clubs in the world, and its Balcomie Links is one of the most charming seaside courses in Scotland. Laid out by Old Tom Morris and opened in 1895 on the rocky tip of Fife Ness, it wraps around the shoreline so tightly that the sea is in play on hole after hole — waves break beside the fairways and several greens sit on little clifftop shelves above the water.

At around 5,900 yards and par 69 it is not long, but the wind off the North Sea, the tight targets and the sheer drama of the setting make it a joy rather than a pushover. It is also relatively inexpensive and easy to get on — a proper old-fashioned links, and the perfect foil to the grander names up the coast. The club's second course, the Craighead Links (1998, Gil Hanse), gives you 36 holes on one of the loveliest corners of Fife.

The Society has played over this ground since the 18th century, and Balcomie's routing is a lesson in how little needs doing to great natural land. The opening holes tumble down to and along the shore in one of the game's most exhilarating starts, before the round climbs back toward the clubhouse and its glorious view over the harbour and out to the Isle of May.

Holes worth knowing

15th "Hell's Hole" (par-4) — a classic cape hole doglegging around the beach: bite off as much of the sand as you dare off the tee to shorten the approach.
213th (par-3) — a monstrous uphill short hole to a plateau green, playing into the prevailing wind, immortalised in Michael Murphy's cult book "Golf in the Kingdom".

Highlights

One of the world's oldest clubs (founded 1786)
Old Tom Morris clifftop links on Fife Ness
A second course, Craighead (Gil Hanse), for 36 holes

Good to know

→The beach is genuinely in play on the first five holes and again at 14 and 15 — the sea is a constant companion, and a constant threat, so favour the safe side in a breeze.
→Book direct with the Society; it is welcoming and inexpensive, and green fees are a fraction of the big Fife names. Consider the 36-hole day with the Craighead Links (Gil Hanse, 1998).
→Crail sits at the tip of the East Neuk, about 25 minutes from St Andrews — pair it with Kingsbarns next door, and linger for lunch in the pretty harbour village.
→Balcomie wraps around the rocks at Fife Ness with the sea in play on hole after hole — short, quirky and enormous fun, and one of the oldest clubs in the world.
→The fishing village of Crail, with its much-painted harbour, sells fresh lobster and crab on the quay in summer; St Andrews is 20 minutes up the coast.

Visitor Information

Getting There

45min drive

1h 30min drive

Common questions

How old is Crail Golfing Society?

The Crail Golfing Society was founded in 1786, making it the seventh-oldest golf club in the world. Its Balcomie Links was laid out by Old Tom Morris and opened in 1895 on the rocky tip of Fife Ness, and the club later added a second course, the Craighead Links (Gil Hanse, 1998), for 36 holes.

What is the Balcomie Links like to play?

It is a short, charming clifftop and shoreline links of around 5,900 yards and par 69, where the sea is in play on hole after hole and several greens sit on little shelves above the water. It is not long, but the wind and the drama of the setting make it a joy. It is also affordable and easy to get on — a proper old-fashioned links experience.

Where is Crail and what else is nearby?

Crail sits at the eastern tip of the East Neuk of Fife, about 25 minutes from St Andrews. It combines beautifully with Kingsbarns (a few minutes away), Dumbarnie, Elie and the Old Course for a Fife itinerary, and the fishing villages of the East Neuk are lovely to explore.