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Kingsbarns Golf Links

Kingsbarns, Fife · Designed by Kyle Phillips (2000) · Est. 2000

Kingsbarns is the great modern proof that a links can be built rather than merely found. There was golf on this Fife shoreline as far back as 1793, but the land had returned to farmland for most of the 20th century when the American architect Kyle Phillips took it on and, with enormous earthmoving, sculpted a links so natural-looking that first-time visitors refuse to believe it is not centuries old. It opened in 2000 and went almost immediately into the world's top 100.

The course runs along nearly two miles of coast a few miles south-east of St Andrews, and every one of the eighteen holes has a view of the sea — many of them play right along the rocks and the beach. It stretches to par 72 over about 7,200 yards, but the genius is in the routing and the great rolling greens rather than brute length. Since 2001 it has co-hosted the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship alongside the Old Course and Carnoustie, so the world's best play it every autumn.

Kingsbarns is a pure golf experience — no hotel, no houses, just the links, the shore and a fine clubhouse — and it pairs perfectly with St Andrews for a Fife trip.

Holes worth knowing

112th (par-5) — a long, sweeping three-shotter that hugs the curve of the bay, the beach down the entire right side and the green set out near the rocks. The hole that best captures how Kingsbarns marries modern design to the natural line of the coast.

Highlights

Kyle Phillips modern links (2000) — world top 100
A sea view from every one of the 18 holes
Co-hosts the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship

Good to know

→Kingsbarns is six miles from St Andrews — the obvious pairing. Many golfers play the Old Course and Kingsbarns on the same trip, so book both well ahead.
→It is open roughly April to October only, and tee times go quickly in the autumn around the Dunhill — plan your dates early.
→There is no accommodation on site; stay in St Andrews or the East Neuk fishing villages (Crail, Anstruther) nearby, which are lovely.
→Every hole sees the sea, so it is worth saving for a fine, clear day — and bring a camera.
→Kingsbarns runs along nearly two miles of Fife coast with the sea visible from every hole; it shares the Dunhill Links Championship rota with St Andrews and Carnoustie, 15 minutes up the road.

Visitor Information

Getting There

45min drive

1h 30min drive

Common questions

Was Kingsbarns really only built in 2000?

Yes. Although there was golf on this Fife shoreline as far back as 1793, the land was farmland for most of the 20th century. The American architect Kyle Phillips sculpted the present links with huge earthmoving, and it opened in 2000 looking so natural that first-time visitors refuse to believe it is not centuries old. It went almost straight into the world's top 100.

Does every hole at Kingsbarns have a sea view?

Yes — the course runs along nearly two miles of coast a few miles south-east of St Andrews, and all eighteen holes look out to the sea, with several playing right along the rocks and the beach. It is one of the most scenic rounds in Scotland.

How do I play Kingsbarns, and what is nearby?

It books directly through the club and is open roughly April to October. Since 2001 it has co-hosted the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship with the Old Course and Carnoustie, so autumn tee times go fast. It is six miles from St Andrews — the natural pairing — with the East Neuk fishing villages close by for a place to stay.