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36 holes of golfing brilliance, Monifieth Golf Club has 2 exquisite 18 hole layouts – the Medal course and the Ashludie. And you definitely need to play both of them on your visit to the area.

 

The Medal course is the traditional layout with the opening holes running alongside the railway making the tee-shot a bit more intimidating. Coupled with the sand dunes on the opposite side and the fairway appears very narrow. Once you manage to get the ball in play, the greens are guarded by bunkers meaning you’ve got to get creative. Turning for home, the par 4’s on the inward 9 are easy on the eye but a little less easy to play. It craves an accurate tee-shot leaving a mid iron into the green. The 18^th is a favourite hole, a par 5 which should present an opportunity for birdie. There is danger but 2 good swings and 2 putts will leave you with a smile on your face.

The Ashludie course is the shorter of the 2 – at 5100 yards it looks easy on the scorecard but with a whipping wind and a series of doglegs, not to mention the brilliant bunkering and testing greens then the course is far from simple. It demands a variety of shots but nonetheless it is fun course to play and enjoy.

If you wish to play 36 holes in the one day, the Monifieth combination is perfect for you!

Distance From Course: 6 miles

A golf course that needs little by way of introduction, the famous Old Course in St Andrews is at the top of just about every golfer’s golf course ‘bucket list’ Relive your favourite Open moments and create unforgettable memories as you follow in the footsteps of the game’s greatest moments.

More about the Old Course St Andrews

Image Credit: St Andrews Links Trust

Distance From Course: 10 miles

Considered to the toughest golf course of the seven links courses in St Andrews, the Jubilee has an interesting history – it was originally developed as a beginner’s course and to be used by ladies. In 1988, the course was re-designed as a championship golf course and a great addition to the St Andrews Links experience.

Wedged in between the New Course and the sea, the Jubilee Course has some great camera worthy holes and is must play as part of your St Andrews experience. 

 

Image Credit: St Andrews Links Trust

Distance From Course: 10 miles

A gentler golfing experience, the Eden Course stretches out to 6250 yards, par 70. It is an enjoyable golf course with some great holes running alongside the water and estuary with some crisscrossing between holes adding to the traditional design features – the golf course was built in 1914.

We temper the “gentler” experience tag with the weather conditions on the day. The Eden course is more exposed to the elements and can be a real challenge when the wind blows! It is also wise to stay away from the bunkers, there are some really penalizing bunkers around the Eden which could spoil a scorecard or two!

 

Image Credit: St Andrews Links Trust

Distance From Course: 9 miles

The New Course at St Andrews is considered the oldest “New” course in the world being built in 1895! With undulating fairways and tricky greens, the New Course is a great layout and a real test of every club in the bag around this traditional links.

Stretching out at 6625 yards and par 71, the course is perhaps a tad shorter by modern standards however it is a great design and well worth playing as part of your St Andrews golf holiday experience.

 

Image Credit: St Andrews Links Trust

Distance From Course: 10 miles

Widely regarded as the toughest course on the Open Championship rota, Carnoustie is held in the highest regard with good reason. Carnoustie has hosted 8 Open Championships and 1 Women’s Open Championship.

The layout of the Carnoustie Championship Course is tough from the get-go and requires precise driving and top ball striking. It’s easy to see why the best ball-strikers do well round here; Francesco Molinari, Padraig Harrington, Paul Lawrie and Ben Hogan are all previous champions here. The iconic holes include the 6^th “Hogans Alley” which is a birdie opportunity if you get the right tee-shot away. This is the final birdie chance for many holes as Carnoustie really shows its championship credentials.

The final few holes on Carnoustie Championship Course are what everyone remembers from the iconic Open Championships; 16 is a long par 3 in which a par feels like a birdie, this is followed by a tricky approach shot at 17. This culminates in the fantastic 18^th hole, where the Barry Burn features for every shot. This hole has seen some amazing moments over the years, with Jean Van De Velde’s meltdown in 1999 or the Sergio Garcia/Padraig Harrington playoff in 2007.

This course is a must play for every avid golfer!

 

Distance From Course: 10 miles

The Carnoustie Burnside Links is a fantastic course that has previously been used for Open Qualifying; it’s actually where Ben Hogan qualified before he claimed the Claret Jug on the Championship course in 1953.

A fantastic course which potentially lulls you into a false sense of security with its 6000 yard length. However, the tight fairways, brilliant bunkering and nasty rough demands respect and puts a major importance on accuracy. The best feature on this course is the variety of par 3’s and the use of the natural landscape. The 5^th hole is only 158 yards but it encompasses tough bunkering and the infamous Barry burn. A par is a great score here despite the fact you’re hitting a short iron into the green.

The resemblance to the Championship course is clear to see on the homeward stretch where the difficulty level increases as does the potential to wreck the scorecard. The Burnside’s famous 17^th hole is a monster 473 yard par 4 which rivals the 18^th on the Championship course.

It may not get the reputation of the Championship course but the Burnside is one course you simply must play!

Distance From Course: 10 miles

The Carnoustie Buddon Links course is the little brother to the Championship Course but in it’s own right, a very good course. It is always presented in immaculate condition and provides a fun and enjoyable challenge to all golfers. The Carnoustie Buddon links has been stretched in length over the years so don’t expect it to be a pushover – especially with the typical east coast breeze.

The newest of all the 3 Carnoustie courses, the Buddon was created by Peter Alliss and David Thomas but has been modified throughout the years. Certain holes still have the pedigree that wouldn’t go unnoticed if they were on the Championship course. The major challenge round the course is to avoid going right – the 5^th hole is a prime example with the entire hole being out of bounds if you veer right. The 18^th tee is simply stunning, fantastic views across the course and back to the links clubhouse.

A unique feature of the Buddon course is that each hole is dedicated to the British Military and one of the major actions in which we have fought. A nice and touching memorial.

Distance From Course: 10 miles

Scotscraig is another of the R&A`s preferred final qualifying venues for the Open Championship.  It last hosted this prestigious tournament in 2010 - the year Louis Oosthuizen defeated a distant Lee Westwood at the main event over the Old Course, St Andrews.

The course is, strictly speaking, a heathland layout, but it proximity to the North Sea coast means you will have to deal with a fairly reliable sea breeze and fairways that bear more than a passing resemblance to their link-land cousins.

The 4th and 14th holes are particularly good, the first demanding accuracy to avoid deep riveted bunkers and the latter requiring a combination on power an accuracy to conquer its considerable 523 yard length. 

Distance From Course: 4 miles

A true and proper links course, Panmure Golf Club is an absolute gem and a must play for those who visit the area – or worth a trip just to play Panmure. It really is that good. A layout designed by 3 of the most famous names in golf; James Braid, Old Tom Morris and Ben Hogan – they definitely got it right. The toughest hole on Panmure is named after Hogan – a 414 yard par 4 makes the 6^th hole a test of your golfing abilities.

Located in the same region as Carnoustie and Monifieth, Panmure keeps some excellent company and sits near the top of the list. Make no mistake, Panmure is a difficult track and many scorecards have been ripped at any hole on the course. You can draw many comparisons between Panmure and the Old Course at St Andrews; the traditional out-and-back layout with a few birdie opportunities to start the round and to finish the round.

As with many links courses, if you’re wayward off the tee then the second shot from the heather is brutally difficult. To play well at Panmure, you need to remain patient and have a strategy to prevent disasters occurring. It’s got championship credentials and the fact that Ben Hogan practiced solely at Panmure before winning his only Open Championship at Carnoustie in 1953 illustrates this. If you want to play true links golf, then Panmure is the course for you.

Distance From Course: 9 miles