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 COURSE ARTICLES 05 / 11 / 07
 

Historic Scots course bookings

Scottish golf history
Balcomie links at Crail

FOUR of Scotland's historic golf clubs have re-launched their 'Links with History' booking initiative, offering special breaks in Scotland's golfing heartland.

Crail, Ladybank, Lundin and Scotscraig are part of a group among the world's oldest courses under the umbrella of Best of Scotland Holidays, which has nearly 25 years experience in organising opportunities to play great links.

Scots golf history
Another view of Crail

Jim Horsfield, one of the driving forces behind the creation of the scheme five years ago, helped to attract more than 3,500 tee times but has to make way for Duncan Dewar, as chief executive: "Not only are these four courses historic, they are prestigious too and my team will take great pride in looking after the interests of Links with History."

Packages can include a discount on green fees as well as accommodation and car rental.

Crail is the seventh oldest golf club in Scotland, dating back to 1786. Its two excellent seaside courses laid out on a spit of land known as Fifeness. The Balcomie course dates from the 19th century and was designed in part by Old Tom Morris with the coastline coming into play on one third of the course.

The Craighead Links (1998) overlooks the Isle of May, Bass Rock and the East Lothian.

Scots golf history
Scotscraig - extended from original six holes

In 1817, the St Andrews Society of Golfers (later to become the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews), played a leading part in founding Scotscraig, towards the end of the Napoleonic Wars. The course was originally six holes at Garpit, extended to nine in 1888 and further again stretched to the 18 holes played today.

Used as an Open qualifier when the final stages are played at St Andrews, the course is not long by modern standards but requires precision especially off the tee to avoid the whin and gorse bushes that border the fairways. With well-guarded greens and a combination of links and parkland terrain, it's always a good test.

Lundin dates back to 1868 and shared the links with Leven. As the popularity of the game increased James Braid was asked to design a new layout of 18 holes in 1907 and the course was made up of nine holes on the existing links and a further nine on ground to the north of the railway. It's a superb example of links golf along with a three-hole parkland section where the route climbs onto higher ground.

Scots golf history
Ladybank - known for its red squirrels

Ladybank dates back to 1879 and is a course of outstanding quality and beauty, combining as a valuable wildlife habitat where rare red squirrels feed among the Scots pine.

Set in the sheltered Howe of Fife with the Lomond Hills to the southwest, the course is noted for its heather, pine and silver birch. The ninth is a memorable dog-leg with a deep dip just before the green which lies in front of the clubhouse.

For further information contact: Duncan Dewar at Links with History (Tel:01333 360555).


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