Scotland Golf: Kingsbarns

Travel

May 17, 2023

On day two in St Andrews, we played Kingsbarns, one of the regions most visually spectacular courses.

Kingsbarns is one of the visually stunning courses in Scotland and an absolute blast to play. The generous fairways and greens are further complimented by less areas of serious trouble outside of the short grass compared to other links courses which creates a great chance of playing with the same golf ball all round long. In the end, Kingsbarns is one of the most spectacular golf courses in the world and an absolute must play when visiting the St Andrews area.

Since opening at the turn of the century in the summer of 2000, Kingsbarns has experienced both the blessing and the curse of being located just minutes from famed St Andrews.

Kingsbarns enjoys a better piece of property and much better views than you’ll find at St Andrews.

Kyle Phillips did a great job taking advantage of the scenic property by designing holes along the cliff edges with expansive vistas across the sea as well as interior holes with plenty of intrigue.

In addition, Phillips wanted the course to be playable no matter what conditions you might face and designed the track to be generous with wayward shots as well as providing huge, undulated greens as targets. There simply isn’t a bad hole on the property as plenty of creativity and variety is incorporated in the design from start to finish.

From a conditioning standpoint you’ll be hard pressed to find a course in better shape with immaculate fairways and pure greens to enjoy. The result is one of the most fun, scenic, and engaging layouts you’ll ever come across.

Frankly, I love everything about Kingsbarns. The design, setting, and service has few equals.

While some may not claim it as a true links, it’s a weak argument trying to come up with fault.

Kingsbarns is easily one of the best golf courses in Scotland, as well as the world, and a trip back to the home of golf that doesn’t include a round here is borderline unforgivable.

Golf has been enjoyed over the links land of Kingsbarns beginning in 1793. Attired in their blue coats, the Kingsbarns men met for their Spring and Autumn Meetings to challenge for the Societies medals on the links and to enjoy the conviviality of friends over dinner in the Golfers Hall. Farmland became more precious and the course gave way to farming.

Prompted and inspired by Lady Erskine of Cambo, the old Kingsbarns Golfing Society was re-established and founded as Kingsbarns Golf Club in 1922 and Willie Auchterlonie laid out a nine-hole course on the links about Kingsbarns Bay.

This course served the golfing needs of the locals and holidaymakers until the onset of the Second World War when the Links was mined in the national security defense effort, and it quickly reverted to rough pasture.

Golf was resurrected on Kingsbarns Links at the dawning of the 21st Century. The only Scottish course to be built on links land in over 70 years and with its seaside setting, Kingsbarns joined the great old courses of nearby St Andrews and Carnoustie, bringing with it a new dimension to the traditional Scottish game. It’s wonderful with the breath of true links golf and huge sprinkle of just spectacular North Sea vistas.