After the idyllic experience on the Old Course the next day, me and my friend Carmine, we headed just a few miles south of St. Andrews, direction Kingsbarns to play another spectacular golf course on the Kingdom of Fife.
Kingsbarns Golf Links, was designed by Kyle Phillips and Mark Parsinen (
Castle Stuart Golf Links) as a traditional Scottish seaside link golf course, and opened in 2000.
And even if it is only 11 years old, still reflects the philosophy of the firsts links courses.
The experience playing Kingsbarns is incredible. A spectacular golf course with three tiers of golf holes that play along two miles of North Sea coastline (six holes run right along the sea). The whole course is similar to an amphitheater with memorable views of the sea from every hole.
Fine fescue fairways, large and undulated greens, dune ridges and hollows, riveted bunkers and tricky little burns, are among the features of Kingsbarns, considered by many one of the best links style courses of the world.
It received many prestigious accolades from the golf media.
Among them Kingsbarns is ranked
- 2000 Best New International Course in Golf Digest Magazine
- No. 18 in the Top 100 Best Courses Outside the USA in Golf Digest Magazine
- No. 10 in Golf Monthly's UK and Ireland Top 100 Course
- No. 1 in Europe in “The 50 Greatest Courses Created in the Last 50 Years” in Golf Magazine
- No. 5 in the "World Top 100 Courses You Must Play" in Golf World.
A challenging course (CR 75.8/SR 142) that, with the Old Course and Carnoustie, hosts every year the European Tour's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship (I played Kingsbarns just one week before the event and conditions were pristine) and has served as Final Local Qualifying course for the 2010 Open Championship.
And after a round on this unforgettable golf course, a traditional scottish lunch is a must in the cozy clubhouse, enjoying the panoramic views on the 18th green and the North Sea.
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| The Clubhouse and the starter's box |
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| #1 Hole 414 Yds Par 4 |
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| #3 Hole 516 Yds Par 5 |
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| #3 Hole 516 Yds Par 5 |
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| #4 Hole 411 Yds Par 4 |
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| #4 Hole 411 Yds Par 4 |
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| Panoramic view of the course - Holes 6th and 17th |
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| #8 Hole 168Yds Par 3 |
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| #9 Hole 558 Yds Par 5 |
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| #11 Hole 481 Yds Par 4 |
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| #12 Hole 606 Yds Par 5 - Kingsbarns Signature Hole |
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| #13 Hole 148 Yds Par 3 |
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| #13 Hole 366 Yds Par 4 |
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| #15 Hole 212 Yds Par 3 |
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| #18 Hole 444 Yds Par 4 |
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| The Clubhouse |
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| European Tour Scoreboard |
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| The Driving Range |
When I was in Scotland last year I understood that the best golf clubs are in Scotland anyway.
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