Scotland is regularly called the home of golf, and the Kingdom of Fife stands as one of the top locations for avid golfers to play a few holes. St Andrews, in particular, is considered a mecca for golfers worldwide, with major attractions like The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.
Besides a detailed history that goes back to the beginnings of golf, golfers playing on the Kingdom of Fife golf courses can expect challenging fairways and stunning landscapes to tee off on. Many of the courses in Fife are classic links courses, which boast more generous greens and flatter terrain. Fife, Scotland, golf courses can present a challenge to even the most established players.
Need a guide on which golf courses you should visit, how much it costs to play, and the challenges they offer? Read our complete guide to learn everything you need about Fife’s best golf courses.
St Andrews Links
St Andrews birthed golf over 600 years ago, as the legend goes. Today, St Andrews Links presents 18 fantastic courses for you to experience while breathing in the same air that centuries of other golfers have. Test your mettle on the classic Old Course, where you can experience the game as it was when it was first born, or the Jubilee Course, one of the most challenging courses at St Andrews Links.
The links courses are not the only challenge that St Andrews Links offers – its placement on the eastern Scottish Coastline brings wind, frost, and fog at any moment. You can find shelter from the elements at the St Andrews Links Golf Clubhouse, a sublime location to start and end a day of golf. Before you tee off, remember to refresh yourself with the etiquette of St Andrews Links.
Kingsbarns Golf Links
Kingsbarns Golf Links is a few miles from St Andrews, home to magnificent views and expertly manicured greens. Kingsbarns Golf Links offers an exciting game along its 18 holes for golfers to test themselves against while on holiday in Fife. From high risk-to-reward shots, crosswind, and long drives, there’s no doubt that Kingsbarns is a stunning course to play.
The Golf Links Course is held in high prestige and hosts several events like the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, St Andrews Links, and Carnoustie Golf Links. Treat yourself to an exciting round or two at one of the best golf courses in Fife, Scotland.
The Golf House Club Elie
From one links course to another, if you can’t get enough of the classic Scottish golf course, then make sure to visit The Golf House Club Elie. Located in Elie and Earlsferry, Golf House Club Elie has been played on since the 1700s! As you walk through its immaculate course, you can almost imagine the evolution of the sport from its humble beginnings in St Andrews.
You can enjoy the beautiful views of the Neuk of Fife as you tee off on the fair but challenging course that this golf club grants, with a few quirky bunkers and dunes that will keep you on your toes no matter your handicap. Coming to play in the high season will cost about £140, but this is more than halved if you plan to attend during the off-season instead (Rates are subject to change yearly).
Golf House Club Elie is less than 20 minutes from St Andrews and a mere hour from Edinburgh – too close to miss out on!
Lundin Golf Club
Leven is synonymous with golf, and Lundin Golf Club is one of the town’s premier golf courses you can experience in Fife, Scotland. Lundin offers an impressive and dynamic 18-hole course consisting of five traditional links holes (about the same as they were over 100 years ago), nine more holes of parkland turf, and finally, four holes that revert to the classic links style.
This dynamic 18-hole game provides an exciting adventure that integrates Lundin’s golfing history beautifully a- well worth playing if you’re coming to the Kingdom of Fife. Prices to play are competitive compared to the other courses in the area, and you can expect to pay around £150 during the summer season (which drops to £120 in the afternoon).
If you’ve ever wanted to enjoy a fun course that blends traditional links with modern greens, then Lundin Golf Club is the one for you.
The Duke’s Golf Course
Duke’s Golf Course in St Andrews embraces the natural heath it is set in and provides a robust and stunning course for those who come to play at the home of golf. The bountiful nature surrounding Duke’s Golf Course is beautiful and offers a great experience with holes weaving through Fife’s heathland.
Golfers worldwide come to play at Duke’s events like the European Amateur Championships, Scottish Men’s Amateur Open, and many more. Play on the course of champions with the laid-back atmosphere and fresh air of Duke’s.
After it’s all done, you can enjoy a stunning meal and dram at the Duke’s Golf Course Club House. All of which you can have easy access to when you arrive in St Andrews.
Crail Golfing Society
If you get bored of a golf course quickly, Crail Golfing Society offers a different experience every time! This historic golf course sits only 12 miles from St Andrews and is a must-visit attraction for anyone coming to the Kingdom of Fife to tee off!
Whether it is to hit a few balls along the Golfing Society’s driving range to explore the stunning green of the old course, Crail offers a fantastic range of 18-hole links, which combines the very best of the classic style of this ancient sport.
The well-managed courses at Crail make it one of the very best when exploring St Andrews and the towns around it.
Leven Links Golf Club
Leven Links Golf Clubs is another Scottish links course that embraces the natural landscape of Fife to produce a fast-putting and exciting golf course. Like many of the fantastic trails in Fife, Leven Links is a product of its surroundings, and the shifting dunes, wind, and tides make it a new course every time you visit it.
Leven Links is also an affordable option compared to the other courses in Fife, rarely hitting the triple-digit mark to play except on specific dates during the peak season. Don’t leave St Andrews without putting yourself to the test at Leven Links.
Aberdour Golf Club
Overlooking the stunning Firth of Forth, Aberdour Golf Club offers a parkland-style golf course for golfers who want something more comfortable. If you want a closer look at Aberdour, you can enjoy a flyover video that takes you through the course and its region.
The front 9 holes of Aberdour give golfers an excellent view out to the Firth of Forth and a few Par 3 and 4s, but the back 9 holes have plenty of tricky shots to amp up the excitement – two courses in one!
Aberdour also has the most affordable visitor fees, a bargain for the pristine greens and woodlands around the Golf Club.
Dumbarnie Links
Dumbarnie Links is remarkably close to Edinburgh, making the perfect appetiser if you want to experience the Kingdom of Fife’s golf courses without venturing too far from the city. This links-style golf course is an excellent way to introduce yourself to these classical golf courses at the sport’s birthplace.
Dumbarnie tends to be more expensive than the other courses in Fife we’ve mentioned, but if you’re a Scottish resident, you’ll be happy to know you can play at a discount! It pays to be born in the town that birthed the sport!
Other Golf Courses in Scotland
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- Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, & Moray Golf Courses
- Argyll & Bute Golf Courses
- Central & West Scotland Golf Courses
- Dumfries & Galloway Golf Courses
- Edinburgh & The Lothians Golf Courses
- Glasgow, Clyde, & Ayrshire Golf Courses
- Perthshire, Kinross, & Angus Golf Courses
- Scottish Borders Golf Courses
- Scottish Highlands Golf Courses
- Scottish Isles Golf Courses