Chris Hogben teed it up at The Castle Course, the newest links at ‘The Home of Golf’
- Laid out across craters and rutted ancient hunting ground
- Cliffs, canyons and heavenly views of golf’s spiritual home
- Shaped by David McLay Kidd, the creator of Bandon Dunes
On a line of cliffs, overlooking the “Auld Grey Toon” of St Andrews, with views across the Eden Estuary – is the seventh and newest course run by the St Andrews Links Trust.
Built on a high point above the stretch of coast called Kinkell Braes, the Castle Course is a frontier outpost of the Links Trust Empire.
Castle Course stands alone like a sentry
All the other courses are wound around and beyond the famous Old Course but Castle sits alone like a sentry at the far South Eastern tip of the town.
The St Andrews Links Trust may have observed the gradual creep of new golf developments along the Fife Coast and decided to expand beyond the traditional town boundaries and linksland.
In the past two decades, the reputations of Kingsbarns Golf Links, the two courses at the Fairmont St Andrews resort and the Craighead course at Crail have grown.
Add in established Open Qualifying links at Leven, Lundin, Ladybank’s excellent inland course, the idyllic Balcomie course at Crail Golfing Society – the new links at Dumbarnie – and you see the wealth of riches Fife boasts as a golf destination.
Golf links built on ancient hunting grounds
The site of the Castle Course is an interesting one.
It was used as a hunting ground by ancient Pictish Kings who stalked wild boar among the dense forest, hills, ruts and trails.
David McLay Kidd, the architect famous for Bandon Dunes in Oregon, was given the job of creating the layout billed by Golf World magazine as “the most eagerly anticipated new course in golf,” before its opening in 2008.
Kidd hired the same land shapers that worked on the links at Kingsbarns and started to transform what was essentially a rocky hillside outcrop. Driving through the course up to the clubhouse you could be forgiven for thinking you’d arrived on the surface of the moon, full of craters and rise and fall in the terrain.
It’s no mean feat considering 10 years previously the site was flat rocky farmland.
Taking a look at the score card it’s a par 71, 6750 yards.
Nothing too alarming until you notice standard scratch is 74.*
*This article was written before the transition to the WHS (World Handicap System) and the course played under the previous Congu handicapping laws
It’s the first time I’ve ever played a course with a CSS of 3 over and it stirred my curiosity. We opted for the back tees and took on Castle as David Kidd intended.
After the opening holes, two things struck me:
- there’s a lot more room off the tee than you think
- to make any sort of score you need to leave the ball below the hole with your approach
These two pieces of advice will stand you in great stead when laying siege to St Andrews Castle course.
The greens were in good condition and were severely undulating in places. If you find yourself above the hole putting downwind it’s difficult not to three-putt.
After a tame start, the course comes alive on the 6th hole. This par four dogleg left starts with a partially blind drive and as you make your way down the fairway it reveals to you one of the most spectacular views of St. Andrews.
The remainder of the front nine continues to work along the cliff tops and will no doubt provide anxious tee shots for anyone that hooks the ball.
The start of the back nine sees you climb away from the coast and you find yourself at the monster 12th, an uphill dog leg left par four measuring over 450yds. Making par felt like birdie. The castle course saves its best until last.
The 17th is a long par 3 over the cliffs with a gaping gorge between tee and green.
Anything but a well-struck shot is swallowed up by the rough ravine and coastal inlet some 60 feet below.
With a par five to finish anyone brave enough to take on a 250-yard carry off the tee opens up a good opportunity for a closing birdie. Those with a good score going would be wiser to opt for the three-shot route hitting left away from the cliffs.
In summary, a worthy addition to the Links Trust collection and well worth adding to any St. Andrews trip itinerary.
If it’s your first round on the course leave your pencil in the bag, don’t worry about the inevitable 3 putts you’ll make and soak up the views, of Fife’s splendid coast and golf’s spiritual home.
READ MORE features on golf in St Andrews and the Kingdom of Fife