Ladybank

Ladybank has a wonderful history, which dates all the way back to 1879. Old Tom Morris was the man behind the design of the original 6-hole course.   1910 saw the design of a 9-hole layout, with a further nine holes being designed and constructed in the late 1950s. These were incorporated into the layout to make it into an 18-hole layout.   1978 saw Ladybank host Final Qualifying for the Open Championship for the first time. It has since gone on to host a total of seven times in its history.   The Scottish Open Amateur Seniors Championship, the British Boys Championship and the Ladies British Amateur Championship have all visited Ladybank in recent years as well.

As an inland course, Ladybank provides something different to the majority of layouts that you will find on the NCG Top 100s: Scotland list. This heathland offering runs among trees and gives the feel of a Sunningdale or Walton Heath. The Par 71 course runs to more than 6,800 yards from the tips, and offers golfers with a beautiful challenge, and is played in two loops of nine, much like most links courses.  The opening may only be 375 yards, but the green presents a great challenge. Bunkers on three sides lie in wait of anything errant. At 545 yards from the back, the 2nd is the first par 5 at Ladybank. Only the longest and straightest hitters will have a chance of going for the green in two, with anything missing the fairway meaning it will take at least three to get home. The 3rd is a dog-leg right par 4, with the 4th being the first short hole on the course. It is only 165 yards to the middle from the back tee, but the green is shallow, and has two bunkers in front.   5 is the easiest hole on the front nine, but a bunker at 230 yards from the back tee makes it a tricky decision. Do you lay up short of it or try and bomb a drive past it? The 6th is somewhat similar, but the bunker is at 270 yards, while the 7th is another par 5 of more than 540 yards. After the par 3 8th, the front nine closes with the hardest hole on the property. It is only 400 yards, but a gully in front of the green makes the approach shot that much more difficult.  10 and 12 are the par 3s on the back nine, with the latter being the longest of the four at Ladybank. The 12th comes in at 200 yards from the back tees, and is played to a long, narrow green. A par on 12 is a very good score. Meanwhile, the 10th is the easiest (by stroke index) at the venue. The 13th is the final par 5 on the property, and measures in at 528 yards. If you can clear the bunker on the left side of the fairway, then there is a chance that you can go for the green with your second shot.   Ladybank closes with five par 4s, the first of which is the hardest hole on the back nine. 15 is a dog-leg right, while the 16th turns the other way, and you will certainly think about cutting the corner. The penultimate hole has the widest fairway on the course, but there is a row of trees in the fairway that must be avoided. The closer at Ladybank is another of more than 400 yards, but there is a generous fairway to find. The green is 45 yards long, but it is pretty flat, compared to some you will have encountered throughout the round.

Peter Rudd: Not many heathland courses in Scotland so it was a pleasant surprise to find one as good as this one. The condition was superb and the layout was interesting with many good holes.

Greg Webber: A classy, delightful heathland course played among tree-lined fairways to splendid greens complexes.

David Walker: Significant tree removal has resulted in improved play lines and also better conditioning, an unsung heathland hero in Fife where links courses dominate.

Read more about our panellists here (opens in a new tab).

Where is Ladybank Golf Club located?  
Ladybank Golf Club is located on the eastern side of Scotland, but it remains an inland course. It sits just off the A92, which runs between Dunfermline and Aberdeen. It is in a glorious location for golf, with the likes of St Andrews (opens in a new tab), Kingsbarns (opens in a new tab), Leven Links (opens in a new tab), Lundin Links (opens in a new tab) and Elie (opens in a new tab) all within a 45-minute drive.  Thanks to being within an hour from the Scottish capital, the closest airport to Ladybank is also the busiest and biggest in the country. It is just shy of 40 miles to the north of Edinburgh Airport. The town of Ladybank also has its own train station, which is just a two-mile drive from the venue. Trains run from Edinburgh up to both Perth and Dundee, with services operating regularly throughout the day. Are there any other NCG Top 100s: Scotland venues nearby?  
Ladybank is one of many golfing venues in Fife that lays claim to a spot on the NCG Top 100s: Scotland list. Leven Links, Lundin Links, Dumbarnie Links and The Golf House Club, Elie are all within 20 miles to the south, while St Andrews, with its plethora of layouts, is around the same distance to the east.
What golf facilities does Ladybank Golf Club offer?  
There is a great practice facility at the southern side of the property. There is a short game area with a chipping green and two practice bunkers, along with a putting green by the clubhouse. The driving range is long and played off grass tees, allowing golfers to get a feel for the turf before taking the course.

What are the green fees at Ladybank?  
The price of a green fee at Ladybank changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend.  For more information on current green fees at Ladybank visit their website here (opens in a new tab).  Play on the NCG Top 100s Tour!Book your spot to play at Ladybank on the NCG Top 100s Tour in 2026 here (opens in a new tab).You can also play at Ladybank as part of our Fife Swing (opens in a new tab).  Visit Ladybank's website here (opens in a new tab).Go back to the NCG Top 100s Homepage.