Scotscraig

Scotscraig Golf Club, located near the town of Tayport in Fife, is what you might consider unique when it comes to golf in Scotland.

The venue offers up an 18-hole layout that is a mixture of heathland and links, with some holes played amongst the trees.

The club has more than 200 years of history, making it the 13th oldest golf club in the world. Today, it pushes towards 6,700 yards from the tips, making it a real test for all golfers.

Visit Scotscraig’s website here.

Go back to the NCG Top 100s Homepage.

Scotscraig Golf Club is one of very few golfing venues around the world that can say they have celebrated their bicentenary.

The club was founded in 1817, making it the 13th oldest golf club in the world. The current course was designed by Old Tom Morris, with James Braid then imparting his wisdom later on.

The course has played host to Final Qualifying for the Open Championship on several occasions, along with hosting an annual Gold Medal, which has been played since 1818 – making it one of the oldest medals still played today.

Scotscraig is somewhat unique when it comes to golf in Scotland. You either get links courses around the coastline, or heathland and woodland courses further inland. However, Scotscraig is a fine mixture of both heathland and links golf, offering up a great day out. At just shy of 6,700 yards, Scotscraig is also no pushover, so you will have to bring your ‘A’ game if you are to score well at this Fife venue.

Although the opening challenge does not have any bunkers, that doesn’t necessarily mean it is easy. It is a 400-yard par 4 off the tips, and the aiming point should be down the left side of what is a narrow fairway. The green is well protected with trees all around it. Par is a great score to get you on your way. The 2nd is another medium-length par 4, but with a slightly wider fairway to attack. The green is small and circular, with a bunker sitting to the back right.

A 215-yard par 3 is the test at the 3rd. The green sits slightly above the level of the fairway in front of it, and there are three bunkers guarding the putting surface. The 4th is the Stroke Index 1, as the difficult run of holes continues at Scotscraig. It may only be 362 yards from the tips, but the course’s signature hole offers up plenty of challenges. There are four fairway bunkers to avoid, including one in the centre of the short grass. The aim needs to be down the left side as the hole moves to the right after the tee shot. The green is guarded by another bunker, and although it might only require a low iron with your second, it is still a tricky approach shot. The 5th is a 420-yard par 4, and offers up the first sign of water. It is a long and straight hole, with gorse and trees down the right side. The green is another circular target, with a solitary bunker front right. Water also sits to the right, but it would require a wayward strike to find the pond.

That same water feature sits in front of the 6th tee box, but it shouldn’t come into play on this short par 3. 6 is only 145 yards from the back tees, though there is a hollow at the front of the green, so your tee shot has to carry all the way to the putting surface. The 7th is a unique hole, one that features a ridge in the centre of the fairway. Only those longer hitters might be able to get down to the second section of fairway below the ridge, with most having to stay short of the ridge. That does give a longer shot, but it will also be flatter turf to hit from. A great hole, and a tricky 400-yarder at that! Six fairway bunkers are in play on the 8th, another 400-yard challenge. Avoid those and you will have a shot at the green, which is two-tiered so make sure to find the right section. The final hole on the front nine throws up a good birdie opportunity – the opening par 5 on the card. It is only 485 yards, and again, if the fairway bunkers can be avoided, then you might well fancy your chances of making it to the putting surface with your second shot. Right of centre is best off the tee, as this hole moves slightly round to the left. The green sits nicely in front of the clubhouse.

You then tee off from right in front of the building to kick off the back nine, and it is another par 4 of around 400 yards. The same cluster of bunkers that were on the right on 9, are also on the right down 10. For those that run the ball up to the green, a bunker sitting around 25 yards in front of the putting surface will be in your way. 11 is even longer, at more than 450 yards from the tips. Water comes into play, but it is around 100 yards from the green, in the form of a stream that runs across the fairway. For some, this will play as a par 5 because of the sheer distance. 12 is another hole that needs a solid drive to find the centre of the fairway, which is over a small crest. Two bunkers sit in front of the green, and with trees all down the right, the approach is best aimed at the left side of the putting surface.

You then come to a run of par 3, par 5, par 3, par 5 in the middle of the back nine. The easiest hole on the course in terms of Stroke Index comes at 13 – a 165-yard par 3. The green sits above the rest of the turf around it, so make sure to take one more club! The 14th is the longest hole on the property at 515 yards and water comes into play once more. A stream down the left side of the fairway is in play for some off the tee, with water then running across the fairway with a pond on either side. The stream ends on the left, but continues down the right to the green. Accuracy is the key, and this is best played as a three-shotter. 15 is the last of the par 3s at Scotscraig, and this 175-yard test also has a stream in front of the green, along with a two-tiered putting surface. Aim your drive down the left of the par 5 16th, and you will have a chance at reaching the green in two, as it is only 475 yards. However, OOB runs down the entirety of the right side...

The penultimate hole is another testing par 4, and one that moves slightly to the left towards the green. There is a sole fairway bunker to the right of the short grass, while trees line the left side. The green sits on an angle from the fairway, with a bunker sitting front right of the surface, making any approach to the back right of this green feel even longer. The final hole - ‘Home’ - requires another solid drive to avoid the fairway bunkers that are in play. The green that sits in front of the clubhouse, with three bunkers surrounding it. It is a two-tiered green, so make sure you get your approach on the right section.

Where is Scotscraig Golf Club located?

Scotscraig Golf Club is situated on the northeastern coastline of the county of Fife in Scotland. It is just south of the town of Tayport, which sits on the coast of the River Tay, the Tay Estuary and the North Sea. The city of Dundee is only five miles away, across the Tay Road Bridge on the other side of the water, while Edinburgh is just over 50 miles to the south of Scotscraig.

Dundee is also the home of the closest train station to Scotscraig, meaning it is a five-mile drive from the station to the golf club. Dundee Airport is the closest airport to Scotscraig, just seven miles away over the River Tay. However, international visitors will find it easier flying into Edinburgh Airport – the busiest airport in Scotland. Edinburgh Airport is 55 miles from the venue.

Are there any other NCG Top 100s: Scotland venues nearby?

Fife is a stomping ground for incredible golf, and Scotscraig is one of several venues on the NCG Top 100s: Scotland list in the region. No fewer than 15 golf courses on the list are within a 25-mile drive from Scotscraig, including the likes of Ladybank, Kingsbarns, Dumbarnie Links, and of course, the plethora of golf that St Andrews has to offer – including the Old Course, New Course and Jubilee Course among others.

What golf facilities does Scotscraig Golf Club offer?

Along with the glorious coastline course, Scotscraig also has a small practice area located at the heart of the layout. It sits between the 2nd, 3rd and 4th holes, and is long enough for irons and wedge. There is also a short game area in the same spot, with a green and practice bunkers. The practice putting green is located by the clubhouse and the 1st tee.

What are the green fees at Scotscraig Golf Club?

The price of a green fee at Scotscraig Golf Club 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 Scotscraig, visit their website here.