The Kingdom of Fife, Scotland

Scotland's Finest
Golf Courses

Your complete guide to the world's greatest concentration of links golf — and the luxury base camp that makes it all possible.

Plan Your Golf Tour

Scroll to explore

⛳

Where Every Golfer's Bucket List Begins

For American golfers, a trip to Fife in Scotland isn't just a vacation — it's a pilgrimage. The Kingdom of Fife is home to more world-class golf than almost anywhere on earth: St Andrews' iconic links, the clifftop drama of Kingsbarns, the dune-sculpted fairways of Dumbarnie, and dozens of historic clubs that have been shaping the game since the 15th century. This guide covers the best courses to play — and the perfect place to stay while you play them all.

Section One

Golf Courses in St Andrews

The Home of Golf — and far more than just the Old Course

Bucket List

St Andrews Links Trust Open Championship Venue

The Old Course

There is no course on earth with more history. Golf has been played here for over 600 years, on the same stretch of linksland where the rules of the modern game were written. The Swilcan Bridge, the Valley of Sin, the Road Hole — these are landmarks every golfer knows long before they arrive. You will need a handicap certificate (max 36 for men and women) and should book well in advance; ballot places are available but guaranteed tee times require planning. Play it first thing in the morning if you can, with the town's skyline rising behind the 18th green, and you'll understand why people fly 5,000 miles for one round of golf.

Book well in advance — ballot available

Max handicap 36 required

10 minutes from Hawkswood

St Andrews Links Trust

The New Course

Despite the name, this Old Tom Morris design dates to 1895 — "new" only by St Andrews standards. It shares the same firm, fast linksland as the Old Course but plays a very different game: tighter fairways, a pair of par-3s stretching beyond 220 yards, and none of the Old Course's forgiving wide lines. Many experienced golfers rate it harder than its famous neighbor. It runs alongside and around the Old Course, sharing that unmistakable skyline backdrop.

Easier to book than the Old Course

Included with guaranteed Old Course tee times

St Andrews Links Trust Local Favourite

The Jubilee Course

Originally opened in 1897 to mark Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, the Jubilee was redesigned by Donald Steel in 1988 into arguably the toughest test on the Links. Set on a narrow strip between the New Course and the sea, elevated tees expose every golfer to the prevailing wind off St Andrews Bay. Tour operators who bring American groups to Fife year after year consistently find that the Jubilee is the course clients remember most. Honest, demanding, and genuinely rewarding when you score well.

Co-hosted 2004 British Amateur Championship

St Andrews Links Trust Drama Factor: High

The Castle Course

Designed by David McLay Kidd — the architect behind Bandon Dunes — and opened in 2008, the Castle Course sits perched on clifftops a mile east of town with panoramic views over St Andrews Bay and the North Sea. It plays a completely different style of links: aerial, exposed, and aggressive. Think Whistling Straits with a medieval skyline. It divides opinion among golfers, but those who embrace the challenge find it unforgettable. On a clear day, the views alone are worth the green fee.

1 mile east of St Andrews town center

Fairmont St Andrews

The Craigtoun Course

For those wanting a break from coastal links, Craigtoun Course is a parkland course set in elevated woodland above St Andrews with sweeping views across the Fife countryside and all the way to the sea. Designed by Peter Thomson and opened in 1995, it plays to a genuine championship standard while offering something entirely different from the open linksland of the Trust courses. A great option for a group where some players prefer a more sheltered, parkland-style round.

Inland parkland — a contrast to the links

💡

American Golfer Tip: When you book a guaranteed Old Course tee time, an additional round on the New, Jubilee, or Castle Course is typically included. Hawkswood's golf concierge can handle all of this for your group — tee times, equipment hire, and transport to the first tee.

Section Two

Further Afield in Fife

Beyond St Andrews, the Kingdom of Fife hides some of Scotland's most spectacular — and most underrated — courses

Must Play

Modern Classic Alfred Dunhill Links Venue

Kingsbarns Golf Links

Seven miles south of St Andrews on the East Neuk coastline, Kingsbarns is the course American golfers most often single out as the highlight of their entire Scotland trip — above even the Old Course. Opened in 2000 and designed by Kyle Phillips, it was built on farmland but wears the land as if it's always been there. The North Sea is visible from virtually every hole. The 12th, a boomerang par-5 that hugs the shoreline, and the par-3 15th with its dramatic carry over crashing waves rank among the most photographed holes in British golf. Conditions are impeccable year-round and the welcome from the moment you arrive is genuinely exceptional. Colin Montgomerie called it "world-class." That is not an overstatement.

15 minutes from Hawkswood

Book early — premium course with high demand

Caddies recommended — book in advance

Newest Links in Fife

Dumbarnie Links

Opened in spring 2020 and designed by Clive Clark, Dumbarnie Links sits within the historic 5,000-acre Balcarres Estate, which has been in the same family for over four centuries. It can stretch to 7,600 yards and has earned glowing reviews from the moment it opened. Elevated tees provide dramatic views across the layout while strategic water hazards and burns keep every approach honest. The welcome includes a complimentary shot of Scottish whiskey on the first tee — a tradition that sets exactly the right tone.

10 minutes from Hawkswood

Historic Links

Golf House Club, Elie

Golf has been played at Elie since the 15th century, and the current layout was shaped by Old Tom Morris in 1895 with later refinements by five-time Open Champion James Braid — who was born and raised here. This is the Fife course most often overlooked by first-time visitors and most loved by those who play it. It is superbly conditioned, fun, playable at every level, and delivers some of the best views on the East Neuk coastline. Elie is also home to golf's most famous starter's hut periscope — salvaged from a decommissioned submarine to check visibility over the first tee.

20 minutes from Hawkswood

Crail Golfing Society

Balcomie Links, Crail

Founded in 1786, Crail Golfing Society is the seventh-oldest golf club in the world. Its historic Balcomie Links wraps around the rocky headland at Fife Ness — the most easterly point of Fife — with sea views on three sides and a raw, natural character that feels genuinely ancient. A second course, the Craighead Links, offers a longer and more modern challenge on the same stretch of coast. For American golfers who love the game's history, Crail is a reminder that golf existed here long before any of us were born.

25 minutes from Hawkswood

🏌️

The Full Fife Experience: With 40 golf courses in Fife and over 550 throughout Scotland, you could spend two weeks here and still not exhaust the options. Hawkswood's golf concierge service specialises in building bespoke multi-course itineraries for visiting American groups — handling tee times, equipment hire, and transport so you never have to worry about logistics.

Your Base Camp

Hawkswood Country Estate

The finest golf tour accommodation in Fife — 10 minutes from St Andrews

Positioned in the picturesque hamlet of Peat Inn — just a 10-minute drive from the St Andrews Links — Hawkswood Country Estate has been welcoming American golf tour parties since 2014. Set across 37 acres of Fife countryside, the estate offers three five-star self-catering properties: Hawkswood House, The Roundel, and Bowhill House, each accommodating up to 10 guests in five en-suite bedrooms. Book all three for exclusive use and you have a private estate for up to 30 golfers.

🏌️‍♂️

Practice Facilities On-Site

Warm up or wind down on your own private 270-yard driving range, available exclusively to estate guests. Hawkswood House and The Roundel each have dedicated short-game areas with putting greens, chipping zones, and sand-filled bunkers — everything you need to sharpen your game before heading to the first tee.

🎯

Golf Concierge Service

Leave the logistics to Hawkswood. The estate's dedicated golf concierge will arrange tee times at the courses of your choice, including St Andrews Links. They can also organise club hire, recommend the best playing order for your itinerary, and ensure your group has transport to the first tee every morning.

🚌

Private Transport Fleet

No rental cars, no designated drivers, no logistics headaches. Hawkswood operates its own Mercedes mini coach (16-seater) and 8-seater minibus, available for golf days, local trips, and airport runs from Edinburgh and Dundee. Your group travels together — and everyone can enjoy a post-round dram.

🏆

Tour Pro Golf Coaching

Want to improve before or during your tour? Peter Whiteford, a former European Tour professional and current coach for the Fife Men's County Team, is available for one-to-one sessions and group clinics. Having a tour pro tune up your game at the Home of Golf is an experience that stays with you long after you've returned stateside.

🛁

Hydro Spa & Recovery

After 36 holes on firm links turf, there's no better recovery than a private hydro spa. Each property at Hawkswood has its own hot tub, set in the grounds with views across the Fife countryside. Combine it with an open fire, a good Scotch, and a replay of the day's best and worst shots — this is what a golf tour should feel like.

🍳

Catering & Group Dining

Start each day with a complimentary continental or full Scottish breakfast to fuel your round. All three properties have spacious communal living and dining areas where your group can gather, compare scorecards, and plan tomorrow's play. Private chefs are also available through the estate's approved supplier network for special evenings.

Three Five-Star Properties

Hawkswood House

5 en-suite bedrooms, two reception rooms with wood burners, a terraced balcony with views across Fife, Mediterranean BBQ terrace, private short-game area, and hydro spa. Sleeps 10.

The Roundel

Built around the spectacular circular Round Room with panoramic countryside views. 5 en-suite bedrooms, private short-game area, and hydro spa. Sleeps 10.

Bowhill House

Two living areas ideal for larger groups to relax and plan golf trips together. 5 en-suite bedrooms, hydro spa, and access to the estate's shared driving range. Sleeps 10.

Book all three properties for exclusive use of the entire estate — ideal for groups of up to 30 golfers.

Ready to Book Your Scotland Golf Tour?

Whether you're planning a trip of a lifetime to the Old Course or a full week touring Fife's finest links, Hawkswood Country Estate will make it unforgettable. Get in touch to check availability and start planning your itinerary.

Check Availability Explore the Estate

Call us: +44 (0) 1334 840 830

Email: [email protected]

Scotland's FinestGolf Courses