The subject is Lundin Links, an outstanding course on the Firth of Forth, about 15 miles from St Andrews. It has the ‘hidden gems’ designation on the www.golf.visitscotland.com website and it’s used for final qualifying when the Open is played at St. Andrews. It’s a hybrid, links and parkland course, with most of the holes just above sea level on the links land. However the twelfth hole plays distinctly up hill to a plateau green and thirteenth plays along the hilltop overlooking the rest of the course below. Hole fourteen plays sharply down hill to the level of the other holes.
Old Tom Morris originally laid it out as nine holes that ran out and back between a rail line and the sea, two fairways wide. Later the course was expanded to ei
ghteen holes, and out of necessity to the northern side of the railroad. The rail line was abandoned in the 1960s but the old railroad bed is obvious and still plays as an in course out of bounds, just as it did when the rail line was in use.We played Lundin Links in 2007 towards the end our trip and though I have fond memories they are no longer crystal clear. I really regret that I didn’t keep a journal that year. The first several holes play out along the coast, crossing two burns. We played directly into a strong wind. and I wasn’t able to reach the green on the longish par fours. Playing with the wind was a different story. There is ample rough between the fairways but in May it isn’t too thick. The real hazard is the whins, or gorse as it is called in England.
Many clubs offer specials that includes greens fees and lunch or dinner. Lundin Links is one of the few courses where we took advantage of them. After the round we retired to the clubhouse for lunch where we were treated like members in good standing. The food was great, the staff was friendly and perhaps we even had a pint!
All the best,
ODL
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