Drumoig Hotel & Golf Course, Fife...

of 4 imagesLabel

Drumoig Golf Club is just seven miles north of St Andrews but this all-round facility doesn’t even pretend to be part of the hustle and bustle of the ‘Auld Grey Toon’. A reasonable 7000-yards championship design, Drumoig’s course has been settling over past seasons and is now in fair condition. Laid out on rolling pastures, it is essentially open parkland with fairways defined by gorse and long swathes of swaying grass. Water is in evidence particularly at the close of the first half but more on that later.

From the start this is a course to encourage full drives, skilful fairway wood and long iron play. A 25-foot high quarry wall accentuates the course’s signature holes. The 5th is a Par 5, almost always into the prevailing westerly wind and requiring two big dunts and a long iron to even line up with the opening of this sheltered green. It is a stiff test for the best hitters so relax and take what you get.

The 9th has, no doubt seen a lot of good first halves disappear under water. From the tee the prospect is daunting with two large lakes biting into a slim waist of land. It’s not a short 4 by any means and your instincts will tell you to take a chance and go for broke. Bad move! Unless you’ve got the skill to land a 747 on the Tay Road Bridge take the easy option and play a 5-iron into position; from there its another 5-iron, maybe more to the big space to the right of the green then safely on for 3 and still a chance at Par.

There’s a lot of interest on the back nine. Perhaps it’s not so arduous as the long holes on the first half but there is plenty call for accuracy and good course management.