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Being the thirteenth oldest golf club in existence, Scotscraig has always had a classy feel and in the clubhouse there is still a sense of tradition and good golfing hospitality. Found in Tayport on the southern shores of the Tay Estuary the course has seen a bit of change of late.
This Fife course’s general condition is much improved. Standing on the tee, there is clearer definition of the fairway and semi-rough. The greens are now firmer and faster and on some holes, ancient gorse bushes have been thinned or removed. In general the course is now much more neat and tidy and a delight to behold.
What’s going on? It seems the club have realised what an absolute gem of a course they have and are prepared to spend money to make your visit unforgettable. First impressions are important on any course; Scotscraig has for a long time been an excellent championship layout now it is gaining the presentation to match.
Over the next year or two a continuing programme will see revetting of bunkers and slight changes to some of the hole’s designs. Right from the start you sense the nature of this course. Links humps and bumps are quite marked on the opening holes along with gorse and trees. The subsoil is sandy and joyous to play irons off and the turf linksy - a new irrigation system has been installed but with all the rain this year, it has been wondering when it will get a turn.
The 4th is Scotscraig’s most famous hole - and the most daunting. If there ever was a case for judicious play, this is it. It’s obvious you don’t need a driver, just baby a 3-wood into position after that all the work is ahead of you. Should you be too bold off the tee, of course - you’re into heather or gorse not the place to be on a hole where the approach is everything. If you drive sensibly you’ll have 150 to 160 yards left to the pin still not an easy proposition. To be honest, it’s very much a hit or miss whether you’ll hit and stay on that putting surface. Perched atop a steep, pudding bowl it must be one of the hardest greens to hit in Scotland. The smart money is on a lay-up - that’ll leave you a nice pitch or chip up close to the flag and put it away for par!
Generally, Scotscraig is a subtly scenic course easy walking but lengthy enough and an excellent challenge for good golfers. With its links influence, accuracy is more important than length just to keep away from the gorse and trees.
The course changes on the back nine with more parkland influences which keep it varied though it soon picks up the linksland again. The 14th is an interesting Par 5 that finishes in an arena of trees while the Par 3 15th is a two-tier affair sloping off either side with a burn crossing in front. You need to get a good carry and get the yardage right here.
Let it be known that this course regularly attracts the likes of Ronan Rafferty and having regularly hosted the Final Open Qualifying when The Open comes to St Andrews has welcomed famous golfers such as Ian Baker-Finch, Larry Mize, Sam Torrance, Duffy Waldorf, Roger Boxall, Mark Mouland, Simon Dyson and Justin Rose to the event.
In the clubhouse Scotscraig have recently upgraded their dining services and all catering is carried out in-house allowing staff to provide their customers with food prepared to the highest of standards.
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