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4.4
15 Reviews (15)
5 Stars
7
4 Stars
7
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.7
Value
4.6
Layout
4.3
Friendliness
4.5
Pace
4.6
Amenities
4.3
100.0%
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15 out of 15 reviews
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Amenities
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About

Holes 18
Type
Style Links
Par 74
Length 6651 yards
Slope 143
Rating 79.3

Established in 1786, Crail Golfing Society is the seventh oldest golf club in the world. It boasts two of the finest links golf courses in Scotland. Craighead Links is the younger of the two courses by over a century, but it still provides the same challenging features that characterize the best of traditional Scottish links. The lack of trees subjects the course to the fury of the prevailing winds, requiring golfers to have a variety of shot-making skills in their repertoire. There are no two consecutive holes that face the same direction and numerous bunkers strategically placed throughout make the course even trickier. There is plenty of scenic respite to balance the challenging hazards provided by the stunning views of the Forth and Tay estuaries.

Course Details

Year Built 1998
Golf Season Year round
Architect Gil Hanse (1998)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - £40
Clubs Yes
Pull-carts Yes

Practice/Instruction

Caddies Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Walking Allowed Yes

Food & Beverage

Catering

Available Facilities

Clubhouse

Reviews

4.4
15 Reviews (15)
Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 22
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Wet weather
Walked

Good course, but if you only play one, play Balcomie

You can look at Craighead as two courses. The front nine was nothing special, but the back nine was everything you could ask for. That pretty much makes the front nine almost a warm-up for the back nine followed by Balcomie. Would I play Craighead again as a single round for GBP 69? No, I'd rather play the St. Andrews courses. Playing the two Crail courses for GBP 95 makes for a great day.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Spectacular views

We played late July about 63 degrees no wind overcast. Owe never had to wait good pace of play. The greens and course in general were in excellent condition. Greens had good speed not to fast or slow. Staff very friendly and one rented brand new Taylormade m2 for 30 pounds. Would highly recommend.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Walked

Good course with surprising beauty

Played both courses on a day ticket of 95 pounds. Worth the money and was not a hard walk. This course is the longer and newer of the two. It is relatively flat walk with no large dunes although there is some undulations uphill and downhill with plenty of tall (but playable) grass, well places bunkers and gorse to avoid. The layout was quite fun and when it gets breezy a few of the holes along the cliffs will catch your attention. The wall holes were very fun too! Conditions of the greens were excellent. Some great picturesque views!

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Amazing

This is links golf. Beautiful course beautiful views. A wonderful place to play.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 95
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing

Under appreciated links

When I first played Crail 18 years ago, the recommendation from a member was to play the original Balcomie Links, not the "new American monstrosity". I happily took his advice and enjoyed Balcomie immensely.
This year, I had the opportunity to play at Crail again. This time the member recommended we play Craigshead as it was fun, interesting and under appreciated. I wholeheartedly agree.

The course conditions were excellent, the greens having good speed for Scotland and a number of them quite undulating. In classic links style, there is always a safe play to get to the green area. As the course sits unprotected on top of a cliff, wind plays more of a factor.

The front nine has 3 par 5s, starting with the 1st, a dogleg left. The 2nd & 4th are challenging par 4s. Each of the holes move in different directions, bringing the wind from different angles. Gorse is generally set well back from the fairway, but there is good fairway bunkering on a number of the holes.

The back nine starts with a Classic risk/reward driveable short par 4. Plenty of room to miss the green right, but your chip shot will run away from you. Even the layup off the tee has to be accurately judged as a series of bunkers influence your distance and angle choices. The 11th is again a mental challenge off the tee as a stone wall crosses the entire fairway, again giving you a tee choice between layup and challenging the wall. The 14th is a great dogleg left par 4 that runs along the cliff side and with the par 5 15th, you again have a stone wall to contend with for your second shot - stay short and you have a blind approach to the green. The 16th has.a minefield of bunkers occupying the left side of the fairway/rough, while the 18th gets the same challenge on the right side. The 17th has quite a lumpy green, so accuracy on this par 3 is essential.

Pro shop is very well stocked. The grill was also very nice - highly recommend the mac and cheese.

All in all, a very enjoyable experience of a modern day links.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Windy weather
Walked

Stunning

Criaghead seems to get over shadowed by it's elder counterpart Balcomie, but be sure not to overlook this fantastic course. The first 3 holes offer views over the older Balcomie course, then the course snakes away down to the Firth of Forth. the view over to Edinburgh, Gullane, North Berwick and back along the Fife coast is not be missed from the back of the 7th green. The views are great but the course is just as good. A great mixture of short and long holes that require a sharp short game.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Not a second Balcomie.....

I might be a bit harsh but if visiting Crail for the first time play the BALCOMIE not this one. Give it another 10 years and it may turn into a decent track but now it's just a bit "meh"

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Walked

GREAT COURSE

Played with some friends on a Saturday afternoon.
Great course greens had bee cored and were a bit hairy
but didn't spoil a good day out.
One negative comment would be the noise from the race track next door.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 25
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Poor weather
Walked

Our only day of rain

Was really excited to play the this course, course reviews and pictures I had seen and read before going really painted a great picture. Sadly the day we played it bucketed rain most of the round, enough that 2 of the guys quit after 9. The 4 of us that continued were treated to a challenging back 9 with undulating greens and great views! We would like to play it again in the hopes that the weather wouldn't be as wet. Ill always recommend a day at the Crail Golfing Society!

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 324
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Texas Advisor
Top 10 Contributor
First Time Playing
Walked

Scenic bargain course near St. Andrews

If you're spending a week or so in St. Andrews on your Scottish golf vacation and don't make the drive out to the edge of Fife to Crail, you're missing a wonderful complement to the birthplace of golf. Crail has two courses, the original Balcomie, and the more modern Craighead, designed by Gil Hanse. Craighead is longer than the historic Balcomie, I played the course on arrival day in Scotland and it was just what I needed: an interesting but very playable design and a top-notch clubhouse for lunch. Many holes have subtle doglegs towards the water, and the 14th plays along the coast from tee to green.

Crail fits into a St. Andrews itinerary particularly well if you're entering the Old Course Lottery or want to play 36 holes in a day. It's a lesser-trafficked and affordable - yet very fulfilling round.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great

Lovely course and stunning views, well maintained, we played on a sunny day and had a most enjoyable round.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great Views

This is the second course and not as famous as the Balcomie.
It does not have as many holes with a view of the ocean but it has a number of signature holes on other courses. Greens have a lot of contour and are a challenge. We played in a lot of wind and I was 6 or 7 over my index. We are going back later this week, use the hot deals special

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

One of the best courses I have ever played!

Absolutely awesome scenery. Very interesting layout with a large, ancient stone wall to hit a blind approach shot over on two magnificent holes.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
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Golf Packages

St Andrews Value Golf Package

FROM $327 (USD)
ST. ANDREWS | Enjoy 7 nights' accommodations at The Albany Hotel and 5 rounds of golf at New Course at St Andrews Links, Jubilee Course at St Andrews Links, Balcomie Links at Crail Golfing Society, Castle Course at St Andrews Links and Leven Links Golf Course at Leven Links Golf Club.

St Andrews Signature Golf Package

FROM $517 (USD)
ST. ANDREWS | Enjoy 7 nights' accommodations at The Albany Hotel and 5 rounds of golf at New Course at St Andrews Links, Jubilee Course at St Andrews Links, Balcomie Links at Crail Golfing Society, Castle Course at St Andrews Links and Leven Links Golf Course at Leven Links Golf Club.

Ireland’s Best of the North West Golf Package

FROM $347 (USD)
NORTHWEST IRELAND | Experience pure, rugged links courses with an authentic slice of Ireland with this package. Slightly off the beaten track, this package combines fantastic golf with incredible scenery and fantastic food that will give you a true taste of Ireland. Play one of Europe’s longest courses at Donegal Golf Club and admire the Atlantic Ocean at Rosses Point – this break is definitely for the more adventurous golfer!

The Complete Scottish Coast to Coast Golf Tour

FROM $577 (USD)
SCOTLAND| Starting on the South West coast, making a stop to experience the iconic home of golf at St Andrews and finishing down in North Berwick, this package is jam packed with three past and present Open Championship courses as well as a few hidden treasures along the way. Staying in 4 and 5* hotels along the way, this tour will offer you unforgettable golf, delicious food and sensational views as well as potentially the chance to play the phenomenal Old Course at St Andrews.

St Andrews, Highlands & Edinburgh Trilogy Tour

FROM $387 (USD)
SCOTLAND| A golf tour that allows you to experience the iconic Home of Golf at St Andrews, the spectacular golf of the Scottish Highlands and the historic city of Edinburgh is certainly not one to miss out on. Spend 4 days in St Andrews and take on the outstanding Old Course, then transfer to the highlands for some spectacular links golf at Royal Dornoch and Castle Stuart and finish the tour in Edinburgh with a chance to explore the Scottish Capital.
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