Lundin Links: Scottish golf the way it was meant to be

July 11, 2006 By David Brice Special to GolfWeb

Every golfer knows Scotland is the home of the golf. This is the country that gave birth to the game over 6 centuries ago and it's the place where golf developed to become one of the most popular sports in the world -- following soccer of course.

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Boasting more than 550 courses within its borders, Scotland is where you will find a generous helping of the most fabled layouts in the world -- St. Andrews Old Course, Carnoustie, Kingsbarns, Turnberry, Royal Troon, Prestwick and Royal Dornoch among others. But what of the many hundreds of Scottish courses that lack the same level of celebrity?

Overshadowed by their better-known neighbors, more often than not these are surprisingly good layouts -- sometimes the equal and on occasion, even better than the more famous courses. Fame has passed them by or they may have intentionally avoided the spotlight, but don't let such details deter you from playing them. There are plenty of real Scottish gems out there to be discovered, you just have to know where to find them.

The area surrounding St. Andrews contains more excellent courses with unfamiliar names than perhaps any other part of Scotland. It's simply the price they pay for being located so close to the home of golf. Put most of these anywhere else and they would have the celebrity they deserve. One of the best of these hidden gems is situated just 15 minutes away from St. Andrews, the pedigreed Lundin Golf Club.

Founded in 1868, the club originally shared their links course with the neighboring Leven Golfing Society. Members of Leven commenced their rounds from the west end of the course, while Lundin members started their rounds from the east end.

An unusual gentlemen's agreement to be sure, but one that seemed to work -- at least for a few years.

By 1908, the impracticality of this novel sharing idea had become clear, when congestion on the course became too much for either club to live with. Noted designer James Braid was called in to redesign a full 18 holes that would be the exclusive domain of the Lundin Golf Club. Braid took 9-holes from the existing layout and a further 9 from the reluctant neighboring Lundin Ladies Club and went about the task of integrating them into one.

The course as it stands today is little changed from Braid's 1908 design -- a traditional Scottish links with a few twists that create an extremely interesting if tough challenge. The course is stern enough to be a British Open qualifying course when The Open is held at St. Andrews. It's also the regular venue for the prestigious, East of Scotland Open Amateur Championships -- impressive credentials for a course precious few visitors have ever heard of.

Lundin Links is just under 6,400 yards in length.

Measuring a shade under 6,400 yards, Lundin Links is not long, but don't be fooled, this is no walk in the park, but an intriguing variety of holes good enough to keep even the most accomplished on their toes from start to finish.

The first five holes are traditional links. Players than cross a defunct railway line and tackle the nine "new" holes, best described as a hybrid cross between links and parkland. The final four then revert to the genuine links tradition again. Along the way you will be confronted by as varied a selection of hazards as can be found on any links. Above everything this is a fun layout, guaranteed to remind all that in spite of golf's frustrating ways, it remains a game and games are to be enjoyed.

There is no question that Lundin Links is a charmer and the kind of layout that calls out to be played again and again and why not? If you have the time, spend a few nights at The Old Manor Hotel, a very gracious and welcoming country house property, overlooking the course with spectacular views across the Firth of Forth.

Situated only a brief stroll from the clubhouse, this decidedly first class hostelry is tailor made for golfers. There are just 23 very comfortable bedrooms, two of the best restaurants in the area, a lively bar and an atmosphere that's both informal and friendly. With Lundin Links first tee at the back door, a selection of other golf treasures within a couple of miles and St. Andrews and some of those more famous courses only 15 minutes down the road, this could well be golf heaven.

For a few ideas on where to find the best of Scotland's hidden gems, click here.

© 2006 David Brice / Golf International Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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