
Balcomie Links Course
Crail Golfing Society
About this course
Balcomie Links at Crail Golfing Society clings to the Fife coast, a raw, unapologetic testament to golf's origins dating back to 1895. Here, the wind dictates more than the scorecard, shaping strategies on a course where the North Sea is as much a hazard as any bunker. Designed by Old Tom Morris, Balcomie embodies classic links golf. The terrain rolls and buckles with gorse-lined fairways and unpredictable bounces that reward creative shot-making and a keen understanding of ground contours. While not a stage for televised championships, Balcomie's charm lies in its pure golfing experience, a place where the spirit of the game trumps modern polish. The short par 4 5th hole often proves to be a "make or break" for many golfers - and its risk reward nature is often regretted or celebrated in equal measure. Crail isn’t just about the golf, but the camaraderie found within the walls of Balcomie Clubhouse. Many of the members have been playing at Crail for decades, often hosting friendly wagers within their tight knit community. Stories of missed putts and triumphant birdies are often toasted with a pint after the round.
Rankings
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Public column compares courses anyone can play.
Best in World
Best in UK
Best in Scotland
Quick facts
- Location
- Crail, Fife, Scotland
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1895
- Holes
- 18
- Designer
- Old Tom Morris
- Par
- 67
- Length
- 5,861 yards
- Difficulty
- 73.4/132
- Course Vaults score
- 8.0
Getting there
Most travelers bound for Crail Golfing Society arrive via Edinburgh Airport, roughly an hour and a quarter north across the Firth of Forth and into the ancient kingdom of Fife. The route carries you over the iconic Forth Road Bridge, then eastward through rolling farmland and coastal villages that grow quieter and more weathered as you near the North Sea. Crail itself sits at the very tip of the East Neuk peninsula, a fishing village of crow-stepped gables and harbor walls where the road simply ends - and there, perched on the cliffs above Balcomie Bay, waits the seventh-oldest golf club in the world, as timeless and unadorned as the linksland it commands.

FAQ
Common questions about Balcomie Links at Crail Golfing Society
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Balcomie Links at Crail Golfing Society has a Course Vaults score of 8.0 out of 10 based on 70 logged golfers.
Balcomie Links was designed by Old Tom Morris.
Yes. Balcomie Links at Crail Golfing Society is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Balcomie Links is 67.
Balcomie Links plays 5,861 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Balcomie Links is 132.






