Craighead Links at Crail Golfing Society

Craighead Links represents Gil Hanse's first ground-up design in Scotland and his contribution to the historic Crail Golfing Society, which dates to 1786 and operates the older Balcomie Links along the same stretch of Fife coastline. Opened in 1998, the course occupies elevated farmland above the town of Crail, offering a different character from its seaside companion while maintaining connections to traditional Scottish golf architecture.

The routing moves across gently rolling terrain with views over the Firth of Forth toward the Bass Rock and, on clear days, the East Lothian coast. Hanse worked to create a links experience on land that sits higher and slightly inland from the shore, incorporating natural contours and establishing playing corridors that feel exposed to coastal winds. The design emphasizes ground game options and strategic variety rather than dramatic elevation change, with green complexes that reward thoughtful approach play.

Craighead functions as the Society's second course, complementing Balcomie's more intimate seaside layout with greater length and a different set of challenges. The course serves members and visitors who come to Crail seeking a full day of golf in one of Fife's quieter corners, away from the busier resort towns further west along the coast. The clubhouse and facilities are shared between both courses, maintaining the unpretentious atmosphere typical of smaller Scottish golf societies.