Great Value In The Home Of Golf

Aug 11 2008 By The Journal

In the last issue of Golf North East we featured the first part of an in-depth report on the First In Fife Golfpass. This time, we pick up where we left off, looking at each of the courses involved in this great value scheme.

Kinross Montgomery and Bruce courses

Easily reached via the M90 motorway north from the Forth Bridge, Kinross is a fully-fledged golf resort, with the two courses and the two adjacent hotels, the Green and Windlestrae, all in the same ownership. Set close to Loch Leven (where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned) and with views to the Lomond Hills, the courses are easily-walked parkland, with great variety in the holes and some tricky greens.

Aberdour

Awarded Golf Monthly's Gold Star in 2006, Aberdour has been a favourite with visitors for many years. Just along the Fife Coastal Tourist Route from the Forth Bridge, the course starts with two stunning par 3s - the first down to the sea, looking across to the abbey on Inchcolm Island, and then the second across the bay. The course becomes more parkland after that, but always with wonderful sea views.

Burntisland

Just along the coast from Aberdour, golf was being played on the town links here in the 17th century, and the 'new' course at Dodhead was was surveyed by Old Tom Morris and laid out by

Willie Park Jnr in the late 19th century. At just under 6,000 yards, the course is not long, but it's wonderfully enjoyable, with some tricky blind shots and testing holes. Hilly in parts, the reward is the marvellous views over the Firth of Forth.

Kirkcaldy

A traditional club with a splendid modern clubhouse, the course at Balwearie (as it's known locally) was originally laid out by Old Tom Morris in 1904. Quite hilly in parts, though not long at 6,086 yards, the course offers an enjoyable challenge from the uphill dogleg 1st to the short 18th with its well-bunkered two-tier green. A typical Scottish burn also meanders alongside several holes.

Thornton

Just off the main A92 in the heart of Fife, Thornton was established in 1921 and offers an easy-walking round in wooded surroundings. The finishing stretch of 5 holes beside the River Ore is particularly fine. The modern clubhouse is the fourth the club has had (the original was a railway shed), and it offers fine food and hospitality to cap an enjoyable day's golf.

Balbirnie Park

Set in a beautiful country park famous for its rhododendrons, Balbirnie Park in Markinch is regularly used for PGA tournaments. It is a fine example of parkland golf design, making full use of the undulating natural contours and wooded setting. The 18th lives in the memory - so long as you play it well! - downhill and over the burn to a green in front of the grand new clubhouse.

Charleton

Opened in 1994 by keen golfer and former US President George Bush Snr, Charleton was Scotland's first purpose-built pay as you play course. The furthest east of the Golfpass courses, and closest to the East Neuk and St Andrews, Charleton has a short par 3 course and grass driving range as well as its full 6,446yards course. The course is set in beautiful parkland, with fine views over the surrounding countryside and out to the Firth of Forth.

The Golfpass group has 14 hotel partners, all keen to sell passes and offer golfing breaks. The hotels vary in location, style, and price, with full details on www.firstinfifegolf.com.

Four of the best are:

Aberdour Hotel

A favourite with Golfpass visitors, the hotel is comfortable, with good food, a cosy golfers' bar, competitive prices, real golfer-friendly service - and several of the Golfpass courses within easy reach.

Green and Windlestrae Hotels, Kinross

Offering lots of facilities in the hotels, and golfing packages on their own Montgomery and Bruce courses, these hotels are becoming increasingly popular with visiting golfers - and there's lots for non-golfing partners to do too. The Green is the more expensive of the two, but they're both within walking distance of the two courses, and within easy reach of other Golfpass courses.

Pitbauchlie House Hotel, Dunfermline

A keen supporter of the Golfpass since its launch, the family-run Pitbauchlie House is a fine building in the heart of Dunfermline, and therefore close to several of the Golfpass courses. It is also an ideal base for exploring the historic and other attractions of Dunfermline itself.

More golfers from the north of England than from any other part of the country use the First in Fife Golfpass, and sales grew 70% in 2007. The Kingdom of Fife is easy to reach, it offers lots of other attractions in a compact area (full details on www.visitfife.com), and the new online system for buying golfpasses and booking tee times is already proving very popular.

You'll be made very welcome in the Home of Golf!

Golf In Scotland Factfile

First in Fife Golfpass: A 3 round pass costs £59 and a 5 round pass is even better value at £92. Supplements are payable at some courses, particularly at weekends, and golfpasses can be used any time up to 31 October 2008.

The courses in the Golfpass group are Aberdour, Balbirnie Park, Burntisland, Canmore, Charleton, Dunfermline, Forrester Park, Kinross Bruce and Montgomery courses, Kirkcaldy, Pitreavie, and Thornton.

For full details, long on to: www.firstinfifegolf.com

Or phone the tourist information centre on 01592 267775 to buy your Golfpass.

Where To Play

Aberdour Golf Club: www.aberdourgolfclub.co.uk Tel: 01383 860080

Balbirnie Park Golf Club: www.balbirniegolf.com Tel: 01592 752006

Burntisland Golf House Club: www.burntislandgolfhouseclub.co.uk Tel: 01592 872116

Charleton Golf Club: www.charleton.co.uk Tel: 01333 340505

Kinross Montgomery and Bruce courses: www.golfkinross.com Tel: 01577 863407

Kirkcaldy Golf Club: www.kirkcaldygolfclub.co.uk Tel: 01592 203258

Thornton Golf Club: www.thorntongolfclub.co.uk Tel: 01592 771111

Aberdour Hotel: www.aberdourhotel.co.uk Tel: 01383 860325

Green Hotel, Kinross: www.green-hotel.com Tel: 01577 863467

Windlestrae Hotel, Kinross: www.windlestraehotel.com Tel: 01577 863217

Pitbauchlie House Hotel, Dunfermline: www.pitbauchlie.com Tel: 01383 722282