Kingsbarns Course, St Andrews

On Sunday David Howell was victorious at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, hosted by St Andrews. This week's course review introduces golf fans to the history and layout of the Kingsbarns Course, one of three St Andrews courses that played host to the tournament last week.

The Kingsbarns Course, also known as the "baby" course, is located six miles east of St Andrews. Flanked by the Scottish coastline, this championship links course has gained a reputation as one of the UK's most promising since it opened to the public ten years ago.

The course design, which was a collaborative effort between Kyle Phillips and Mark Parsinen, captures the beauty of the surrounding area. An undulating terrain and an abundance of sea views provide an excellent setting for a challenging round of golf at Kingsbarns.

Weekend golfers will find the course layout challenging but playable, especially for those who can maintain accuracy from tee to green. Here are a few course highlights to look out for:

The opening hole, a 370-yard par 4, provides a first taste of the undulating fairways and elevated greens that abound at Kingsbarns. Players should take note of the fairway bunkers and the deep pot bunker which guards the green.

The par 5 twelfth hole, known as the "ordeal", stretches over 538 yards (606 yards from the back tees). Despite the imposing size of this hole, it offers some of the most scenic views of the ocean and could present a birdie opportunity to players who are able to lay up without encountering the large fairway bunker.

Kingsbarns championship links is open to the public, and advance booking is essential to ensure a tee-off time at this popular course. Authentic Scottish caddies are available for visitors, completing the St Andrews experience. For further information on bookings, green fees, and accommodation, golfers may visit Kingsbarns Golf Links.

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