Kingsbarns Golf Links, as we know it today, was designed by Kyle Phillips and opened for play in 2000. Golf has been played on the grounds on and off since 1793.
Holes 1 and 2 play down off the hill towards the water. The 3rd hole is the first Par 5 and first of five seaside holes. The tee box is perched on the very edge of the water and forces a 250 yard carry over the beach to a generous fairway. The left side of the fairway is sloped and will funnel balls back to the middle. Following a good tee shot, the green is reachable, although well guarded by deep bunkers front and right, and dunes left and back.
The next 4 holes sit just up the hill and offer great views of the sea. The 6th hole is a very fun drivable Par 4. The front of the green sits at 260 yards and any tee ball hit to the upper fairway will feed down to the green. This briliant design allows for a 230 yard tee shot over the 2nd bunker to find its way on the green with a shot at eagle. Any tee shot just short and left of the green will collect into a small bowl with little grass and will result in an extremely challenging ship to the elevated green.
The Par 4 7th hole is very difficult. Measuring 430 yards, it is typically into the wind with a narrow fairway and elevated green. Anything left of the fairway runs down the hill towards the 16th fairway. The green is well protected with steep runoff to the left and bunkers both left and right. There is good reason this hole holds the number 1 spot for Stroke Index.
Holes 10 and 11, like 1 and 2, play down off the hillside towards the water. The 11th green is tucked up close to a wooded area separating it from the next 4 holes. From the 11th green to the 12th tee box is a short walk through those woods and across a small stream.
The 12th hole at Kingsbarns Golf Links makes our Dream Links Course and is one of the best Par 5s in Scotland. The tee box sits elevated with beautiful views of the water and the wide fairway, which encourages a big rip from the tee. Once in the fairway, the holes bends around the coast line and the fairway narrows. Eventually leading to a green tucked back against the waters edge and guarded by bunkers. The design forces a 3 shot approach for all but the longest and most daring golfers.
The difficult 12th hole is followed up with a short Par 3. The hole plays 125 yards from an elevated tee box. The green is large, but surrounded on all sides by small pot bunkers. Any shot short of the green will roll down the hill to a collection area and provide an extremely tough 2nd shot.
The Par 3 15th hole is the signature hole, or at least the most photographed hole. The tees sit on a small bit of grass between the trees and the water. The large green is surrounded on three sides by rock, beach and water with only a single small bunker on the back left. The best strategy is to ignore the pin position and aim at the bunker with a short iron.
The finishing hole is stunning and difficult. A slight dogleg left with an uphill tee shot. The left side of the fairway is littered with trouble from bunkers and thick rough. The second shot requires a long iron with zero tolerance for error. Many opt to layup short of the ravine, but beware the fairway slopes severely towards the ravine.
