Crail — Craighead Links¶
The longer, more exposed, more modern test on the higher ground inland from Balcomie — Gil Hanse's first solo design, opened 1998 to relieve pressure on the old links. Two nine-hole loops through gorse and revetted bunkers, with large sloping greens and the 1,200-year-old Viking defensive wall "Danes Dyke" coming into play on holes 11–16.
Location¶
Crail, East Neuk of Fife — same property as Balcomie, about 12 miles southeast of St Andrews, 25–30 min drive. Map.
The Course¶
Par 71, roughly 6,700 yds (sources vary 6,617–6,728). More land than Balcomie, more wind too — higher ground means the weather is never hidden. Hosts national and international championships. The 11th "The Muir" is bisected by the 5-foot-high Danes Dyke wall — a pure risk-reward drive; the par-5 15th "Danes Dike" plays a blind approach over the dike to a turtle-backed green; the drivable par-4 10th "Fife Ness" hides a nest of bunkers; and the bunkerless 14th "Lang Man's Grave" (420 yds) slopes its green to the sea. USGA-standard greens built under Walter Woods, ex-Old Course greenkeeper — Muirfield comparisons are common.
Scorecard¶
White tees (source: official club card crailgolfingsociety.co.uk for yards/par; SI from aggregator — treat SI as indicative):
| Hole | Name | Par | SI | Yds | M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | — | 5 | 9 | 469 | 429 |
| 2 | — | 4 | 3 | 385 | 352 |
| 3 | — | 4 | 15 | 323 | 295 |
| 4 | — | 4 | 1 | 455 | 416 |
| 5 | — | 3 | 7 | 231 | 211 |
| 6 | — | 5 | 13 | 552 | 505 |
| 7 | — | 3 | 5 | 197 | 180 |
| 8 | — | 5 | 17 | 513 | 469 |
| 9 | — | 4 | 11 | 376 | 344 |
| 10 | Fife Ness | 4 | 18 | 299 | 273 |
| 11 | The Muir | 4 | 6 | 357 | 326 |
| 12 | — | 4 | 14 | 344 | 315 |
| 13 | — | 3 | 16 | 157 | 144 |
| 14 | Lang Man's Grave | 4 | 2 | 411 | 376 |
| 15 | Danes Dike | 5 | 10 | 552 | 505 |
| 16 | — | 4 | 12 | 376 | 344 |
| 17 | — | 3 | 8 | 197 | 180 |
| 18 | — | 4 | 4 | 457 | 418 |
History¶
Gil Hanse, 1998 — his first course designed solo; he went on to Olympic golf and major-championship work. Hanse was the first American architect to build in Scotland. Co-host of the 2019 Scottish Amateur Championship; 2023 AIG Women's Open final qualifier. NCG Top 100s Scotland #16. Named holes: 10 "Fife Ness", 11 "The Muir", 14 "Lang Man's Grave", 15 "Danes Dike".
Playing It¶
Green fees: £125 (2026, high season May–Sep); £110 April, £90 Oct, £70 Nov–Dec. Day ticket covering Balcomie and Craighead: £240 (2026). Book online at crailgolfingsociety.co.uk.
Getting There¶
Same as Balcomie — one clubhouse, one car park.
Notes¶
The pairing with Balcomie in a single day (£240, 2026) is a proper links day out.