Monifieth — Medal Course¶
Real links, cheap, and almost nobody plays it from abroad — the underrated Angus links. Flattish, fast and gorse-lined, with the Aberdeen–London railway line running along the boundary (out of bounds right on many holes) and the 4th green sitting among large dunes with a narrow entrance. Open Championship final qualifying venue.
Location¶
Monifieth, Angus — about 30 miles from St Andrews, 45 min drive. Map.
The Course¶
The Medal Course is the true links eighteen: par 71, 6,655 yds. Golf has been played on the ground since 1639; the Medal was laid out in 1845. The signature 7th "North Buddon" carries a burn from the tee; the 456-yard 4th "Featherbed" is the hardest hole, down a narrow fairway; and the 158-yard par-3 14th "The Sandbed" plays much longer than its yardage. The club's secondary eighteen, the Ashludie (par 68, 5,123 yds, James Braid), is a much shorter test on the same land.
History¶
Laid out 1845; Open Final Qualifying host (1968, 1970, 1975, 1999 — Van de Velde came through here — and 2007), plus the 2022 R&A Junior Open, Girls and Boys Amateur Championships, and Senior Open qualifying 2024. Three clubs share the links from three clubhouses. NCG Top 100s Scotland #54. Named holes: 4 "Featherbed", 7 "North Buddon", 14 "The Sandbed", 18 "Ian Hutcheon" (after the club's great amateur).
Scorecard¶
White tees (source: official WHS chart / BlueGolf):
| Hole | Name | Par | SI | Yds | M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | — | 4 | 13 | 338 | 309 |
| 2 | — | 4 | 7 | 414 | 379 |
| 3 | — | 4 | 5 | 429 | 392 |
| 4 | Featherbed | 4 | 1 | 456 | 417 |
| 5 | — | 3 | 15 | 191 | 175 |
| 6 | — | 4 | 11 | 382 | 349 |
| 7 | North Buddon | 4 | 3 | 417 | 381 |
| 8 | — | 4 | 17 | 284 | 260 |
| 9 | — | 5 | 9 | 547 | 500 |
| 10 | — | 4 | 10 | 369 | 337 |
| 11 | — | 3 | 16 | 183 | 167 |
| 12 | — | 4 | 4 | 374 | 342 |
| 13 | — | 4 | 2 | 432 | 395 |
| 14 | The Sandbed | 3 | 18 | 158 | 144 |
| 15 | — | 4 | 8 | 376 | 344 |
| 16 | — | 4 | 14 | 340 | 311 |
| 17 | — | 4 | 6 | 435 | 398 |
| 18 | Ian Hutcheon | 5 | 12 | 530 | 485 |
Playing It¶
Green fees: £160 (2026, May–Oct); £80 April. The Ashludie runs much cheaper (~£25–30). Book online at monifiethgolf.co.uk.
Getting There¶
Car: A92 north over the Tay to Monifieth; about 45 min from St Andrews. Also rail: direct train St Andrews (generic)→Leuchars then Edinburgh line to Monifieth station is circuitous — driving is simpler.
Notes¶
The value play of the Angus coast: a genuine links round at a fraction of Carnoustie's price, 10 minutes down the road.