Crail Golfing Society - Craighead
Gil Hanse - 1993
Private - limited public tee times
125 Pounds / $170 USD
Craighead is one of those places that comes out of nowhere. It’s not highly ranked and not as well known as its neighbors.
Yet it’s as charming as the old links. I love this place.
One of Gil’s earliest designs, he did a masterful job of using old farmland to make a linksy golf course that is truly unique.
The coolest feature, other than the gorgeous ocean views, are the incredible stone walls…some likely predate the birth of Jesus. They are not just visual, they play an active role in the course strategy. Turns out defending against the Vikings adds some great golf course flair.
The course ebbs and flows to and from the sea. It’s a windy site, always expect the breeze since it sits high over the sea. The ocean views are spectacular and a constant feature.
The greens are a great challenge. They are mid sized and have lots of internal contour. The par 3’s are very hard, mostly on the longer side. This course is no pushover.
Why doesn’t Craighead get more attention? It suffers from its opening. The course when built was far too hard and the fairways too narrow, the members said it just wasn’t fun. As it matured it got tweaked and now it’s an absolute blast to play, while still a challenge.
I absolutely love this course. If on a St. Andrews trip, add Crail!!!
The restored 7th green at @TheAddingtonGC. You may not see a longer backswing with a putter. @mikeclaytongolf trying to find the elusive top shelf from 85 yards away.