A guide to green fee value for money

Category: Trust (Page 3 of 3)

23. Auchterderran. 15th July 2015

Good value golf on an interesting little course.

Summary:  £10 for 9 holes, £12 for 18.   Par 33.  Value (out of 5) – 3

Nice views from Auchterderrans 6th green

Nice views from Auchterderrans 6th green

Although Auchterderran golf course, located in the Fife village of Cardenden, was established in 1904, in many ways it feels a younger, less mature course.   It is one of 7 courses managed by the Fife Golf Trust which was established in 2011 to take over Fife Council’s directly managed courses.   This is becoming a common practice by Local Authorities in Scotland to manage golf courses.

The devilishly difficult long par 3 5th, "Burma Road"

The devilishly difficult long par 3 5th, “Burma Road”

 

 

It’s a nice layout in the space available, with a good mix of holes.  This is a course for all, with some are pretty straightforward holes,  but the 3rd, 5th and 8th are potential card wreckers that will challenge the low handicap player.

 

3rd green looking down fairway

3rd green looking down fairway

The long par 3 5th, at 241 yards, called Burma Road, is a very tough par 3, which for most golfers should be played as a 4.  It has a small green, and out of bounds down the left.  A bogie 4 is a good score in my book.  Another tip, which I did not follow (meaning 2 lost balls) was playing safe on the 8th, which has a narrow gap at driving length.  Given another chance I would have played a 7 iron off the tee.

2nd green towards adjacent water (not in play on course)

2nd green towards adjacent water (not in play on course)

 

The course is maintained by volunteer members and therefore the condition is not great, but then again the price is very reasonable, so it still represents good value golf.  The fairways in particular need a lot of work, but the greens were good and true.

The people I met were very friendly.  It’s worth a game, if you have an hour or 2 to spare on your travels.

 

Key Facts

Course Type: parkland

Full Green Fees: 

Par 33 (0 par 5, 6 par 4s, 3 par 3s)

Distance (yellow)   2318 yards

Moly’s Gross score:

Moly's Auchterderran 9 hole scorecard - 46

Moly’s Auchterderran 9 hole scorecard – 46

22. Kinghorn. 14th July 2015

Small Historical Links Challenge at a Bargain Price

Summary:  Round weekday £18; weekend £22 .   Par 65.  Value (out of 5) – 4

Detail:  

Kinghorn's second green with views over the course to Burntisland and the Forth Estuary

Kinghorn’s second green with views over the course to the Forth Estuary

Kinghorn Golf Club, was founded in 1887, with the initial 9 holes being designed by Old Tom Morris – the remaining 9 holes were laid out in 1905 by Willie Fernie of Troon.  Kinghorn therefore represents a fine historical pedigree of golfing architecture.

Kinghorn is one of 7 courses managed by the Fife Golf Trust which was established in 2011 to take over Fife Council’s directly managed courses.

The tricky Par 3 3rd with the wall in play!

The tricky Par 3 3rd with the wall in play!

This is becoming a common practice by Local Authorities in Scotland to manage golf courses.  The golf club is private, like many Scottish clubs associated with public courses.

The course presents a fine test of all aspects of your game, especially your course management – my advice would be that other than the long par 4 8th and 13th holes (the 2 hardest on the course), leave your driver in the bag.  Accuracy from the tee will pay dividends here.

An "eagle" at the par 4 6th - putting a joy on these greens

An “eagle” at the par 4 6th – putting a joy on these greens

There are some tricky blind tee shots, with the 2nd and the 6th, both par 3s (from the yellow), needing good club selection to reach the green.  Although I played from the yellow tees, it was easy to imagine how much more difficult from the white boxes several of the holes were.  The SSS is 3 shots different between white and yellow.

Uphill approach to the Par 4 10th

Uphill approach to the Par 4 10th

The longest hole on the course - the 8th - a might 2 shots might not reach here.

The longest hole on the course – the 8th – a might 2 shots might not reach here.

The greens, and their immediate surrounds, were the highlight of the course condition when I played, and must be amongst the best in Fife; hard, true and very fast, it was difficult to judge your approach shots at times.   The fairways were mixed, most were very good but some, notably the 18th, were poor.  The tee boxes in particular needed attention. I think if some of the considerable effort placed on the greens, were shared to other areas, the whole course would benefit greatly.

 

 

 

This is a great little course, with magnificent views of the Forth Estuary and if you’re able to play after 3pm during the week in Summer, the twilight round rate of £12 represents great value.

Key Facts

Course Type: Links

Green Fees:  

weekday  £18 (round), £24 (day)
weekend £22 (round), £29 (day)

Par 65 (0 par 5, 11 par 4s, 7 par 3s)

Distance(white)   4587 yards

Moly’s Gross Score  88

Moly's Kinghorn Scorecard - 88

Moly’s Kinghorn Scorecard – 88

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