Crail Golf Society, Crail, Fife, Scotland
No course could possibly inspire such differing opinions as Crail, located some 20 minutes from St. Andrews on a remote, windswept headland.
Organized Golf has been played in the area for at least 225 years, although evidence exists of play at this location from even earlier times. The 11 gentlemen who formed the Crail Golf Society in 1786 did not originally play at this site, but eventually, in the later 1800’s, Tom Morris was asked to design what is now the Balcomie Links. What is clear is that he did little in the way of earth moving, and likely positioned tees and flags in places which suited the game of the day, which was largely played along the ground. Here we find the splendid roots of the game of golf, before modern equipment and the tee sheet. These factors explain much about Crail, it’s crossing fairways, it’s quirky layout, it’s hidden loop of closing holes.
Many older courses share a common trait – they wouldn’t be built in their current form were they to be built today. But this, for me, is what makes Crail so delightful, so interesting, and so memorable. Of course, the wind and weather are huge factors in the play of each hole, but even on a flat calm day, the course presents unique challenges on every hole. Every hole asks you to play an in interesting shot. The first hole of just 330 yards or so downhill asks you to stay left of a small building. If you do not, you will be playing over the roof for your second. The 2nd hole asks you to keep your drive out of the ocean, your second tempts you to try for the green in two, and if not, to play a very tricky pitch that may end up in the sea despite your caution. The third hole requires a blind tee shot to a par 3 green which cannot be missed right, but left leaves a horribly difficult downhill pitch. The 4th asks whether you know how far you can carry your driver as you cut the corner over water. The 5th is a semicircle around the same rocky bay and is very long, requiring a precision drive and long iron or fairway wood. The par 3 6th asks whether you can hit a lofted mid iron, or you will not hold the green.
This pattern continues for all 18 holes, and culminates in a splendid loop of finishing holes hidden around the corner of the headland, starting with the 15th. At 264 yards, with out of bounds left and three bunkers in series from 60 yards in to the right, you must hit a very precise tee shot to make the green, which slopes away and to the left. You may make eagle here, but it is just as easy to make 6. The 16th is a fine uphill par 3, a slender sloping green is surrounded by gorse on 3 sides. You must hit your tee shot a little from the right as the ball will bound to the left on landing. 3 is a good score even if you hit the green, but many will be hitting provisionals from the tee. The 17th is a 460 yard par 4 (417 from the yellows, 400 par 5 from the Ladies tees) calling for a tee shot to clear the road, (and avoid the people on the green at 15), and then a well struck long iron to a fairway and green which is out bounds beyond.
The 18th is a long par 3 and possibly the trickiest putting surface of all, sloping from front to back and left to right. Out of bounds sits at an angle to the green in the form of a rock wall just beyond and to the right, running back at 40 degrees. Needless to say, many tee shots end up left of the green, where 4 bunkers await. You can imagine how difficult the pitch becomes, and you can expect a long putt for par if you miss on the left.
The course will certainly yield some birdies if you execute the shots, but will certainly result in bogeys or worse if you do not. For those that find Crail confusing, dangerous, quirky and unfair, I would like to remind them that modern golf course design can result in some horribly dull layouts, and all would be architects should visit here as part of their learning. Crail has so many unusual, interesting holes it is a joy to play and really is a most unique test.