Winter Golf Deals in the Angus & Fife regions
This week, in the second of three blogs on Scottish Winter Golf, I pick out some of the courses in the Angus and Fife regions that are offering great deals on green fees.
Over the coming months, there are great opportunities to play two Open Championship venues and a number of Open Championship qualifier courses in Angus and Fife. Not only are the courses are a bit quieter at this time of year but there’s also 50% off green fees in many cases!
Now, unless the ‘Beast from the East’ returns, most of these links/coastal courses should be fully open throughout the colder months.
We are fortunate to have so many top quality courses offering such great winter golf deals at this time of year. But, let’s not kid ourselves, apart from the obvious ‘Supply & Demand’ issues, there are other reasons for the discounted rates, such as:
- It can get cold, wet & windy out there – waterproofs, woolly beanies & mitts are frequently required!
- There may be winter greens in use, in the first few hours, if there is frost about.
- There may be winter maintenance works being carried out and the course may have a different layout.
- The clubhouse may not be open / available.
These are just a few of the reasons why golf clubs discount their green fees in the winter. For that reason, I put together a ‘Golfing in the Winter’ checklist last month which you may want to have a quick glance at before booking your next winter round of golf – click HERE.
Next week, I will be highlighting the winter golf deals on the links/coastal courses of East Lothian, Borders, South West Scotland & Ayrshire. For the time being, here are my course selections from the Angus & Fife regions:
Angus Region – Winter Golf Deals
Montrose Golf Links – (Open Qualifier Course)
www.montrosegolflinks.com
In terms of hidden gems in Scotland, Montrose links is right up there with the best. Golf was first played here, 456 years ago, in 1562 – with history like that, it’s no wonder the main course has been recently rebranded as ‘The 1562 Course’. It’s not a long track but it is an Open qualifier links course that you have to manage your way around – beware of those pot bunkers!
The 1562 Course
Round: £34 from 1 November to 21 March 2019
Broomfield Course
Round: £15 from 1 November to 21 March 2019
Winter Membership: £230 from October to 31 March 2019
(includes access to both courses above)
Arbroath Golf Links
www.arbroathgolfcourse.co.uk
On a strip of links land, wedged between Angus farmland and the East Coast railway line, lies Arbroath Links. You’ll be tested by well placed bunkers and the ever present sea breeze. Additionally, you’ll have to plot your way over the burns that cross the fairways, on no fewer than nine occasions.
Round: £12 from 1 November to 31 March 2019
Carnoustie Golf Links
www.carnoustiegolflinks.co.uk
There are three courses at Carnoustie – the Championship Course, The Burnside & the Buddon. Don’t let the green fees fool you into believing that the Championship Course is 4 times better than the Burnside Course! I am a fan of the Burnside and I believe that if this course was not overshadowed by its Open Championship neighbour, it would gain more recognition as a top Scottish course. Give it a try, if you’ve not done so before. Winter rates for all courses have been reduced by 50%.
Championship Course
Round: £100 from 5 November to 31 March 2019
Burnside Course
Round: £25 from 5 November to 31 March 2019
Buddon Course
Round: £25 from 5 November to 31 March 2019
Panmure Golf Club – (Open Qualifier Course)
www.panmuregolfclub.co.uk
The links course at Panmure Golf Club is definitely worth adding to your agenda, if you are golfing anywhere near this area! It is an Open qualifier course and has held numerous regional and national events over the years. It is a fair course but bunkers lurk at most holes to catch overzealous drives. The odd burn and out of bounds will also grab your attention, so accuracy off the tee is key.
Round: £45 from 1 November to 28 February 2019
Monifieth Golf Links – (Open Qualifier Course)
www.monifiethgolf.co.uk
Only a few miles from Carnoustie lie the Medal & Ashludie courses at Monifieth. The Medal course is an Open qualifier course – its fairways are undulating, with gorse and heather never far away – accuracy is always better than length on this classic links course.
Medal Course
Round: £25 from 1 December to 28 February 2019
Ashludie Course
Round: £15 from 1 December to 28 February 2019
Winter Membership: £125 from 1 November to 31 March 2019
(Winter Ticket – 5 day Medal / 7 day Ashludie)
Fife Region – Winter Golf Deals
Scotscraig Golf Club – (Open Qualifier Course)
www.scotscraiggolfclub.com
Scotscraig is the most northerly course in Fife and is virtually equidistant from St Andrews and Carnoustie. The course is a mix of links and heathland terrain. There is a lot of gorse which looks great in full bloom…. however, you’re unlikely to find your ball if it goes anywhere near it! Scotscraig is the 13th oldest club in the world and celebrated its 200th anniversary last year. It has also been an Open qualifying course on a number of occasions over the last 35+ years.
Round: £30 from 1 November to 31 March 2019
5 Day Winter Membership (M-F) – £160 from 15 October to 28 February 2019
St. Andrews
www.standrews.com
The courses at St. Andrews need no introduction from the likes of me – all I will say is that whilst you can book tee times online, the only exception is the Old Course where a ballot system is in use. Check their website for details – www.standrews.com
Old Course
Round: £90 from 1 November to 31 March 2019
New Course
Round: £40 from 1 November to 28 February 2019
Jubilee Course
Round: £40 from 1 November to 28 February 2019
Eden Course
Round: £25 from 1 November to 28 February 2019
Strathtyrum Course
Round: £15 from 1 November to 28 February 2019
Balgove Course – 9 hole
Round: £8 from 1 November to 28 February 2019
Castle Course – closes from 4 November until 1 March 2019
Round: £60 from 1-4 November & 1- 31 March 2019
Fairmont St. Andrews
www.fairmont.com
The Fairmont St. Andrews resort sits a few miles south east of St Andrews on a cliff-top spot. The two courses at the resort are new comers to Scottish Golf, only having been open for around 20 years but they both present a good challenge with great views.
The Torrance Course
Round: £50 from 1 November to 17 March 2019
The Kittocks Course
Round: £50 from 1 November to 17 March 2019
Crail Golfing Society
www.crailgolfingsociety.co.uk
Don’t let the 5800 yardage fool you on Balcomie Links, this course can feel like 7800+ yards in a stiff breeze, where the difficultly, not only lies in playing against or across the wind, but also trying to stop your ball down wind.
Two good tests of golf on both courses, in a beautiful part of Scotland.
Balcomie Links
Round: £35 from 1 November to 28 February 2019
Craighead Links
Round: £35 from 1 November to 28 February 2019
Golf House Club, Elie
www.golfhouseclub.co.uk
Golf has been played over these links since the sixteenth century, by all accounts! Old Tom Morris and James Braid were both involved in the design of the current course layout. A submarine periscope, salvaged from the Royal Navy’s HMS Excalibur, is used to ensure the fairway ahead is clear at the first hole – an intriguing start to your round!
Round: £47-£49 from 22 October to 22 March 2019
(includes soup or coffee & hot roll)
Lundin Links – (Open Qualifier Course)
www.lundingolfclub.co.uk
Lundin Links sits side by side with Leven Links, separated by the Mile Dyke. You are tested on this Open qualifying course with deep bunkers, tight fairways, out of bounds, burns, the ever present wind but rewarded with excellent greens and an award winning clubhouse at the 19th.
Round: £30 from 5 November to 31 March 2019 (not available on Saturdays)
Leven Links – (Open Qualifier Course)
www.leven-links.com
Leven Links has been an Open qualifying course on many occasions, in addition to hosting numerous prestigious national, international, professional and amateur events over the years.
Leven is a classic Scottish links course, full of natural dunes, valleys and slopes that will throw or collect your ball in true links style. When the wind gets up it can cause havoc, as your ball appears to take on a mind of its own, on the firm fairways and fast rolling greens. Possibly the toughest par 4 finishing hole in Scotland!
Round: £35 from 1 December to 28 February 2019
I do hope you are able to take advantage of these great green fee rates being offered by some of our top courses. Please check the course website or facebook page for any updates before your round.
NEXT BLOG POST: Thursday 8 November 2018 – Next week, is the third & final blog post on Scottish Winter Golf Deals. I’ll be looking at what winter green fee deals are available in East Lothian, Borders, South West Scotland & Ayrshire.
PREVIOUS BLOG POST: from 23 October 2018 – focuses on the Winter Green Fee deals in the Scottish Highlands & the North East – click HERE to read the post from last week.
An opportunity, not to be missed, is that you have the chance to play 