A foursome of Fife golf courses has made it into a list of the best in Britain and Ireland.
The Old Course, Kingsbarns, the Castle and Duke’s all featured in Golf World magazine’s top 100, decided by a panel of golf experts.
Both the Old Course and Duke’s and the St Andrews Bay Clubhouse also picked up HSBC Premier Golf Network Awards, made in conjunction with the magazine.
The Old Course was ranked fifth, down one place on last year, in the league table which was topped by Turnberry.
Its brilliance was said to have been demonstrated by the Open in July when Rory McIlroy “ripped it apart” in benign conditions on the first day but “the next day, Mother Nature came to the aid of the Old Lady and the Boy Wonder was savaged.”
It also took the HSBC award for best course, its 17th was named best hole. Down three at 15th, Kingsbarns has the “wow factor” with a landscape “oozing bumps, mounds, humps and hollows.”
The Castle Course was the only Fife one to climb the list, up 11 places to 56th. The hype surrounding its opening in June 2008 was justified, the magazine said, providing a “delicious slice of dramatic clifftop links.”
Just making it, Duke’s was 100th, down two places on last year, described as a “nice alternative to the links in the area” with “stunning views to the auld grey toun.”
The Dukes clubhouse was voted the best in the HSBC awards, with one of the best views in golf.
Also picking up an HSBC award was St Andrews Bay, overlooking the Kittocks and Torrance courses, for best club menu. Among the ultimate post-round venues voted for by readers was St Andrews’ Jigger Inn.
Courses which did not quite make the cut included Crail, Ladybank, Leven, Lundin Links, Scotscraig, New and Torrance.