Dean Bailey heads north to Fife and the links of Lundin Golf Club
The artistry of golf course design lies in nuance and subtlety, and great designers understand how to enhance the natural terrain, use its best features, and hone – but never tame – it into places to play the game.
In 1868, Tom Morris set out to hone the rugged linksland on the north coast of the Firth of Forth into the first layout here, which came to have clubhouses – at Lundin and Leven – at either end of the out and back course. In 1909, this course was divided between the two houses – the most easterly nine holes to Lundin and the westernmost holes to Leven – with both clubs developing new holes on land to the north of a railway line, which has long since been removed. At Lundin, the new holes were created by five-time Open champion James Braid, blending the linksland with the slightly more inland terrain to create what we see today in one of Scotland’s best courses – a past host of Final Qualifying for The Open.
Teeing off just a couple of steps from the pro shop, the 420-yard first hole is less intimidating once you notice the steepness of the slope on the left and how difficult it should be to hit it out of bounds onto the beach. Instead, take note of the formidable fairway bunker to the right which was recently remodelled by architects Mackenzie & Ebert. Those who play cautiously to the right will have to navigate past two more bunkers en-route to an elevated green which falls away at the right and back edges, while the largest and deepest greenside trap lurks on the front left corner of the putting surface.
Continuing along the shoreline away from the clubhouse, the tee shot at the short par four second should be played cautiously and short of the burn which splits the fairway at around 260 yards. A short-iron approach, most likely from a sloping lie, must be controlled to another elevated green guarded by a deep left bunker with a massive catchment area, and the slope down to the burn on the right side.
More renovated, and steeply revetted, bunkers guard the right side of the fairway at the 331-yard third hole. A ring of three traps protects the front edge of a small green with a central plateau clearly defined by steep contours. The entrance to the green is just a few paces wide between the bunkers.
A demanding par four of 455 yards, the straightaway fourth hole requires a long tee shot to leave as short a club as possible into the elevated green, which sits atop a steep hill with the burn wrapped around the foot of the slope. The green, perched at the top of the hill and guarded by two left bunkers, is the only safe landing spot for your approach.
Turning inland, with the Leven course to your left just over the wall, the 141-yard par three fifth can be tricky, particularly when the wind blows. Well-defended by the burn short, gorse on the slope to the right, and seven bunkers, the wide green is raised in the front and slopes from right to left overall.
A trio of shorter par fours, each played back towards the clubhouse with out of bounds close to the right side, follows – beginning with the 331-yard sixth hole. A blind tee shot should favour the left side to avoid the boundary and the single fairway bunker on the right. Bunkers are stationed on each corner of the green, with the left front trap positioned to punish those who have played wildly out to the left from the tee.
The shortest two-shotter on the course, the 272-yard seventh, follows. Beware the boundary and the burn, which guards the front edge of a narrow green defined by a pair of bunkers on its flanks.
At 367 yards, the eighth is the most challenging of this three-hole stretch, particularly from the tee as a trio of small bunkers and a copse of five trees await those who play too cautiously out to the left. Having crossed the burn 50 yards short of the green with your second shot, the putting surface is generous with the bunkers set well away from its central plateau.
At 555 yards, the par five ninth will require three shots from most – while those taking aim in two must be accurate. Heading away from the clubhouse once again, the fairway is generous for both the tee shot and approach. The green meanwhile is small and well-defended by a pair of front bunkers, and slopes from back to front overall.
A short par four of just 352 yards follows and it’s important to take note of the fairway run-out at 277 yards from the back tee. Two bunkers guard against players going past this point, while a massive bunker with a central turf mound lies short right of the green. This long green is pinched in its back third by a pair of bunkers and is surrounded by gorse.
Gorse also presents the primary defence at the long, 464-yard par four 11th. A trio of fairway bunkers shouldn’t cause a problem for most, though the gorse to the right side of the main landing area must be avoided. Left is best from the tee, as from the right side players must fly over three bunkers short and three more set several paces from the front right corner of a tiny green which is framed by yet more gorse at its rear.
Climbing above the links and taking in the spectacular elevated view of the firth and across to the East Lothian coast for the first time, the short par three 12th is played uphill to a green encircled by seven bunkers with a treacherous, steep drop on its right side.
Played along the top of the hill, the 499-yard 13th is one of the best chances to make a birdie – should you manage to stay out of the trees on the right and away from the steep slope on the left. The green, which lies to the right between the main bank of trees and a small copse on the left, is in reach for many – though a cross-bunker some 30 yards short will catch out those trying to bounce the ball in. Two more bunkers protect the front edge of this small, flat green.
Having made the climb at the 12th, you reap your reward at the spectacular 14th hole.
A 177-yard par three, the 14th is played from an elevated tee to a green ringed by gorse and bunkers with the links of Lundin and Leven to your left and right sides respectively, and the Firth of Forth beyond. The view is simply spectacular, while the green – with its contours evoking the shapes made by the wind on the water beyond and its six bunkers set out in a ring – is a masterpiece. As the scorecard tells us, this hole is Perfection.
Back on the linksland, the final four holes will you back to the clubhouse.
At the 420-yard 15th, a pair of centreline bunkers lie some 300 yards from the tee and make a good aiming point for the majority of players. The approach to a very generous green is heavily contoured, while the putting surface continues these slopes with a meandering central ridge dividing the left and right sections.
Identified as one of CB MacDonald’s template holes – and replicated all over the world by designers, including MacDonald at National Golf Links of America – the 311-yard 16th hole is far more challenging than its yardage suggests. The view of the green from the tee is obscured by a hill on the left, while the fairway is split diagonally by the burn. A small bunker also sits on the right side of the landing area. Players must tackle both natural defences – either playing short of the water before navigating the greenside slope with their second shot, or taking on the water and bunker from the tee to mitigate the slope’s influence on their approach. The small green, with its ever-popular front right bunker, trio of back bunkers and the aforementioned slope to the left, is superb.
With out of bounds close to the left side and a wildly undulating fairway, the short par four 17th can also be tricky to get right. There are no bunkers in the fairway and just one trap cut well short of the green on the right side – though this can be found if players are too cautious from the tee and find the rough and slopes which are designed to punish those who guard against going out of bounds left.
A long finishing hole with an inviting landing area to hit into from the tee, the 439-yard 18th is defined by its second shot – which can be played out to the right to use the steep slope and funnel the ball onto the green while staying well clear of the boundary fence which hugs the entire left side of the hole. You just need to make sure you get past the bunker on the front right corner! Measuring 47 yards from front to back, this long, narrow shelf of green is split in half by a short ridge and it can be very tough to two-putt for par from long range here with players in the clubhouse watching on.
OUR VERDICT
The coastline of the Firth of Forth is blessed with superb linksland and Lundin makes spectacular use of its natural terrain. Combine this with timeless layout and green design work from Morris and Braid, and sympathetic bunker renovations from Mackenzie and Ebert, and Lundin presents a wonderful golfing experience.
