Kingsbarns Golf Links: A must-play in a land of old links

Located seven miles away from St. Andrews along the coast is Kingsbarns Golf Links, a 21st-century links design near golf's sacred ground.

The village of Kingsbarns had a golf club for a long while dating back to the early 19th century, but golfers deserted the club around the time of World War II and the land lay empty for many years. The new Kingsbarns Golf Links debuted in 2000 and became the area's new must-play in a land of old links.

The golf course was designed by Kyle Phillips and the land was shaped so that there are three tiers of golf holes, sloping down towards the sea in order to optimize sea views. Once you hit your first tee shot through dunes and dogleg right, the sea comes into view and never ceases. Two holes in particular play especially spectacular along the sea, the par-5 12th and par-3 15th hole.

The design is more than just sea views, however. A championship links, Kingsbarns is a host course in the Dunhill Links Championship held in St. Andrews each fall along with Carnoustie and the Old Course at St. Andrews. The course features many steep, revetted pot bunkers both in the fairways and greens. The greens are large, very fast and sloping with tiers. Pin positions can be especially creative, set on slopes and tucked in corners.