In the land of many links, the one hill course is king. Not quite perhaps but in the Kingdom of Fife a course that stands head and shoulders above the coastal fringes certainly gives you a fresh, rewarding perspective. Overlooking its seaside brethren and the Fife holiday town of the same name, Burntisland Golf House Club is a welcome change. The unusual name probably comes from Viking times and originated just after the Norse raiders were done pillaging and plundering.

A test of a more gentle yet inspiring nature...

If you’ve been playing on nearby coastal courses such as Leven or Lundin Links, it is refreshing to mount Burntisland’s broad, parkland fairways and rise to a test of a more gentle yet inspiring nature. Good drives are rewarded with easy pitches but be cautious of the firm, small greens. What you made up in distance, you can easily lose in 3-putts. 

In spite of its appearances and location, Burntisland Golf House Club is not wholly a parkland. With a sandy subsoil on some of the higher holes (8th through 14th) it can play quite links-like and again, this is reflected in the green approaches. 

Taking a line off Edinburgh Castle

A favourite configuration from the aesthetic point of view is the 4th playing slightly downhill and taking a line off Edinburgh Castle away in the distance. There are some quirky corners such as the Par 3, 5th followed by the similar short 6th where the flag may be tucked out of sight behind a hill. But it is all great fun with a tremendous variety of terrain.

The views from the highest points of the course are simply breathtaking. The entire Forth Estuary stretches before you with Edinburgh on the southern shore. The Forth Bridge can be seen to the west with Bass Rock away down near North Berwick to the east. This is particularly appreciated from the double-green at the 8th and 14th. The 9th and 10th are strategy holes, best tackled with a view to your second shot and not necessarily taking a driver. The 9th rises up steeply so you want to hit the fairway but not too close in to get a good view of the pin. The 10th offers no views off the tee except a steep bank ahead from where the fairway runs way down into a tree encircled hollow. For most 1st timers this is ‘suck-it-and-see’ off the tee and if you’re really lucky you could roll all the way onto the green.

Burntisland is not to be taken too seriously and that is perhaps its beauty. You can relax on a fair few holes and just enjoy the surroundings, which are ample.

Burntisland Golf House Club          

Dodhead,

Kirkcaldy Road         

Burntisland   

Fife, KY3 9EY

Tel:                 01592 874093

Email:           info@burntislandgolfhouseclub.co.uk

WWW:           www.burntislandgolfhouseclub.co.uk

Location:       On B923, approximately half a mile east of Burntisland town centre.

Statistics:      18 holes, 5,965 yards, Par 70, SSS 70       

Designer:       Willie Park Jnr/James Braid

Green Fees:   £