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Balcomie Links is the older of Crail Golfing Society's two present-day courses on the East Neuk of Fife. The Society was founded in 1786, but the Balcomie course itself dates from the late nineteenth century. Old Tom Morris laid out the first nine holes during 1894, and Balcomie formally opened on 3 July 1895.
Morris returned to extend the course to 18 holes in 1900. The present layout is a par 69 with an unusual composition of three par fives, six par threes and nine par fours. Published white-tee information gives a length of 5,861 yards.
The course is an 18-hole links golf course. It plays to par 69, 5,861 yards. Designed by Old Tom Morris, the course originally opened in 1895. It is open to the public. On-site facilities include Clubhouse, Restaurant, Pro shop, Short game area, Golf club hire, Power trolley hire, Push trolley hire, Caddies, and 3 more.
Golf in Crail predates Balcomie by generations. Crail Golfing Society was founded in 1786 and originally played at Sauchope. In 1894 Crail Town Council acquired a lease over land at Balcomie and sought the advice of Old Tom Morris.
Morris laid out a nine-hole course during 1894, and Balcomie was formally opened on 3 July 1895. Professor Chiene struck the first ball at the opening ceremony and Morris struck the second.
Morris worked in an era when the existing contours and natural ground largely determined a course's shape. Crail's own history records his strong approval of the links terrain. The resulting course retains an unusual balance of three par fives, six par threes and nine par fours.
Old Tom Morris returned in 1900 when additional ground allowed Balcomie to be expanded from nine to 18 holes. Much of the modern routing derives from that work. Crail later added a separate second course, Craighead Links, which opened in the 1990s.
Balcomie's significance comes from both its surviving Old Tom Morris routing and its connection with one of golf's oldest societies. The Society's own records document organised golf at Balcomie as early as 1857, decades before the formal Morris course.
Balcomie remains Crail Golfing Society's historic links course and operates alongside the separate Craighead Links. Visitors are accepted and the Society publishes seasonal green fees and equipment-hire rates.
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| Fee Type | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| May-September 2026 Single Round - Balcomie | £170 | Valid 1 May to 30 September 2026. |
| April 2026 Single Round | £110 | Published Society visitor rate. |
| October 2026 Single Round | £90 | Published Society visitor rate. |
| November-December 2026 Single Round | £70 | Published Society visitor rate. |
| Junior Single Round | £25 | Age 17 and below; maximum two juniors per round. |
Prices are indicative and subject to change. Contact the course to confirm current rates.
| Front 9 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Par | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 35 |
| Yards | 319 | 491 | 177 | 354 | 454 | 186 | 346 | 419 | 306 | 3052 |
| Index | 15 | 5 | 13 | 9 | 1 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 17 | - |
| Back 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Par | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 34 | 69 |
| Yards | 336 | 494 | 525 | 214 | 147 | 264 | 162 | 462 | 205 | 2809 | 5861 |
| Index | 6 | 14 | 10 | 2 | 16 | 18 | 12 | 4 | 8 | - | - |
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