About the course
Kingarrock is a nine-hole course on open parkland below Hill of Tarvit, an Edwardian mansion in the Fife countryside now cared for by the National Trust for Scotland. It measures just over 2,000 yards with a par of 34, and what sets it apart is that only hickory-shafted clubs may be used, which makes it the only course of its kind in Europe.
The course was created in 1924 by Frederick Sharp, a Dundee jute magnate and member of the R&A, together with his son Hugh, who wanted golf on their own estate even with St Andrews so close. It fell out of use when the land was turned over to farming during the Second World War and stayed closed for around seventy years. The Trust reopened it in 2008, helped by the discovery of a 1924 plan of the layout and of Frederick Sharp’s own golf bag.
The restoration deliberately avoids modern tournament presentation. Bunkers are simple and minimal in the style of the early twentieth century, and old drainage ditches, known locally as condies, cross the playing area. The par 5 fifth and the strong par 4 sixth are where the bunkering asks the most questions, while the short seventh shows how hard it is to control a hickory iron into a small target. The par is said never to have been broken, even by visiting tour professionals, which says a good deal about how different the game was a century ago.
Why we recommend it
Kingarrock is something completely different: a nine-hole course in the grounds of Hill of Tarvit mansion, played with hickory clubs and replica balls that are provided for you. A round takes around one and a half to two hours and is as much fun for non-golfers as for single-figure players trying to hit a mashie straight. A short drive from St Andrews near Cupar, it makes a memorable half day between rounds on the big links.
Photo gallery
| World ranking | – |
| Architect | Unknown |
| Year of foundation | 1924 |
| Par Course | 34 |
| Number of holes | 9 |