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When the Open Championship is held at St Andrews, Ladybank Golf Club provides an exemplary venue for qualifying rounds. This is an exceptional heathland course set in the heart of the Kingdom of Fife and only a short drive from St Andrews.

While the course is long and challenging, it is principally flat and therefore not overtaxing. Playing through avenues of beech, Scots pine and silver birch trees along with swathes of heather and gorse dividing fairways, the track is most definitely heathland in nature.

Red squirrels and deer are some of its more distinctive residents but Ladybank is a natural haven for all sorts of bird life as well. The course’s quiet, secluded nature also suits golfers who are rarely aware of games taking place on adjacent fairways.

Set in the sheltered Howe of Fife, Old Tom Morris was responsible for arranging the initial six holes back in the late 1870’s. Compared to the nearby links courses of Fife, wind may not be so much of a factor but either above tree-level or through the long avenues of trees, it can conspire against you on several holes.

The 2nd is a long Par 5 of 548 yards (523 yards from visitors’ tees) at the course’s perimeter. It is straightforward and yielding to those that stick to the fairway although three good strikes are required. The 9th is Stroke Index 1, a 387-yard dog-leg left with a large huge Scots Pine blocking the fairway at around the 200 yard mark. It is a great gamble to drive at the green; conservative players tend to take an iron off the tee for position and confront a longer second shot into the green. To complete the test, there is a large, unseen dip in the fairway just before the green which must be carried by the second shot.

After the short 10th, the back nine is inscribed by a number of dog-legs turning in opposing directions. The 14th is a notable exception, a long, straight Par 4 that generally plays into the prevailing wind with at least 180 yards to carry to reach the fairway. The 16th is the outstanding dogleg placed at the far end of the course and radically arching left. A driver is not a wise choice from this tee. Then its straight home but if there is any wind, it is on these two closing holes that you will notice it most - especially if it is right to left.

With its extensive variety of vegetation Ladybank presents a colourful display at various times of the year and is without doubt one of the most delightful inland courses in Fife if not Scotland.

Photographs & text © David J Whyte 2009

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