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Home Scottish Links Golf The Basics Detailed information AFSD - how to determine the real length of a golf course Helpful Websites Aberdeen & Grampian Highlands Royal Aberdeen, Cruden Bay... Ayrshire Royal Troon, Turnberry, Prestwick... Just east of Edinburgh Scotland's Golf Coast Gullane, Muirfield, North Berwick... Northern Highlands Royal Dornoch, Brora, Nairn... St. Andrews area Carnoustie Charleton Crail - Balcomie Crail - Craighead Drumoig Duke's Course Elie Fairmont St Andrews Kingsbarns Ladybank Leven Lundin Scotscraig St. Andrews Old Course St. Andrews New Course St. Andrews Jubilee Course St Andrews Castle Course St Andrews Eden Course St Andrews Strathtyrum & Balgove Courses St. Michaels Other golf courses Machrihanish, Pitlochry... Links Lite Great links golf for everyone Donate What others say |
St. Michaels Golf Club © St Michaels golf course in Fife, near St Andrews, is a likeable, honest golf course with no pretentions.Yes...I had a bit of fun playing this golf course, especially the par threes. But with all of the world-class competition within a few miles it would be a shame to take a day to play St. Michaels Golf Course if it meant missing out on the opportunity to play one of the nearby great ones. This course is one to play if you're traveling with a high handicapper who is intimidated by the more difficult golf courses although, having said that, the Eden course at St. Andrews would be a much better choice. It's not a well-known golf course but it has lovely views of the surrounding countryside. and parts of it are interesting --the back nine in particular. The front nine are pretty much back and forth par 4s for five out of the first six holes. With the exception of the two par 3s, they are not all that interesting or challenging. You will get a good bit of wind on this golf course and that will add a layer of interest but, for the most part, the front nine are definitely not the best part of this course. With an AFSD (average fairway stroke distance--see AFSD) of 174 yards, the golf course is about 9 yards per stroke shorter than the St.Andrews Old Course.
The back nine are an entirely different story and when I played them they were so dramatically different I thought they had to have been designed by a different person. I was right. There were two golf architects involved and they might as well have been from different planets, so distinct are the designs. The back nine is the original course, with dips and hips and uphills and downhills and severely plateaued greens and fairways that tilt so much you have to hold on to your hand trolley. I could make a day of playing the back nine and consider it a fine test of golf. And I really liked the par 3s. I thought they were just about the most interesting group of par 3s in the area. There is not one of them that has a green on the same level as the tee, so club selection is critical--and with the wind a constant factor, the par 3s are a challenge.
This may be a good second course to play in a day and is also an especially good ladies course. Many of the golf courses in the area may be too difficult for a high handicap woman golfer. This one at only 5,163 yards off the ladies tees has an AFSD of only 147. That's well within the skill level of most women golfers
www.stmichaelsgolfclub.com Mary-Alice suggests.... *For What to Do All Day, please see Drumoig and St. Andrews area. |
