Burntisland Road,
Kinghorn, Fife KY3 9RS
The Course:
18 holes. Links course. Undulating terrain - a few slopes to climb.
Surroundings:
Coastal duneland and rural countryside; not directly seaside.
Designer:
Original nine-hole layout by Old Tom Morris (1887).
56.067511
-3.180081
o.5 mi SW of Kinghorn / 3.5 mi S of Kirkcaldy.
Kinghorn
Kinghorn Golf Club: as you journey into Fife from the southwest, perhaps heading for the golf courses of St Andrews and the like, you'll pass three of the Kingdom's lesser known, shorter, and wonderfully scenic layouts - Aberdour, Burntisland (aka Dodhead) and Kinghorn.
This 5,150 yards par-66 layout (with seven par-3s) makes up for its lack of length with wonderful Firth of Forth views and an exuberantly rolling character. A sprinkling of gorse bushes and occasional dry-stone walls break up the otherwise open terrain, with the modest bunkering not too troubling should you find it.
Golf has been played on this site in Kinghorn since 1812, making it the world's fifth oldest golfing ground still in use today. The current layout started with a nine-hole design by Old Tom Morris in 1887.
Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends.
Must book in advance.
Players generally walk this course.
Limited
Although Kinghorn Golf Club was established in 1887, golf has been played on this site in Kinghorn since at least 1812, making it the fifth oldest documented golf course in the world. Based on available records, the world's five oldest golf courses are: St Andrews Old Course (1754); Musselburgh Old Course (1774); Elie & Earlsferry (1787); Fortrose & Rosemarkie (1793); Kinghorn (1812).
It is known that a six-hole golf course existed at Bruntsfield Links in the centre of Edinburgh since 1695. Nowadays this city park is home to a 36-hole hole pitch&putt course, which, for many golf historians, precludes it from the list of the world's "oldest courses".
Sony Open in Hawaii: played at Waialae Country Club near Honolulu, the Sony Open takes over the spotlight from The Sentry as the PGA Tour’s calendar-year opening event (Jan 15-18). The Sentry (not being played in 2026) was formerly known as the Tournament of Champions, with a field typically restricted to golfers who won a PGA Tour event in the previous calendar year.
Dubai Desert Classic: the DP World Tour’s first Rolex Series event of 2026, is contested for the 37th time (Jan 22-25). First won by Englishman Mark James in 1989, it now boasts a four-time winner, Rory McIlroy. Played on the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course, this once desert-surrounded course is the long-time flagship for Golf in Dubai.
Our visit last month included two rounds at Golf de Chantilly, one of France’s most prestigious clubs.
It offers two superb layouts: Le Vineuil, a five-star championship course with a rich history, and Longères, an excellent four-star course that provides a strong and enjoyable test.
The wider Paris region offers plenty more. Courses such as Fontainebleau, Golf de Saint-Germain, and several other top-rated layouts make this area one of Europe’s most rewarding golf destinations, offering a mix of woodland, heathland, and parkland designs.
The Dutch: "It's no' just a game", as they say in Scotland, and that's certainly true at The Dutch. With 5-star services throughout, a lavishly comfortable Loch Lomond-inspired clubhouse, and a superbly designed and presented golf course, one could not ask for more from this top-end private club.
Join us at The Dutch from August 21–24 for the Festival of Golf, featuring the HotelPlanner Tour. Experience four days of top-tier sport, live music, incredible food, and unexpected surprises. Explore the grounds, connect with others, embrace new challenges, and dive into an unforgettable celebration. Click here to buy tickets.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
You can subscribe to the Where2Golf channel on YT if you like to see more video content. You'll find a "Subscribe" button on any of our YouTube videos. Or if you want a quick and direct access subscribe here. Once done, any new published videos will show up in your Subscriptions feed.
