Same club, East Neuk of Fife · Which to play
Crail Golfing Society (Balcomie Links) vs Crail Craighead Links
Two courses at one clifftop Fife club — the Old Tom Morris classic, or the modern Gil Hanse?
| Crail Golfing Society (Balcomie Links) | Crail Craighead Links | |
|---|---|---|
| Green fee (2026) | £70–£170 | £70–£125 |
| Location | Crail, Fife | Crail, Fife |
| Region | Fife | Fife |
| Type | Links | Links |
| Holes / par | 18 · par 69 | 18 · par 71 |
| Designer | Old Tom Morris, 1895 | Gil Hanse, 1998 |
The verdict
Which should you play?
Crail Golfing Society runs two links on the same glorious headland at Fife Ness. Balcomie (Old Tom Morris, 1895) is the famous one — a short, quirky, thrilling clifftop links where the sea is genuinely in play and the views out to the Isle of May are the best in the East Neuk. Craighead (Gil Hanse, 1998) is the longer, more exposed, more modern test up on the higher ground: a stiffer challenge with less of the postcard charm.
Play Balcomie first — it's the more joyful, more scenic, more distinctive round, and the reason people come to Crail in the first place. Add Craighead if you've a second round in you and want a proper test to go with the fun. As a golfing day out, it's one of the best-value 36-hole stops on the whole Fife coast.
Pick this one if…
Crail Golfing Society (Balcomie Links)
You want the scenic, quirky, historic clifftop round — pure East Neuk charm.
Pick this one if…
Crail Craighead Links
You want the longer, tougher, more modern test on the same headland.
Green fees are the clubs' published 2026 visitor rates, shown as a range from the cheapest to the dearest tee time. They change; always confirm on the course profile before you book. We don't take a cut of your green fee — the verdict above is ours, not the pro shop's.
More: which should you play?