A Journal for the Thrifty Gowfer
Fife
Anstruther, Fife
Plate I — Links course — coastal exposure, firm running turf
Nine-hole links above Anstruther harbour. The 5th is reputedly the shortest hole in Scottish golf.
From the Notebook
Anstruther Golf Club is a nine-hole links course on the clifftop above the East Neuk fishing harbour of Anstruther. The course was established in 1890 and occupies the ground above the town — nine compact holes on links-style terrain, with the Firth of Forth and the Isle of May visible from the higher points. Par 32, just over 2,000 yards.
The 5th hole at Anstruther — known as the Scamp — measures around 69 yards and is claimed to be the shortest hole in Scottish golf. A short iron from a clifftop tee to a small green perched at the cliff edge, with the harbour and the East Neuk rooflines below: a hole that is simultaneously trivial and memorable. The course makes no pretence to championship ambition; it exists because a fishing village of this quality deserves a golf course, and that is sufficient justification.
Green fee £15–20. Anstruther is the natural base for an East Neuk golf day — the Scottish Fisheries Museum is 10 minutes walk from the first tee, the harbourside fish-and-chip shops at Anstruther are among the best in Scotland, and the East Neuk villages of Pittenweem, St Monans, and Elie are within cycling distance. A morning nine at Anstruther followed by lunch and an afternoon walk to St Monans is a complete Fife coastal day.
The Full Scorecard
Plan This Round
Where to Stay
Hotels, lodges and self-catering near the first tee. Map-style search via Stay22 covering Booking.com, Expedia, Airbnb and Vrbo.
How to Get There
Edinburgh (EDI) is 90 minutes away by car. Train + onward taxi works for the carless visitor.
Insure Your Round
Most home contents policies don't cover golf clubs in transit. The picker matches you to the right kind of cover in two minutes.
Played here? Consider
Course-tuned recommendations, not generic gear lists.
Outerwear
Wind off the firth changes club selection two irons. A breathable, fully-waterproof shell that's light enough not to swing in is the single biggest upgrade for Scottish links golf.
Layer
Scottish-made merino — the locals' choice for shoulder-season rounds. Warm enough for a 7am tee time in October, light enough for the back nine when the sun comes out.
Tech
Handles blind tee shots and exposed-coastal yardage cleanly. Battery lasts a 36-hole day; the wind-direction overlay justifies the price on its own.
★ The Sunday Post ★
One short Scottish-golf email every Sunday. Free PDF on signup: The St Andrews Week That Isn't the Old Course. No sales pitch.
The Sunday Post
One email, most Sundays. No sales pitch.
Stays Nearby
Hotels, B&Bs and self-catering within easy reach of Anstruther. Tap any property to check rates.
Rates and availability via Stay22. We may earn a small commission if you book — at no extra cost to you. How affiliate links work.
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