Golf in Scotland’s Ancient Capital Dunfermline

The St Andrews, East Neuk and Levenmouth areas of the region are most associated with golf, given the links courses that extend down the coast. However, for the golfer prepared to look a little further afield, many other wonderful golfing experiences await. Dunfermline is a thriving town in West Fife and the ancient capital of Scotland, and, with it a wide and varied selection of accommodation, restaurants and bars, it is the ideal centre for a golfing trip to the area. There are four golf courses, parkland in style, in and round the town – Dunfermline, Pitreavie, Canmore and Forrester Park.

Dunfermline Golf Club lies to the west of the town and has a true place in golfing history, as one of the earliest members of the club was Robert Lockhart who, along with John Reid, introduced golf to the United States through the formation of the St Andrews Golf Club in New York. Oh, and they also have a castle for a clubhouse!

A few miles north and east from Dunfermline is the Canmore Golf Club. The tree-lined, parkland course measures 5455 yards and was built in 1897. Its elevated position provides panoramic views of the city and over towards Edinburgh and the Pentland Hills and is great fun to play.

Opened in around 1922, the 18-Hole, par 71 parkland course at Pitreavie Golf Club offers great golf to individuals, groups, visitors, golf societies and corporate clients. You will discover a genuinely warm Fife welcome, excellent golf facilities and fine hospitality. The course was designed by the internationally renowned architect Dr Alister MacKenzie (1870-1934) who went on to design one of the world’s most famous and finest golf courses at Augusta National in Georgia, home of the US Masters.

The Forrester Park Resort was once a part of the historic Keavil Estate, which served as pastureland for the needs of the ancient town of Dunfermline. The gently rolling parkland terrain offers an enjoyable 18-hole experience for golfers of all standards and the elevated greens offer stunning views of the Firth of Forth and the Lothians. In addition to the golf course, the Forrester Park Resort offers a floodlit driving range with 16 covered bays.

The four courses offer tremendous value, with a round mid-week costing between £25 and £45. It is fair to say, with the history, golf and hospitality on offer to visitors in Dunfermline, you can be guaranteed your golf trip there will be a memorable one.