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By David Brice
Golf International

At 220 years young, Balcomie still tests the most talented players

A good golf travel company can be a Godsend when it comes to planning a Scottish golf trip. It's not just their ability to get you onto courses you might otherwise not be able to play, nor finding the perfect hotel, or any of the other details they know how to take care of.

It's the experience and knowledge they have gained over many years of being in the business. A good golf travel company becomes your personal consultant, with the advice, expertise, contacts and know-how to help you get the very most out of your Scottish golf trip.

Balcomie's bunkers are to be avoided

A part of their counseling should be to suggest exceptional courses that may not have been on your original wish list and perhaps you have never heard of.

For years, Golf International has been recommending clients staying in St. Andrews take a short 10 mile drive out of town and experience a real Scottish golf treat, the two links courses located in the charming fishing village of Crail. Without exception, those who follow the recommendation return thoroughly delighted with the discovery of a pair of Scotland's greatest unsung heroes.

Crail's Balcomie Links, where the sea is always in view

Why these two jewels of links courses, Balcomie Links and Craighead Links, remain unknown to so many, is a mystery even Sherlock Homes would have difficulty unraveling.

The Crail Golfing Society was founded in 1786, just 10 years after the Declaration of Independence was signed and three years before the French stormed The Bastille.

This makes Crail the 7th oldest golf club in existence and a special place to visit even if its golf courses were mediocre -- which they are certainly not. The fact that the club owns a pair of true gem links, qualifies Crail as a not-to-be-missed, mandatory stop on any golf trip to the east coast of Scotland.

Crail's picturesque fishing harbor - renowned for lobster

Balcomie Links is the older of the two layouts, designed by the 19th century master of links architecture, the great Old Tom Morris, who accomplished the task in 1895.

Often referred to as The Prince of Scottish Links, step onto the first tee and you immediately understand why.

Standing more than 150 feet above, the entire course is laid out at your feet and you see what a real beauty it is, made all the more so by the hilly ground it covers -- an unusual feature for the typically flat topography of most links.

Immaculate greens are a hallmark of Balcomie

The view is fantastic; building a sense of anticipation few other layouts will match. It clearly shows that the North Sea will be a factor to be reckoned with practically every step of the way, as well as a few other oddities that will come into play, such as the beach, meandering streams, a stone wall, and a wind that will be working with you one minute and against you the next.

Contemplate the challenge ahead, then be relieved that this first tee shot, no matter how badly struck, will be helped along an extra few hundred feet down this steep hill toward the green, compliments of gravity.

Enjoy the moment while it lasts, it's the only gift this testy layout gives, you are on your way to discover good looks can be deceiving, as can modest yardage and this handsome shorty has strong teeth that bite, but fortunately it's all accompanied by a distinct sense of humor -- an exhilarating, fun round is virtually guaranteed.

The Prince of Scottish links courses - Crail's Balcomie

The next 5 holes are nothing less than magnificent and among the most beautiful in the entire British Isles. The second is a 493-yard par 5 with the sea and out of bounds hard on the right -- slicers beware!

The sea, beach and wind remain factors to contend with on the par 3 third while on the fourth, Crail begins to reveal a seductive side, offering the first of several temptations; approach this dogleg sensibly, or be a hero and drive across beach and water, accepting all the risks involved.

Hell's Hole is the appropriately named par 4 fifth, a superb dog-leg right playing over craggy rocks and a sizeable piece of the North Sea.

Sea views from every hole - but be wary of the bunkers

Again the temptress offers the apple, but no matter how much bravado beats inside, resist the urge to fly towards the pin, no matter what the conditions, lay up safely and avoid the probability of a watery end.

And so the test continues unabated, with constant changes in wind direction adding to the challenge.

The hilly nature of Balcomie brings even more spice to the unusual mix of truly character filled holes, where each offers a totally different set of problems to be solved.

Crail's Balcomie Links is special, not only does it contain a spunkiness far beyond what might be expected of a track measuring under 6,000 yards, but it also has character and personality by the bucketful, something not to be found on many other links layouts and all of this is topped by the simple beauty most of us yearn for.

Play those big name, championship layouts around this part of Scotland, then give Crail a try -- just be prepared for the Prince of Scottish Links to give you a very pleasant, regal surprise.

For a few suggestions on how best include Crail's Balcomie Links and a few other prize gems on your golf trip to Scotland, click here.

©2007 David Brice / Golf International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Golf International -- Providers of quality golf travel arrangements since 1988.