In the second of our two-part series on the First in Fife Golfpass, Golf North East's Paul Corney assesses a further four great courses together with excellent accomodation. In last month's issue, we featured the four additional courses to be added to the First in Fife Golfpass project for the 2007 season - Pitreavie Golf Club, Charleton Golf & Country Club and the Montgomerie and Bruce courses at Kinross. In this issue, we take a look at four of the original group of eight, Burntisland Golf House Club, Balbirnie Park, Kirkaldy and Thornton. The First in Fife Golfpass costs just £55 for 3 rounds or £85 for 5 rounds and can be used anytime between 1 April and 31 October 2007. With a choice of 12 fantastic courses to choose from and 16 accommodation partners, all offering discounted golf breaks and special deals, there is no reason to travel any further to experience Scottish Golf at its very best. And in real terms, what could you save? A midweek trip to play the four couses featured in this month's issue, along with one of the others, for instance the Montgomerie at Kinross would normally cost £148. Using the Golfpass, the cost of five rounds of golf works out at £95 and that includes a £10 supplement at Balbirnie Park - an average of £19 a round!! You can purchase a Golfpass on line at www.firstinfifegolf.com, or by phone from the Kirkaldy Tourist Information Centre on 01592 267 775 or from any of the golf courses and accommodation partners taking part in the project. Without question, the First in Fife Golfpass has to be one of the best deals currently on offer. As for the golf, Burntisland Golf House Club is located at High Bents, Dodhead,12 miles east of the Forth Road Bridge and overlooks the Firth of Forth and the stunning Lothian coastline. Golf has been played at Burntisland since 1797 although some historians suggest 1688, giving the club the honour of being the 9th oldest in the world. The course was designed by Willie Park Junior in 1896 and updated by James Braid in 1922. It is a lovely manicured parkland course with generous fairways, lush grass and links type greens all combining to give the visitor a thoroughly enjoyable round of golf. Old Tom Morris was responsible for identifying the potential of this location and said: "I went over the ground at High Bents and my opinion is that it would make a first class golf course." How right he was!! Designed by architect Fraser Middleton, Balbirnie Park is a relatively new course in the Kingdom of Fife having opened for play in 1983. It is a very good parkland course with one of the most impressive clubhouses in the country. Measuring 6325 yards off the medal tees, and a par 71, Balbirnie Park is not long but you do have to be accurate from the tees. It is a very fair test of golf with a number of very challenging holes but if you miss the fairways, the mature ancient woodland will cause more than a headache. The final hole at Balbirnie Park is a classic, a par 5 played downhill to a green overlooked by the imposing clubhouse. Since the turn of the century, the course has played host to many tournaments such as the Scottish PGA Assistants championship, World One-Armed Championship and the British Blind Championships. Established in 1921, Thornton Golf Club provides a challenge for golfers of all abilities. This par 70 parkland course measures 6170 yards off the back tees and is renowned for its well defended quick greens. It is easy walking and a perfect location for those wishing to play more than 18 holes. But it's not only the greens that you will be impressed with, the hospitality at the club is truly magnificent - all visitors are treated as members. There are a variety of holes at Thornton which require both distance and accuracy but the final five are the real challenge. Many a good card has been ripped up following visits to The River Ore, which comes into play on three of them. Kircaldy Golf Club was designed and established in 1904 by the legendary Tom Morris and is set in 150 acres of attractive countryside. Just over 6000 yards and a par 71, the golf course has a number of fine holes which will test the best of golfers. At 540 yards, the 5th is an uphill par 5 and plays much longer - three very good shots are required to hit this green in regulation. The 7th maybe only 130 yards but the green is a small target with a stream to the right and all sorts of trouble left - a gem of a hole. Kircaldy is quite a hilly course in places but buggies are available for those who want to avoid the exercise. As for accommodation, the Pitbauchlie House Hotel is situated on the outskirts of Dunfermline, only a short drive from the M90. Set in 3 acres of wooded grounds and landscaped gardens, Pitbauchlie House has been developed into a 50 bedroom hotel able to cater for all occasions. There are three bars, an excellent a la carte restaurant and conservatory bistro plus excellent conference and banqueting facilities. All the rooms are en-suite and provide all the facilities you would expect from a hotel of this quality. Pitbauchlie House Hotel is ideally located not only for golf but for those wishing to explore the culture and history of the Kingdom of Fife. The Aberdour Hotel is a friendly, family-run hotel situated in one of the most picturesque villages in Fife. In the days before railways and the motor car, this hotel was a staging-post for stage coaches and so has a courtyard and stable block. The courtyard is now the hotel's car park and the stable block converted into five bedrooms. In total the sixteen bedrooms all have en-suite facilities, tea/coffee makers, television and direct-dial telephones. This hotel specialises in traditional cooking, reasonably priced and prepared to a very high standard. And for those real ale lovers, the Aberdour is a must - the hotel was featured in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2006. The Woodside Hotel can also be found in the centre of Aberdour. This 19th century three-star hotel combines traditional style with modern comforts and has 20 en-suite bedrooms, all designed differently with many eye-catching features and furnishings. Wining and dining at the Woodside is an enjoyable experience, the cuisine is superb and the service excellent. Further along the Fife Coastline, another hotel worth considering is The Kingswood Hotel at Burntisland. Nestling in two acres of Scottish woodland, the hotel commands wonderful views of the Firth of Forth and Edinburgh. The Kingswood has 13 en-suite bedrooms, some with balcony and sea view and are all beautifully decorated and furnished. The owners at this hotel pride themselves with the genuine hospitality they afford their guests, ensuring that many visitors repeat their experience at the Kingswood Hotel. --------------------------------------------------------- Name: Burntisland Golf House Club
Address: Dodhead, Kirkcaldy Road, Burntisland, KY3 9LQ
Telephone: 01592 872 116
Fax: 01592 873 247
E-mail: infoBGHC@aol.com
Web Site: www.burntislandgolfhouseclub.co.uk
Green Fees: Weekdays £25 a round, £35 a day; Weekends £30 a round, £42 a day; Juniors £5 a round
Buggies: Available £20 a round Name: Kirkaldy Golf Club
Address: Balwearie Road, Kirkaldy, KY2 5LT
Telephone: 01592 203 258
Fax: 01592 205 240
E-mail: enquiries@kirkaldygolfclub.sol.co.uk
Web Site: www.kirkaldygolfclub.co.uk
Green Fees: Weekdays £28 a round, £34 a day
Weekends £34 a round, £42 a day
Juniors - half price
Buggies: Available £20 a round Name: Thornton Golf Club
Address: Station Road, Thornton, KY1 4DW
Telephone: 01592 771 111
Fax: 01592 774 955
E-mail: thorntongolf@btconnect.com
Web Site: www.thorntongolfclubfife.co.uk
Green Fees: Weekdays £25 a round, £35 a day; Weekends £35 a round, £50 a day; Juniors - half price
Buggies: Available £15 a round Name: Balbirnie Park Golf Club
Address: Balbirnie Park, Markinch, KY7 6NR
Telephone: 01592 752 006
Fax: 01592 752 006
E-mail: craigfdonnelly@aol.com
Web Site: www.balbirniegolf.com
Green Fees: Weekdays £40 a round, £50 a day; Juniors £25 a round; No First in Fife passes accepted at weekends
Buggies: Available £20 a round Name: The Pitbauchlie House Hotel
Address: Aberdour Road, Dunfermline, KY11 4PB
Telephone: 01383 722 282
Fax: 01383 620 738
E-mail: info@pitbauchlie.com
Web Site: www.pitbauchlie.com
Rooms: 16 double, 24 twin, 6 single, 3 family, 1 suite
B & B: From £39 pppn (sharing twin/double) Name: The Aberdour Hotel
Address: 38 High Street, Aberdour, Fife, KY3 0SW
Telephone: 01383 860 325
Fax: 01383 860 808
E-mail: reception@aberdourhotel.co.uk
Web Site: www.aberdourhotel.co.uk
Rooms: 6 double, 6 twin, 4 family
B & B: £33 - £38 pppn (sharing twin/double) Name: The Woodside Hotel
Address: High Street, Aberdour, Fife, KY3 0SW
Telephone: 01383 860 328
Fax: 01383 860 920
E-mail: reception@thewoodsidehotel.co.uk
Web Site: www.thewoodsidehotel.co.uk
Rooms: 14 double, 3 twin, 1 single, 1 family, 1 suite
B & B: From £36 pppn (sharing twin/double) Name: The Kingswood Hotel
Address: Kinghorn Road, Burntisland, Fife, KY3 9LL
Telephone: 01592 872 329
Fax: 01592 873 123
E-mail: rankin@kingswoodhotel.co.uk
Web Site: www.kingswoodhotel.co.uk
Rooms: 5 double, 6 twin, 2 suites
B & B: £37.50 - £52 pppn (sharing twin/double) Name: First in Fife Golfpass
Telephone: 01592 267 775 (Kirkaldy Tourist Information Centre)
E-mail: bookings@firstinfifegolf.com
Web Site: www.firstinfifegolf.com
Prices: £55 for 3 rounds; £85 for 5 rounds | 
Golfing Destinations
