Ladybank - Fife - Scotland

Almost exactly ten years since I was last here, I returned the other day to have a look at the recent bunker renovation that was carried out by Paul Kimber and Nial Glen from the KimberGlen design firm. They’re very experienced golf course architects with a tidy portfolio of successful projects in the UK and beyond and the quality of their work here far surpassed my high expectations.

Incorporating Blinder Bunker Liner as a base layer, the sand hazards have all been reshaped and refurbished. Not only that, on several holes (such as the 5th and 6th) the entire approach area in front of the green has been re-contoured to integrate better with the new bunkers on either side of the putting surface – an overhead look via google maps satellite images (which shows the old layout) confirms just how radical the reworked bunkers now are compared to the previous versions.

I understand a new head greenkeeper will be starting in a few weeks. Hopefully, the club will place high on his agenda the regeneration of heather along fairway fringes and the general management of trees within the property. Although a lot has been done to improve the course, Ladybank is more than capable of going a few notches higher in its already impressive course presentation.

The course narrative at the top of this page draws comparisons with the magical “three Ws” to the south of London and some might scoff at such a suggestion. Well, having played all of those top tracks in the past, I’ll confirm there’s more than a whiff of Surrey heathland golf in places here and with the right investment and sense of purpose, there’s no reason why this course can’t be refined even further.

It’s hard to believe that ten years ago I was surprised to find this course ranked above several other layouts in the Fife region – that’s no longer the case. After slowly sliding down the listings in recent years, the club appears to have made a conscious decision to reverse that ranking trend through proper investment in its most prized asset.

Jim McCann

played in an open at the end of a large field and the course certainly stood up to the wear and tear, despite heavy showers. A very long (6900 yards) and testing track with every hole lined with pine trees that call for accuracy off the tee with any slightly wayward shot resulting in a struggle for the golfer. The green complexes and surfaces were good and overall this is a superb golf course. The practice facilities are also second to none for that pre round warm up, if your ever heading up to St Andrews to play make the small detour and play this place you will not be disappointed.

We'd managed to secure an early tee time on the Old Course and decided to add Ladybank to our itinerary with a 3pm tee time.

We all felt the front 9 was fairly nondescript, but the course came to life on the back 9.

A good members course that is probably more parkland than heathland in layout, and was in very good condition.

Probably the tougher of the two main non-links courses in the area, (even) more trees than Scotscraig.

Both well worth a visit.

If you’re in Fife and looking for a game away from the links then Ladybank would be as good a choice as anywhere.

In fact few courses away from the coast in Scotland can better what is on offer at this mature and well-conditioned private-members venue.

Most of the holes, some of which have a more parkland feel, bend slightly through the narrow woodland of Scots Pine and Silver Birch although the third is a sharp dog-leg and the par-five seventh is a tricky S-shaped design. Others have a more modest dog-leg and getting in position from the tee at Ladybank is paramount to recording a good score. This is not always easy though due to the slender nature of the playing corridors.

The terrain is quite flat and it isn’t until the ninth that we see any sort of significant movement in the land with a deceiving dip located just in front of the green. The back nine contains some further modest changes in elevation towards the end of the round.

All of the short holes are pretty and have well defended greens but it is the par-fours that are the real strength of Ladybank. The par fives work well too.

Offering good value and with a strong reputation Ladybank is more than very pleasant, provides a fine test and comes highly recommended – especially the warm welcome you receive from the Pro Shop - but it doesn’t quite stir the golfing soul like the links courses of Scotland but then again what does.

Ed is the founder of Golf Empire – click the link to read his full review.

Given all the reviews on this website and its 8th place in the Fife ranking, we went with high expectations to this inland golf venue in Fife.

I felt a bit underwhelmed when arriving at Ladybank, but maybe I did not realise I was not at a venue set-up to accommodate the majority of golfers visiting Fife, but at a typical members course, set-up just to service its members and the occasional visitor.

The calm & peace that this venue radiates, took some time to sink in. It lasted a few holes before I thoroughly enjoy the surroundings and the tranquillity of this venue. It offers the ideal setting for playing a relaxing round of golf. And despite my mediocre score, I had a very satisfied feeling when we left the last green.

The course offers a nice collection of holes that charmingly meander through the pines. The design is fairly mature, not overly difficult or spectacular, but very well maintained. I found the green complexes very good in design: a challenge to approach and I enjoyed to subtle breaks of the putting surfaces.

So if you are looking for a golf course offering all the bells and whistles of a spectacular round of golf, maybe Ladybank does not meet all your expectations.

On the other hand, if you are looking for a charming & tranquil golf test at a welcoming members club, Ladybank will not disappoint.

OCB

I´ve been playing Ladybanks twice. First time on my first visit to Scotland (for golf) in 2006 and the second time last summer during the Open. I must say it surprises me that Ladybanks has slipped through the rankings and is now outside the top 100. Perhaps it´s should not be compared to the great links-courses that sits above it in the ranks. But for me it should beat Dukes any day of the week. Last summer on the morning of the last day of the Open me and my son played and I found it to be the same as it was almost 10 years earlier. A very very good - what you see is what you get - heathland course with holes that mostly runs by themselves (even if its a small amount of land) and just feels pleasant to play. For me it´s the opposite to Dukes and in a good way. A perfect members course and a lovely way to spend a few hours on. We played it in around 3 hours without any rush. It was in great shape and the greens were the best I played all last year. I can agree that the holes are not super-memorable but that´s ok because there not one bad golf hole on the course and that's rare. Played Leven on the same trip and I would put Ladybank ahead of that as well - even if it´s not fair to compare 2 such diffent courses. So do it right and put Ladybank back in the top 100. It belongs there as an example of that a course does not need to have great view or billion dollar investments to be a good course. For everyone who loves to play a great course without the rush and hype of Carnoustie or Old Course, perhaps as a day off the links in high winds or just to take a breather. Go here - you won´t be disappointed.

played this course a few times over the years and after a spell away returned in August for a round with friends to whom i had explained would be in for a treat.What a disappointing day we had. The fairways and greens were in very good condition but the rough was terrible. Being in the trees which line the fairway is punishment enough but having to look for your ball every time just becomes tedious and slows down play. Our group lost a number of balls some 6 - 12 inches from the fairway, and while we understand that its the fairways that are to be hit, it still rankles to lose a ball just off the fairway. Members didnt seem overly keen on the rough either when speaking to them, although they were very friendly and helpful.Overall the course itself is a great layout and a challenge to all levels of golfer but i think that the members should perhaps advise their committee to their views as i believe that the presentation of the course was much better when the rough was managed better.

I took advantage today of a special October twilight green fee rate to revisit the course at Ladybank for the first time in seven years. It’s wasn’t nearly as flat as I remembered as there are some lovely subtle changes in elevation during the round, particularly on the testing stretch of par fours between the 14th and the home hole.

Excepting the four par threes – which are rather disappointing, apart from the beautifully bunkered 10th – all the holes kink one way or the other, placing an absolute premium on ball placement off the tee.

Greens are understated, lie of the land affairs with a few multi-tiered examples thrown into the mix for good measure – I particularly liked the stepped green at the 9th which lies behind a cunning dip in front of the putting surface.

Every single links-like fairway was in pristine condition, allowing plenty of roll for tee shots and running approaches to pin positions. All in all, Ladybank’s one of the best inland tracks in the country however, if I look at the current Top100 chart positions for Fife, I really cannot see how it is placed higher than four others in the district, namely the Duke’s, Jubilee, Lundin and Leven.

For me, it punches way above its weight in the rankings but good luck to the club for doing so in such a competitive region of outstanding golf courses.

Jim McCann.

A pretty inland heathland course which I played in winds the likes of which I have only previously experienced on a coastal links. The course conditioning was excellent in September. Despite the flat land, the course offers a strong challenge with doglegs and dead ground aplenty and abundant heather. Unlike at other heathland courses finding your ball should not be too difficult, but not expecting too much of a shot played from the heather is best. From the 8th onwards the holes are excellent, with a particularly strong finishing stretch.