Monifieth (Medal) - Angus & Dundee - Scotland
Princes Street,
Monifieth,
Angus,
DD5 4AW,
Scotland
+44 (0) 1382 532 767
15 minutes E of Dundee
Welcome, contact in advance
Jan Brodie
Allan Robertson, Alexander Pirie
Gordon McLeod
Championships hosted:
Girls Amateur,
Scottish Amateur
There are two golf courses at Monifieth, which are administered by a local Trust. The lesser is the 5,100-yard, par 68 Ashludie course and the principal is the 6,650-yard, par 71 Medal course that is used as an Open qualifying venue along with Montrose, Panmure and Downfield when the Open is played at nearby Carnoustie. Monifieth (Medal) is the most westerly of three renowned links on the Angus coastline, the others being Panmure and, of course, Carnoustie (Championship).
There are four clubs – three of whom have their own clubhouses beside the 18th green – which play over the Monifieth links: Monifieth, formed in 1858, Broughty (1878), Ladies Panmure (1893), Grange (2005). The Monifieth Medal course was first formally used for golf in 1845 when Alan Robertson and Alexander Pirie of St Andrews designed a nine-hole course, which was extended to 18 holes in 1880. The Panmure golf club also played here at that time but due to increasing congestion, they moved to their present home at nearby Barry in 1899.
The course is built over undulating links with some old dune ridges, often gorse covered, between fairways and, unusually for a links, many holes also have tree lined fairways.
The Medal has a reputation as a hard, uncompromising course, which is bounded on one side by the main railway line to the north. There are no prisoners taken when battle commences on this layout, particularly when the prevailing wind blows in from the Firth of Tay and brings into play tough stretches of rough that awaits errant shots.
Monifieth has large, fast, firm and true greens and clever bunkering, which are the hallmarks of this very much-underrated links.
The course has hosted a number of important tournaments, including the Scottish Amateur championship in 1986 and the Girls Amateur in 2008.
Reviews for Monifieth (Medal)
The fact that there are more than 50 better courses in Scotland (at least according to this website) says more about the strength in depth of Scottish golf than it does about any weaknesses of Monifieth. Just as my 4-ball rating says more about the numerous other courses fantastic courses nearby.
The Medal is a classic, somewhat understated, links with great turf and a collection of consistently interesting and challenging holes. Well worth a visit if you’re in the area.
Based on what in could see of it, I’ll definitely be back soon to play the Ashludie.
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Monifieth stands out from almost all its fellow links courses for its abundance of trees. But it does have many similarities : undulating fairways, firm greens and - best of all - a railway running along many of the holes! As other reviewers have noted there is scarcely a weak hole here, with the 4th a particular highlight. Monifieth is a fine place to play in its own right, not just as a stop-off on the way to Carnoustie.
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Treated the guys to a day out at Monifieth for the Friday Easter weekend, in which I could not have picked a better day with back to back unbroken sunshine.
Friendly members and clubhouse, course in very good condition and a number of interesting holes in-keeping with a brisk enjoyable round even though the course was packed.
Would play this course again and would highly recommend.
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One of those Scottish courses played by a number of clubs with playing rights...all of which I was reliably informed disliked each other !
Course was good although less good than the illustrious neighbours.
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The Monifieth Golf Links Trust manage two wonderful golf courses that are the home to a trio of golf clubs.
It’s easy to see why the more famous of the two courses on this cherished piece of golfing land, the Medal, was awarded Final Open Qualifying status in 2007 when The Open was staged at nearby Carnoustie.
The three clubs; Grange, Broughty and Monifieth all have their clubhouses standing proudly along the edge of the main course. It’s a fair, challenging and extremely rewarding links course that doesn’t even have a sniff of a weak hole.
I had high hopes ahead of my visit to Monifieth and it more than delivered on its promise of being a fantastic day of links golf.
Unusually for a links course there is no view of the sea, instead splendid pine trees adorn many of the holes here and these only add to Monifieth’s charm blending into the linksland majestically.
Ed is the founder of Golf Empire – click the link to read his full review.
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The first real challenge, in terms of length, comes at the 4th, a par four of 456 yards. In summer, the fairways are extremely firm and fast running so even this hole does not play to its normal length. The green is in an attractive setting, backed by a stand of fir trees. If you push your second shot right you will be faced with a difficult chip over a large mound at the edge of the green.
Be careful as you exit the 13th green because you have to walk past the 15th tee before you arrive at the 14th. Holes 14 and 15 are the only holes which run north/south with the other sixteen all in an east/west direction. The last three holes run in a line back to the clubhouse, with the 18th being a good par five finishing hole.
The Medal course provides plenty of quality golf: firm, bumpy and narrow fairways and very true greens. Most of the bunkers are situated so as to catch the approach to the green. A minor criticism would be that on a number of holes there was quite a walk to the next tee but that should not deter you from enjoying the links experience at Monifieth.
This review is an edited extract from Another Journey through the Links, which has been reproduced with David Worley’s kind permission. The author has exclusively rated for us every Scottish course that he played and featured in his book. Another Journey through the Links is available for Australian buyers via www.golfbooks.com.au and through Amazon for buyers from other countries.
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Yes, there are 3 course better in Angus.. thats why its rated 4th?
Nice track and worth a stop off but not outstanding.
We played Monifieth Medal last week for the first time and found it to be a very enjoyable experience. The greens were in magnificent condition, and in truth there was very little to choose between them and Carnoustie for pace. The gorse was plentiful and in full bloom making the course look very attractive and reminding me of Aldeburgh in places. The first six holes head out along the railway line and if played in a stiff breeze they are a stern test as three of them are over the 400 yard mark. My pick of these holes would be the good looking 4th; playing at 445 yards from the yellows the green is well protected, nestling in circle of dunes with a narrow entrance. Other favourites on the front nine were the 7th where you must drive over a burn, the short 8th dog-legging left around an attractive stand of pine trees and the undulating 9th which is one of only two par 5’s. The back nine continues to impress with not a poor hole amongst them. The 11th and 14th are both lovely par 3’s with 10, 12, 13 and 17 being my pick from the others. The staff in both the starters hut and the clubhouse were very friendly and welcoming and could not looked after us any better. You could comfortably fill a week with quality golf in the area but Monifieth should certainly not be overlooked. The course probably falls somewhere between a 4 and 5 ball rating but nearer to a 5 for me. Brian W
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