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Leven Links, Scotland |
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Leven Links Golf Course
The Promenade
Leven
Fife
KY8 4HS
Scotland |  | Unknown |
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 | +44 (0) 1333 428859 |  | 15 miles SW of St Andrews |
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Golf Club Website
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 | Contact in advance |  | Mrs Jan Clark |
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Leven Links is located just off the promenade, about 10 miles south of St Andrews. Two clubs play over the course, the Leven Golfing Society and Leven Thistle Golf Club. Keeping watch over them is the Leven Links Committee. The course was originally laid down in 1820 as a nine-hole layout, so the Leven Golfing Society lays claim to being world's eleventh oldest golf club. In 1870, the Standard Life Assurance Co. gifted the club a medal, which is still annually contested. This competition is now thought to be the world's longest running amateur stroke play championship.
Leven was extended to 18 holes in 1868 and to mark the opening, an inaugural match was staged, which was won by Young Tom Morris. The status quo remained until 1909. "Leven, a truly charming course, has, alas! ceased to exist in its old form," wrote Bernard Darwin in his 1910 book, The Golf Courses of the British Isles. “Nine of the old holes now belong to a new and reconstituted Leven, and the other nine belong to Lundin Links. It is a sad pity, but the difficulty of two starting places made it in these crowded times inevitable.”
Today's Leven hasn't changed much since the division occurred in 1909. The course measures a modest 6,506 yards from the medal tees against a par of 71, but the wind often laughs in the face of the yardage figures. The best were tested at Leven in July 2005 when the course was used for Qualifying for the Open which returned to the "Home of Golf".
 Leven is blessed with some fine holes and the first four run parallel with the delightful Largo Bay. But our favourites are the closing two par fours. A decent drive down the left of the 17th fairway will leave a short iron to the green. If you hit your drive down the right, you'll be faced with a tricky blind approach shot. Bringing the round to an end is a truly memorable closing hole, measuring 455 yards. The wind will dictate the level of difficulty in terms of the length of approach shot. But whether it's an approach with a wedge, or with a long iron, it's certainly a nerve-jangling shot. A wide burn, called "Scoonie" (also the name of the hole) coils its way like a serpent around the front of the green, which seems to be supported in mid air by a myriad of railway sleepers. The green is positioned magnificently underneath the historic turreted Leven Golfing Society clubhouse. What a great finale.
There are many fine courses to play in the Kingdom of Fife, but no trip to this fabled part of Scotland would be complete without a round over historic Leven Links. | |
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If the above course review article is not accurate, let us know by clicking here |
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 |  | | Average Reviewers Score: |  | | | It was somewhat strange for me to play Leven today from the regular markers. My 3 other visits here have all been from the back tees in Open Competitions so I was looking forward to playing the course from the yellows and not under exam conditions. Did it make it any easier? Not a chance!
I should have sussed that out for myself as a quick look at the scorecard will tell you that the SSS is 71 against a par of 69 from the normal tees. Yes Leven is a tough old bird.
In my last review I advised you to make sure you bought a stroke saver as you would need it and that is still true today. But even with my new Golf Buddy technology, (A birthday present from all of my family and, without doubt, the best golfing present I have ever got. For Christmas I have asked them for a better backswing and a decent short game) I still managed to run up two NR’s and a 9 but Leven can do that to you if you are not switched on.
As for the course itself I only have a few minor criticisms. Holes 12 and 13 should be par 5’s and not par 4’s even if that means that they have to move the tees back 5 yards or so and, the 18th, SI 9! Are you having a laugh?
So we may not have qualified for the free lunch but the cold pork pies and mini Mars Bars washed down with Chateau Lucozade meant we didn’t suffer too much but even without the meal The 25 quid that you spend here is probably the best value winter green fee in Scotland. Miss it at your peril.
MPPJ |
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| 01 November 2011
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| | I revisited Leven today after an absence of two and a half years but that short span of time had only made my heart grow fonder for a course that I really love. The opening four holes make brilliant use of the sand ridges and hollows to route the fairways and site the greens en route to the Mile Dyke that separates the course from Lundin next door. Three excellent par threes are then faced before the turn, each of them played in a different direction to heavily bunkered greens. Be sure to make your score on the front nine as the inward half is 470 yards longer and a lot tougher – as witnessed by back to back par fours at holes 12 and 13 which measure 476 and 471 yards from the regular yellow tees! The loop of three holes at the end of the round are as demanding as you will find anywhere and a par four at the brilliant last (456 yards from the whites, 457 yards yellows!) will be one of the most satisfying you could ever hope to mark on a scorecard. The severity of the challenge never lets up from start to finish; switch off and you’ll run up big numbers, stay focused and you’ll be engaged in a thrilling joust with the course over each and every one of its 18 holes. Leven offers superb winter 4-ball tee times where they even throw in a 2-course meal – an invitation to fill your boots, surely? Jim McCann |
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| 01 November 2011
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| | There is one course in Scotland which acts as a golfing laxative for me and that course is Leven Links. This stems from one Saturday in June 2005 when I participated in the Leven Thistle Open. 103 strokes later I was hung, drawn and quartered with a wedgie thrown in for good measure. Yet, despite this humiliation I was captivated by this quirky and beguiling firm but fair beauty, so much so, I have returned on two further occasions. I still can’t conquer the course but, I am glad to say, my scoring has decreased to an almost acceptable level. The first and best bit of advice I can give you is to buy a course guide. This will be your new best friend as it highlights Leven’s dangers, many of which, are not self evident form the tee box. Your new pal will see the light of day from the off as the line at the first isn’t clear due to a split fairway. Line established, its time to tee off and hope that the golfing Gods are with you. This is the first of 4 stringent par 4’s which head straight for the Mile Dyke. The front 9 also contains 3, one shoters where par is well earned and gratefully received. The back nine is no less daunting with an intimidating drive at 10, two tough back to back par 5’s at 12 + 13 and the tremendous 18th which undoubtedly is one of the finest finishing holes in the country. Leven is completely captivating proving that you don’t have to be a monster to be tough It should be on every golfers play list and if you can follow it up with a quick 18 at Lundin then you have a golfing day made in heaven. MPPJ |
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| 30 July 2009
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| Response: | | | shahab | 24 September 2009 | | I would definately agree. Probably the best closing hole i have ever played. Green is a monster in size and even if you find it, is by no means an easy 2 putt. |
| | | Just returned from a golfing holiday in Fife. Leven was definately the best course i played. For those looking for a proper Scotish links golfing experience, this is most definately it.
The course is unusual as two clubs (Leven golfing society, and Thistle golf club) play the same course. Was blowing a gale the day i played so first four holes were really tough. Par three's are excellent and plenty of long par fours where you need to know where to aim your drive. I played with two members who's experience on driving line etc made my round far more enjoyable. There are lots of shots where you have no idea where the fairway is lurking.
I only heard about course when i randomly met member Tom Williamson at another club. He most kindly arranged a three ball with me and his brother Ian who were fine company. Tom is 72 and plays off 6!! This man is the best putter of a golf ball i have ever seen, he nailed them from everywhere! I would hate to play him in match-play. he was so friendly and inspiring that he took me out on the putting green for an hour (in the rain) after our round to impart some wisdom on me! It rubbed off too as me and my partner finished second in club comp first week back.
If your unsure which club to use definately go with thistle. History oozing in clubhouse with club champs board running back to 1886. Cheap drinks too, and members were really friendly and love golfing banter. Can't wait to return as this course is simply a joy and very reasonably priced (i payed guest fee's but believe 18 holes is around 40 pounds.) Also much easier to get on than surrounding links's. All in al,l a truly great golfing experience in every sense. I would advise people with a handicap over 16 to avoid tho as the rough will probably reduce you to tears!! I play of 13 and felt more like 28 at times!! Having said that i floated one bueatifully over the scoonie at the 18th, to score a four and beat the local boys at the last!!!!!!
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| 19 July 2009
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|  Leven Links may appear to be the poor relation when compared to Lundin Links, the more manicured neighbouring course on the east side of the Mile Dyke, but don’t let its apparent lack of TLC (or relative position in any rankings) fool you into thinking it’s an inferior course – absolutely not! Its SSS of 72 against a par of 71 tells you all you need to know about how tough a track it is as I found out when returning to play in the Leven Golfing Society Gents Open six years after I first tramped the fairways here in 2003. Only four of the eleven par fours are more than 400 yards from tee to green (with the best kept ‘til last) but Leven is not about length – it’s about keeping your ball out of trouble as many of the fairways are tight, with rough and gorse waiting to snare anything offline. Anticipate a stiff examination of your golfing abilities here but also expect to enjoy every single minute of your time out on the course as it’s a great example of traditional Scottish links golf. Jim McCann |
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| 14 June 2009
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| | Excellent lunch, superb golf course, very good greens and an outstanding closing hole. On the downside there were no stroke savers and the course was a little tatty in places, Leven needs a bit of TLC. Make sure you play Leven when you are in the St. Andrews region as it is a cracking course |
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| 28 July 2008
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| | For me, this is a classic golf course with a layout that is so natual it is almost unique. Forget about its ranking and go and play it. The par 3 's are great and the holes 2 8 10 15 17 and 18 are magnificent. Add to that the warmest welcome in the bar afterwards and you have a real gem. If I lived in fife , this is where I would play and socialise.
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| 13 October 2007
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| | It just goes to show that you need to play a course more than once to appreciate it. The first time a played here was in the summer and the fairways were hard and bouncing. I even had an eagle at the 4th (348 yard par 4) by driving the blind green and tapping in my 2 footer!!! The course is undulating but the over all ground is flat: it looks a bit like waht Johnny Miller described as an elephants graveyard. The first time i played there was little rough and you could spray it about a bit. Second time i played it was far more lush and the rough had been allowed to grow. This made it a very different prospect and a real tough test. For me it is not as good as neighbouring Lundin but all my playing partners would not agree. In short both are good courses and a round at each is the order of the day. |
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| 11 November 2005
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| | Leven was a bit of a letdown at first. The weather had closed in and the course seemed a bit scrubby and tired in comparison to Lundin. In places it was showing signs of wear, and the ground staff were out doing maintenance. The opening few holes are quite short, and you find yourself next to a seaside-parking strip then a long row of portable holiday homes. Not a particularly inspirational setting. As the round went on, though, the course started to grow on me. For one thing, it is a stern challenge. There are some very long holes, especially on the back nine, with several 460+ par fours on end. The 460 yard 18th, with it's dominating burn, is a tough prospect, and I'm afraid I came off second best. I had to retrieve a sliced 3-iron from the bowling club adjoining! The facilities in the clubhouse are a little run down but the drinks were remarkably cheap, and the staff relaxed and friendly. I left feeling quite pleased with how the day had unfolded at Leven. |
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| 14 May 2005
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| Response: | | | Richard Egan | 11 March 2012 | | I was born and brought up at this course!, my gran and grandad were the stewards for Leven Thistle GC for 20 yrs. I cut my teeth on this course and it is majestic! More quirks than the Bible! When you've played 72 holes on a summers day you'll understand. |
| | | Played in the Leven Thistle Open in 2003. Like at Elie, there is more than one club with playing rights over the course. and Leven Thistle, like Earlsferry Thistle at Elie) are the 'poor relations' who do not occupy the big, old fashioned, crusty looking clubhouse overlooking the 18th green. Instead, they have more of a working mens social club just round the corner (or along the 18th fairway at Elie) and you'll have great crack in here after your round with the locals who are only too willing to talk golf, especially with someone who has travelled a way to play. The course itself is relatively short but definitely tight - on that Open day, our three ball took over SIX hours to complete our round - much of that time being held up, or us holding up others, looking for lost balls. It has a cracking 18th across the burn (a la Carnoustie) and is certainly in the 'tough track to play' bracket. Compare and contrast to the Lundin Links course across the Mile Dyke that separates the courses and you will have a brilliant days golf in Leven. |
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| 22 January 2005
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| | It's always a joy to play Leven..not the longest course but when the wind blows it's tough enough for me. This classic links course must have one of the best finishes in seaside golf - I can't think of a better closing hole. For a course so old I think it has stood the test of time, even with modern technolgy this is no pushover. And a word about the condition...Leven was most beautifully prepared when we played it during the summer. Play it alongside Lundin, what a pair of cracking courses. |
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| 02 December 2004
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| | The thing that strikes you about golf in Scotland is that the clubs appreciate the history of the game. Leven is no exception and this course is amongst the best kept I have ever had the pleasure of playing. Links land is notoriously difficult to present but Leven is not only pleasing on the eye but also affords you genuine respect. By this I mean the course allows you to play your game with no premeditated nasty surprises; that said it is ready and waiting to catch you out. The 18th is a stunning finishing hole, a fitting end to a delightful course. |
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| 19 May 2004
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| Response: | | | Barry | 24 August 2009 | | Loved it!. Played it after Lundin on the same day and preferred it. Shot a Gross 82 for 7 under my handicap so I may be biased! |
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