The Perfect Base For a Golf Break in Fife

I HAVE just returned from a marathon road trip around Scotland during which I travelled 1,650 miles. I was born in Glasgow but have lived in East Anglia for most of my life, returning north of the border only to cover The Open Championship.

This was a proper holiday, taking in Edinburgh, Inverness, Glasgow and many of my childhood haunts. 

My wife and I had been planning the trip for months so when we were offered the opportunity to include a stay at Letham Feus we jumped at it.

Letham Feus Review

Before we go any further I have to declare an interest. Letham Feus is a holiday park located a little over two miles from Lundin Links, a beautiful village on the Fife coast where I spent many happy times during my childhood. It is also where I learnt to play golf, first on the nine-hole course and then on the 18-hole championship course, more of which later.

Letham Feus is one of four holiday parks owned and run in the area by Largo Leisure Holidays. It is located in a glorious setting. 

We stayed in a luxury one-bedroom lodge with a balcony and outdoor seating affording spectacular views over the Firth of Forth. And waiting for us was a complimentary bottle of wine and a huge box chocolates.

The lodge featured a lounge with sofa, TV and wood burner (we were there in June but this would be a wonderfully cosy place to visit in the autumn or winter), fully equipped kitchen (it even comes with a dish washer and fridge-freezer), bedroom and bathroom with shower, together with a high-quality range of shower gel and shampoo.

And there was a lovely Brucie Bonus - it had a hot-tub on the balcony which we took full advantage of.

The park also features two-bedroomed lodges - and it is pet friendly. The location makes it the perfect location for long country walks with your dog. And we encountered plenty of friendly dog owners.

Letham Feus is spotlessly clean. It has its own country walk and there is a bar on site, as well as a laundry.

There is no WiFi at Letham Feus, which means it is the perfect place to get away from it all. Don’t worry though - if you need to keep in touch with the outside world there is excellent 4G coverage.

It is also worth noting that a range of holiday accommodation can be purchased, with prices ranging from around £20,000 to £80,000.

It is a perfect location for exploring Fife and is also just 40 miles from Edinburgh, the Scottish capital, and less than 20 miles from St Andrews, the Home of Golf.

Edinburgh is a must-see city with lots to see and do. There’s the castle, Holyrood Palace, the Royal Mile and Princes Street. St Andrews is also a historic town. Yes, it is most famous for its links to golf but there is also a spectacular sandy beach and aquarium. 

If you are looking to get away from it all in an idyllic location with plenty of golf courses on your doorstep then this is the perfect location. See below for just some of the courses within striking distance.

But it’s not just about golf. Although Letham Feus does not have its own on-site restaurant, there are plenty of pubs, hotels and restaurants nearby. These include the Crusoe Hotel, on the harbour at nearby Lower Largo, the birthplace of Alexander Selkirk, who wrote Robinson Crusoe. We enjoyed a wonderful meal there while sitting outside on a beautiful summer’s day - the Crusoe is proud of the fact that all its food is locally sourced.

Or take a stroll up Largo Law, the hill that overlooks Largo. You will be rewarded with fabulous views across Fife.

For further details go to https://largoleisure.co.uk/holiday-parks-scotland/letham-feus-park.

The Golf

Letham Feus is located just 20-odd miles from St Andrews, but you don’t have to visit the Home of Golf to experience some world-class courses. 

Here are just some of the courses within striking distance:

• The Old Course, St Andrews
• New Course, St Andrews
• Jubilee Course, St Andrews
• The Castle Course, St Andrews
• Eden Course, St Andrews
• Fairmont, St Andrews
• Duke’s Course, St Andrews
• Kingsbarns
• Balcomie Links, Crail
• Lundin Links
• Leven Links
• Elie
• Cupar GC
• Dumbarnie Golf Links
• Glenrothes GC
• Ladybank GC
• Scotscraig GC

If you go a little further afield you will find the following gems:

• Carnoustie
• Muirfield
• Gleneagles - King’s Course, Queen’s Course, Centenary Course
• Panmure
• Blairgowrie

During our stay I played Lundin Links and Leven Links. Here are my thoughts:

Lundin Links

• Par 71, 6,381 yards

Lundin Links holds a very special place in my heart. Not only is it where I learnt to play this incredible game, but my grandfather was a club champion here, so returning to the course was an emotional experience. And it hasn’t changed a bit. Thankfully.

It was designed by James Braid and opened in 1909 and it is a course that features one section that is pure links and another across what used to be a railway line that ran through it until the 1960s that has a parkland feel. It has been used as an Open qualifying course, which speaks to its quality.

The first five holes are in classic links tradition proceeding alongside the beach from the clubhouse to the Mile Dyke. Players then cross the now extinct railway line and play the nine parkland-style holes before heading back to play the final four links holes.

There are a number of outstanding holes at Lundin Links, although I have to admit my favourites are all on the parkland part of the course. The seventh is a 272-yard par four that can be reached but there is also a wealth of trouble to be found. The ninth is a magnificent par five measuring 555 yards - if you play it into the wind you will know all about it. The 12th is a stunning par three of 149 yards that demands a shot of pinpoint accuracy - go right and you can forget it. 

My favourite hole is the par-five 13th, with the road running down the right-hand side and an avenue of pine trees to be negotiated. And the 14th is a breathtaking par three. It measures 177 yards and is played for an elevated tee. If the wind blows then club selection is a huge challenge.

The 18th is a magnificent closing hole that measures 439 yards with out of bounds to the left coming into play with your approach.

For more information, please visit www.lundingolfclub.co.uk.

Leven Links

• Par 71, 6,551 yards

Leven is separated from Lundin Links by a wall. It is a traditional links course with rolling fairways, burns, dunes and plenty of punishing pot bunkers. And it has also been used as a venue for Open qualifying. 

The opening hole is a tough par four measuring 426 yards. A drive down the centre or slightly to the right of the fairway leaves you with a mid-iron to the middle of the large undulating plateau green which is set some twenty yards on from the top of the ridge. 

The sixth is a par five measuring 569 yards. It is the longest hole on the course with out of bounds up the right-hand side of the fairway. Skirt the gorse up the left with your second shot and you are left with a short to mid iron into a well protected green that offers some interesting pin positions. 

The 15th is a great par three, measuring 189 yards. Club selection is paramount as the green is 45 yards deep and a front pin position means you could be putting on some quite severe slopes. The 456-yard 18th is a classic finishing hole. From the tee a straight drive on the right edge of the starter’s hut will see you in the middle of the fairway, well away from the hidden pot bunkers left and gorse on the right and out of bounds on the left. You then have to decide whether you take on the Scoonie Burn or lay up. 

For more information, please visit www.leven-links.com.