If any readers are in the St. Andrews area between April and October then a trip to the Kingarrock course at Hill Of Tarvit near St. Andrews is an absolute must.
Hill Of Tarvit is a National Trust property, not presently open to the general public, but the grounds are freely accessable and it is her, near to the mansion house that the Kingarrock course lies.
The Sharp family owned the house in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Both Frederick - pictured below - and his son Hugh were enthusiastic and gifted golfers who, during their time in residence, laid out a nine hole course on the land at the front of the mansion house, for the use of the family and their guests.
After the death of Frederick in 1932 and Hugh in a train crash in 1937, the course was abandoned and returned to nature.
That was, until recent years where, in conjunction with the National Trust, the dream and passion of one man to tell the story of Frederick & Hugh, and recreate their golf course resulted in a wonderful project which gives every modern golfer the opportunity to experience the challenges of playing with hickory shafted clubs from the 1920's and an appreciation of just how good golfers from that era really were.
My sister and I were fortunate to enjoy the Kingarrock Hickory Golf experience recently and would recommend a visit to any golf enthusiast.
Driving up towards the Hill Of Tarvit mansion house we came upon the Forresters Cottage which serves as the clubhouse of the Kingarrock course, and were met at the door by the man behind the project, David Anderson, resplendent in shirt & tie, waistcoat and pluss fours of the 1920's period.
Two locals were already there waiting to play when we arrived and so we were shown into the small clubhouse reception area where, along with the two other visitors, we were given a lively and entertaining short history of the Sharp family at Hill Of Tarvit, the course and other intersting facts about golf in the 1920's.
Mr Anderson is a delightful gentleman whose enthusiasm and passion for the project, as well as the adjacent mansion house and the story of the Sharp family is plainly evident.
Surrounded by bags of hickory clubs and golfing memorabilia, the atmosphere in the little clubhouse was convivial and set the mood for the experience to come.
And so, after some delightful home made shortbread and a glass of port (or whisky if you prefer) just as the family would have done 100 years ago, bags of clubs were selected from those available, of which there were many, and we were nearly ready for the off.
All golfers are catered for with mens, ladies, juniors and left handed clubs there for use and all the clubs are originals, refurbished as required, with a bag generally consisting of five clubs.
One final choice- do we opt for the 1898 or the 1924 ball ?. Either type of ball is provided - the choice is yours, with the 1898 ball flying approximately 20 yards less than its 'newer' equivalent.
Oh, and we also had to pick up a handful of small red wooden tees, known as 'Reddy's' patented by a New Jersey dentist in 1924.
And so out to the course, a nine hole layout on rolling parkland with fine views over the Fife countryside and the nearby mansion house and gardens and holes varying in length from 368 yards to 97 yards.
This is golf as it really was in the 1920's. Little or no chemicals are used on the course and cutting of grass is done by the traditional method, with a gang mower being gifted recently for cutting the fairways and the greens being hand cut.
We opted for the 1898 ball and off we set for the first hole. My sister had never played with hickory clubs before and so, true to form, I found myself two down after two holes !!.
I did manage to pull one hole back and looked to be going two behind again until I laid a succesful stymie and managed to half the hole. Stymies are of course played at Kingarrock as they were not outlawed by the Rules Of Golf until 1952.
As the round wore on, we both began to get into the swing of things and shots began to become straighter and better. Remembering the need to slow your swing down with hickory clubs was adequately brought to your mind on every shot as the balls had Bobby Jones' maxim 'wait for it' printed on the side of them !!
One ahead after 6, I was on the green with a holeable birdie putt for a two at the 7th when my sister got her own back for the earlier stymie, laying her ball up betwen mine and the hole and , despite my best efforts to get past, her ball nudged mine away from the hole and we halved in par threes. Over the remaining holes I managed to hold on to my one hole lead for a narrow win.
Despite a shaky start, matching the 1898 bogey for the last five holes left me very satisfied with my efforts.
The details of the holes are :-
1 - Ha-Ha - 289 yds
2 - Stand Sure - 166 yds
3 - Kingarroch - 201 yds
4 - Copse - 97 yds
5 - Wemyss - 368 yds
6 - Monument - 313 yds
7 - Cundy - 101 yds
8 - Doocot - 279 yds
9 - Sharp - 208 yds
Total 2022 yds - 1898 bogey 37 - 1924 par 32
Then it was back to the clubhouse to be met again by David Anderson who sat us down in the 'ither room' and served up more shortbread and delightful home made ginger beer, just like the concoction served up by his namesake 'Da' Anderson on the old couse at St. Andrews over 100 years ago at the hole that now bears the name Ginger Beer.
And so, after a second glass of the delightful ginger beer, we bade farewell to Kingarrock, for the time being, but I have no doubt that a return visit is on the cards when I am in the area again.
And the cost - a very reasonable £20 which includes the use of 5 hickory clubs in a bag, three balls for use, 'reddy' tees as well as your port (or whisky) shortbread and ginger beer at the end.
A second round can be played the same day, time permitting, for £10.
Players who bring their own hickory clubs - because you are not permitted to play the course with modern equipment - can play for half price whilst those players who play in dress typical of the 1920's period will receive a wrapped golf ball to take home.
Under 21's can play for £15 whilst under 16's can play for £10 or £5 if accompanied by a paying adult.
There is also a Kingarrock special package, costing £35, with guaranteed tee times betwen parties to give an air of privicy as the family would have enjoyed, as well as a gift pack including a whisky minature and wrapped balls.
All in all, this is a great golfing experience which falls into the 'not to be missed' category, and well worthy of a visit if you are in the St. Andrews area.
or by phone at 01334 653421
The website can also be accessed via the link on the left of this page under 'Golf Links'
