Built for the Sharp family in the early 1900s, Kingarrock is a brilliant little time capsule of golf. If you're even slightly a golfing geek, you'll enjoy the simple premise here: you play with hickory clubs only, just as players did in the era of Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen.
Just 20 minutes from St Andrews, it's an easy add-on to an Old Course trip, but it feels a world away from modern resort golf. The 9-hole layout is compact and picturesque, set across gently rolling Scottish parkland with mature trees, a bit of movement in the land and plenty of shots that ask for touch rather than power.
Hickory golf isn't about chasing yardage. Distances can vary more than you're used to, you'll need to pick sensible targets and you'll quickly find that rhythm and strike matter more than swinging hard. On a breezy day, keeping it down and using the ground becomes part of the fun.
Kingarrock is charming rather than championship long, but it can still catch you out if you get impatient. Take your time, enjoy the throwback feel and treat it as a proper change of pace from the big-name courses nearby.
Who is this for?
Golfers staying in St Andrews who want a one-of-a-kind heritage round, groups looking for something different between marquee tee times and anyone curious about how the game used to feel.
Who is it best for?
Social groups and mid-to-high handicappers who enjoy novelty, history and a good chat, plus traditionalists who like golf with a bit of story behind it.
