ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND

Kingarrock Hickory Golf

A nine-hole parkland time capsule played entirely with authentic hickory clubs.

ST ANDREWS Ort
PARKLAND Course type
9 LÖCHER Holes
PAR 34 Par

Beyond the Scorecard

Course established: 1924
Course designer/s: Frederick Sharp and Hugh Sharp
National ranking: Not ranked
Known for: Exclusively played with authentic hickory clubs
Defining feature: 1920s greenkeeping without irrigation or fertilisers

The Sharps' Private Course Reborn

Kingarrock golf course began as the private course of Frederick Sharp and his son Hugh, both keen golfers and members of the R&A. Opened in 1924 on the Hill of Tarvit estate, it disappeared during the Second World War when the ground was turned over to agriculture.

The National Trust for Scotland revived it in 2008, adjusting parts of the old crossing layout for modern safety while retaining its period character.

The nine holes move through a designed parkland landscape rather than a manicured modern setting. A ha-ha, dry-stone dyke, cundy, copses, and the estate doocot all influence play, while the 2,022-yard routing still includes a par five. Sheep manage areas of rough, greens and collars are cut by hand, and the course uses neither artificial irrigation nor fertilisers.

Those details make the challenge more than nostalgic theatre. Uneven lies, slower surfaces, and restrained equipment ask golfers to judge distance and invent shots, much as the Sharp family and their guests would have done a century ago.

Why Add This Course to Your Golf Experience

Kingarrock offers a refreshing change of pace within a St Andrews experience. A nine-hole round usually takes around 90 to 120 minutes, leaving room for another activity without making the visit feel rushed.

Staff introduce the unfamiliar clubs before play, and non-golfing companions may walk the course, making it unusually welcoming for mixed-interest groups. The round ends at Forester's Cottage with ginger beer and Scottish shortbread. Kinfern can add it for guests seeking a memorable contrast to championship golf.