Take a look at the sixth hole at Old at Leven, a course that exists mostly in golfers’ fantasies.
Sam Cooper
“Imagine a golf course with dignity 100 best in the worldclassic Scottish links, tucked away along the coast, just 25 miles away St Andrews something few people are aware of and even fewer have the opportunity to play.” Despite encouraging debuts, it was hard to top what turned out to be Golf.com’s most-read travel story of 2024.
Its author, Timothy Gallant, a Scotland-based golf course reviewer for GOLF Magazine, then painted a portrait of a purist playground with an inflatable turf, “spectacular sea views” and “an eclectic array of holes that are etched in the memory.”
“His at 3s they are crafty and their par 4s are as original as any links. Its course works harmoniously with the wind,” Gallant wrote.
Gallant noted that there was only one catch. Landing a tee time on this tempting-sounding layout is virtually impossible – not so much because the course is exclusive, but because it is elusive.
It is only open one day a year.
Return? How does a field with mayfly viability even exist?
In his story you can go back to HereGallant discussed the history of one-of-a-kind links and the rare opportunity to play it.
Like many great stories about golf in Scotland, this story has a connection to it Old Tom Morriswho in the second half of the 19th century rebuilt the existing 9-hole course into a full 18.
The extensive layout, along the Firth of Forth, was located along the boundary line between two links, Leven and Lundin, and was very popular. In fact, its grounds were so desirable that at the turn of the century the course was demolished and nine holes went to Leven and nine holes went to Lundin – a King Solomon-like scenario that left the original 18, known as the Old at Leven, split in two , with a causeway running between the nines.
From that moment on, golfers on both sides of the dividing line could only dream of playing the Old One in its entirety.
However, once a year this dream comes true when clubs from Leven and Lundin meet in a friendly competition called the McDonald Trophy, held on the recreated links.
Gallant scored an invite to the event and shared what was one of the hardest times in the game.
One day it might be easier. In recent years, members Leven and Lundin have discussed the possibility of allowing limited outdoor play on the original 18. If this were to happen, the lifespan of the world’s most ephemeral field would have to be extended beyond one day.
