Kingsbarns declares interest in Fife golf club

Kingsbarns Golf Links is hopeful it can agree an investment deal with a nearby Fife golf club.

The co-host of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship has confirmed to The Courier its interest in Scotscraig Golf Club, at Tayport.

Scotscraig, the 13th oldest club in the world, held an EGM on Tuesday night, at which members gave the green light to hold discussions with third parties.

It’s after losing £200,000 in the last financial year, in a fight against rising costs and years of underinvestment.

Alan Hogg, Kingsbarns Chief Executive, said: “We have put in our interest and we’re waiting on confirmation to see if we are in negotiations with Scotscraig.

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“We’ll see where that takes us over the coming weeks. There’s nothing to really say just now other than we are interested.

“It’s obviously a very sensitive situation for the members of Scotscraig.”

The move is aimed at safeguarding the long-term future of Scotscraig, a club that dates back to 1817.

According to the Scotsman, board members described Tuesday’s vote as a “turning point for the club and an historic decision.”

A spokesperson told the paper: “We already have a number of interested parties and the board has identified their preferred funding partner.”

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Justin Rose, the 2013 US Open champion, is an honourary member of Scotscraig and even tried to qualify for The Open at the venue as a 14-year-old.

Meanwhile, Kingsbarns, seven miles from St Andrews, is one of the most renowned golf courses in Scotland.

Since 2001, it has been a joint host of the DP World Tour event with the Old Course and Carnoustie, welcoming some of the game’s best players.

Kingsbarns was also the host venue of the 2017 Ricoh Women’s British Open.

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Tryst Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.