Brief History

Leven Links is undeniably one of the oldest pieces of golfing ground in existence anywhere in the world. Golf is first recorded here in the early 1800’s but it is most likely that the game was played here many years beforehand.

To this day Leven Links is one of the most traditional of all the Links courses in Scotland. It has a rich story to tell in respect to the land upon which the course developed, the iconic golf clubs that play over it today and the historic medals, shields and trophies that are still played for today.

The Land
The land over which Leven Links presides is what gives the golf course its unique signature. It is a wholly natural landscape, created through time by falling sea levels and ebbing tides. These combined to produce a series of parallel dune ridges and valleys along the bay at Leven. It is between those ridges and along those valleys that the golfer still plays today. This makes for superb definition and a true links test as the slopes and bulges of these natural obstacles come into play throughout your round.

The main strength of the course lies in the variety of quality “links holes”, with undulating fairways, revetted bunkers, fast running approaches and large, true running greens, all awaiting the golfer.

At the end of your round lies one of the finest finishing holes in all of Scotland. The 18th at Leven requires two well struck shots to carry the gaping Scoonie Burn in order to reach a green of almost epic proportions.

“Winning the Leven Gold Medal in 1993 was one of the highlights of my amateur career. It’s a wonderful golf course with many different challenges and one of the toughest finishing holes you’ll play anywhere”. Lee Westwood.

The Editor of Golf Monthly once described the older parts of Leven Links as being “one of the best stands of bents and fescues in Scotland – the place in summer to put away the solid ball, leave the wedge in the locker room and hone your chip and run approaches, because this is where the real game is played”. We couldn’t have put it better ourselves.

The Course
Early in the 19th Century play over Leven Links was over nine holes. This took the player out to the Leven parish boundary from where he turned and headed back home. (the Mile Dyke and current eastern boundary of the course). In 1868 the course was extended east towards Lundin Links to make 18 holes. This was the first 18 holes ever to have eighteen separate greens and tees and still stands as the third oldest 18 hole course, still in existence, in the world.

Leven Links retained this layout until 1909 when, due to playing demand and rounds lasting up to five hours, the course was divided at the parish boundary and each village set about developing its own 18 hole layout. Both took the land to the north of the then railway. In doing so both ladies clubs using this land had to be relocated. What was laid out for Leven at that time is still basically the same course played today.

The Game
Throughout its history many accomplished professionals and amateurs have competed over Leven Links. In 1868 the inaugural event to celebrate the opening of the new course was won by a Young Tom Morris. Aged just 17 he was already that years Open Champion and went on to win The Open four times in a row. He is the only player ever to do so. After his third victory he kept the Championship Belt and then went on to become the first name inscribed on The Claret Jug.

In April each year an Inter Club match still takes place between teams from Leven, St. Andrews and Carnoustie. The roots of this match can be traced back to the early 1870’s making it the oldest inter club match played to this day.
Also played over Leven Links is the Amateur Champion Gold Medal. First played for in 1870 it lays claim as the oldest amateur strokeplay championship in the world.

Course alterations from 2003 added new bunkers and new tees adding greater challenges but Leven Links still retains its place as one of the most traditional of links courses in all Scotland.

1846 Leven Golf Club was founded.

1857 Leven to Kilconquhar railway opened.

1867 Leven Thistle Golf Club was founded.

1867 Innerleven Golfing Society relocated to Leven
Links. At this time the course was 9 holes, which roughly comprised the current 1st, 2nd, up and down 13th fairway, 14th, 15th and 18th

1868 Extended over the mile dyke to form 18 holes,
straight out 9 and back in 9. Hence OUT and IN. Lundin Mill Golf Club founded.

There was a two tee start and Leven Links was reputedly the first 18 hole course with 18 separate greens.

1909 The course was divided at Mile Dyke to allow Leven and Lundin to develop their own 18-hole course. Both took land north of the railway line, which at the time was over by two ladies clubs. Both ladies’ clubs were relocated. In addition, the town sports grounds were taken over to accommodate holes 16 and 17.