..' and both are a bit disappointing, given their location in the KIngdom of Fife. When reflecting on a course I sometimes rely on the 'Nikon Test'. This involves counting the number of times I felt the urge to photograph a particular hole or view. I suppose my average would be around 10 snaps per round. Unfortunately, at Pitferrane my 'trigger finger'only saw action three times. And one of those was the obligatory snap on the first tee. So, nothing special here then. I liked the par 3 9th down to the castle that doubles as the clubhouse. Other than that no standout holes. But pleasant, easy walking and a reasonable test.

Due to time constraints I concentrated my efforts on and around the 9th and the 18th greens and my first impression of the place was that it was pleasant but it didn’t seem anything out of the ordinary. Well, it just goes to show you that you should never judge a book by its cover. On closer inspection Dunfermline Pitfirrane proved to be parkland golf at its finest. There is a 5 year waiting list for membership and I can’t say that surprises me. However, one thing that did surprise me was the condition of the course. In a year when Scotland could have been twinned with Atlantis, the course was in very good condition with the fairways firm and the greens true. Impressive. The course is very much a tale of two 9’s. The front 9 has dog-legs a plenty, suiting the cerebral golfer with ball placement of paramount importance. The back 9 is a more open affair but that doesn’t make it any easier. The entrances to the greens appear narrower making approach shots more difficult. For me the feature of the course is the par 3’s, five in total, balanced by 5 par 5s. Each of the par 3s, is well guarded and difficult to hold. The pick of the bunch is the 13th, Hip Hillock, 158 yards off the regulars to a pulpit green. Mention must also be made of the fine practice facilities which were being well used by the junior members honing their skills during the school holidays. Last, but by no means least, is the clubhouse housed in the magnificent 15th century Pitfirrane House. The general dining facilities make the best of the old existing architecture and present a menu to satisfy any golfer. There is also a formal dining room on the first floor with its exquisite wooden ceiling and surrounds, which has an impressive a la carte menu. Dunfermline is a course which is perfect for everyone from two balls to outings. For pars, practice and perfect food put Pitfirrane on your must play list, you wont be disappointed. MPPJ

30am on a Sunday morning - we do take our competitive golf seriously in Scotland, even at amateur level! I may have lead the Open after one hole, parring the first (with my two playing partners carding bogies) but my name was nowhere to be seen on the leaderboard by the end of the round! Dunfermline is a very pleasant track (with exceptional par three holes) that makes for a very pleasant walk in the park. And don´t forget the clubhouse, with a modern, single level lounge tacked onto the side of a castle - a really strange fusion of old and new.