Kingarrock is the course that started Groundhog Hickory Golf and is a must play for any golfer visiting Scotland.

A golf trip to Scotland can be overwhelming. There are dozens of legendary, ancient courses. Whole regions full of bucket list places to play. The most famous of which can be both expensive to play and difficult (if not impossible) to book a tee time at. So before you drop 420 quid at Royal Troon, or put in for the St. Andrews Old Course lottery, book nine at this treasure.

Didn’t bring your bag of Groundhog Hickory Golf clubs? Kingarrock can give you a loaner set.

Overview

Kingarrock attempts to put you into the experience of the Sharp family. They made it big in the Dundee jute industry and the patriarch, Fredrick Sharp bought the Hill of Tarvit mansion in 1906 to be closer to St Andrews. It either wasn’t close enough, or even in the early 1900’s he got sick of dodging golf bros, so he and his son Hugh designed a nine hole track for their front lawn. The course was fully established by 1924, but was turned back into agricultural land during WWII. Decades later, the manor was part of the National Trust for Scotland, and curators found a map of the course. A major benefactor, David Anderson, sponsored an effort to recreate the course. In 2008 Kingarrock opened for public play, with hickory clubs ONLY. In addition to play with antique clubs, the greenskeeper maintains the course with 1920’s methods and equipment. So, authentically fuzzier greens and fairways, no chemical fertilizer, and no artificial irrigation. They even space out tee times so each group playing experiences the course like the Sharp family, i.e. ya own the place. It is as close as a modern person can get to playing golf in the hickory era anywhere in the world.

Making a Tee Time

The course is open April to October. The website to book tee times is easy to use, and takes bookings WAY in advance (at the time of writing in August 2025, one could book 2026 tee times). The greens fees are a bit pricey, 85GBP for 9 holes and 110GBP for 18, but that includes a loaner set of restored hickory clubs. There is also a small fee at the car park. It is all walking, and no power or pushcarts are available. If you have a non-golfer with you, they can walk along for free.

The Experience

This is not like a typical golf course. After you park, you walk through the manor grounds past the mansion, the gardens, and a croquet lawn. A few signs point you to the forester’s shed, which functions as the clubhouse and starter’s shack. There the Kingarrock staff will give you a ranger talk about the estate, the family, the history of the course, and if you need it, a quick lesson on playing with hickory clubs. If you really want the full experience, show up in your best Edwardian sporting outfit, and the staff loves it too. When the history lessons are over, it’s off to the first tee.

Kingarrock really puts you into the feel of playing golf in the early 20th century, so the first thing most golfers notice is the soundscape. Birds, the breeze, and sheep baa-ing are what you hear. There are no major roads nearby so almost no traffic noise. No golf cart motors or backup beeping. And since the groups are so spaced out, you don’t even hear the conversations of other groups or club swings. It’s a very serene way to play.

You might hear the tractor of Owen, the assistant greenskeeper (Harley the dog is head greenskeeper), but he deliberately tries to operate the equipment as far from the golfers as possible. If you do run into him on the course, he is super friendly to talk to, and will share all sorts of tidbits about maintaining the grass, and the native flora and fauna of the course.

The stunning views of the Fife countryside add to the hickory golf experience at Kingarrock.

Head greenskeeper Harley, and assistant greenskeeper Owen.

As you play, the view continues to round out the experience. There is the ruins of an old tower peeking out of the woods. Sheep graze in adjacent pastures. The town of Cupar peeks into view. A monument crowns the top of a nearby hill, and the Fife countryside surrounds you. Sometimes a horse riding club will trot along a nearby road. The viewscape has very little modernity, and that keeps you in the old time feel that Kingarrock goes for.

When you finish your round the staff pops out to gather your clubs and present you with a plate of shortbread and bottle of ginger beer for some post round refreshment. This is a fabulous little touch that puts a nice finish on the whole package. It really emphasizes the joy and pastime of golfing, and for a second, you feel like the lord of the manor.

The Course

Overall, Kingarrock is a relatively short nine holer with a compact layout. Greens are very tight to the next tee box. There is a bit of elevation change, but it is mostly experienced on the holes, not in between them, so it makes for a very easy walk. There are few bunkers, and only one small water hazard, so easy? Right? Wrong, every fairway is lined with very tall reedy rough. It’s a particular plant that diabolically lets you find your ball, but makes a clear shot back to shorter grass futile to embarrassing. But hey, the 1924 rules for guests state that each golfer must lose at least one ball per nine holes, and report its probably location to Mr. Sharp. If you can’t keep it down the middle, you will definitely fulfill this requirement.

Hole By Hole

Despite being surrounded with a historic experience, there are some modern conveniences. The forester’s shed has snacks and cold soft drinks for sale, along with plenty of Kingarrock branded golf necessities and souvenirs. It also has a modern restroom, but no locker or shower facilities.

A straightforward par 4 which serves a great warm up if you are not familiar with hickory clubs..
A par 3 with the green nestled under an old stone tower in the woods; an absolutely beautiful hole.
Keeps up the scenery with a different view of the tower, and a blind drive that puts you at the highest point of the course. As you crest it, the Fife countryside just rolls out all around you….stunning.
The challenges begin. Four is the shortest hole at 97 yards. It’s downhill into a tight double-green complex. Remember, hickories, not a ton of spin, so if you go too much club, you’re chipping back from the wood line.
The longest hole with a narrow drive window and lazy right dog leg. If your drive isn’t straight, start piling up the score.
Another scenery stunner with a view of the mansion and a monument perched on the hill above. It’s a big sweeping downhill with a deceptively wide fairway. It tempts you go along the right side, but a shot on there will land safely, just to roll down into the rough.
A showpiece hole that feels like number twelve at Augusta National’s Scottish grandfather. A short par 3, that requires you to clear a deep rough to make the green with a thin “cundy” stream in the middle. Also a little bunker to punish you for going short, and barely any space behind the green if you go long.
In my opinion the hardest hole on the course. Uphill with a hard left dog leg. Resist the urge to cut the corner, unless you enjoy looking for golf balls in tall grass.
A spectacular finish from an elevated tee box over a narrow runway that opens to a wide valley. It’s a great opportunity to unleash some power, but if you miss, it’s a great place to fulfill the one lost ball per round house rule. Then, enjoy your ginger beer!

Conclusion

I love this course. The commitment to the hickory experience is as unique as the setting. The course is challenging, but not cruel. The staff are so friendly, and make an afternoon of golf approachable for the rookie, and memorable for the most seasoned veteran. There are fancier, longer, older, and more prestigious courses out there, but none of them can deliver the same feeling of time travel that Kingarrock does. If you only play one round of golf in Scotland, make it here. If you play one round of golf in your life…..play it here.