No 8 - Kingsbarns

Kingsbarns is a fantastic design and an enjoyable experience no matter what you score. The credit for that must go to architect Kyle Phillips.

Kingsbarns
Mike Harris
By
published

8 KINGSBARNS

Architect: Phillips 2006 position: 8 Stats: 6,652 yds; par 72; SSS 73 GF: £130-£160 T: 01334 460860 W: kingsbarns.com Of all the courses in our Top 100, Kingsbarns is arguably the most fun to play.

Whatever your score or the weather, it’s hard to walk off the 18th without a smile on your face.

The credit for that must go to architect Kyle Phillips, whose superb design skills have managed the almost impossible job of challenging the accomplished golfer while at the same time offering a sporting chance to the mid and high handicapper.

Whereas courses like Carnoustie and Hoylake will relentlessly punish the weaker player, Kingsbarns allows them to go round and still enjoy the views – and for that it is to be commended. MH

+ Polished visitor experience; fun to play; excellent, unpretentious clubhouse - Expensive green fee; lacks the atmosphere of a members’ golf club

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Where next?

>>> Top 100 Golf Courses: No. 9 Back to the Top 100 Golf Courses list - An introduction to Golf Monthly's Top 100 Golf Courses by editor, Mike Harris - Who makes up The Top 100 Golf Courses panel? - How do Golf Monthly assess the Top 100 Golf courses?

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Mike Harris
Mike Harris
Content Director

Mike has been a journalist all his working life, starting out as a football writer with Goal magazine in the 1990s before moving into men’s and women’s lifestyle magazines including Men's Health, In 2003 he joined Golf Monthly and in 2006 he became only the eighth editor in Golf Monthly’s 100-plus year history leading the brand until July 2023. He is now Content Director overseeing Golf Monthly and two other iconic sports brands, FourFourTwo and Rugby World.

His three main passions in golf are courses (he's played over 500 worldwide), equipment (he's always in search of something shiny to give him an edge) and shoes (he owns more pairs than he cares to mention!).  

Mike’s handicap index hovers at around 10 and he is a member of six golf clubs: Hartley Wintney, Royal Liverpool, Royal North Devon, Prince's, Royal Norton and the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.

Mike's current What's In The Bag? 

Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 10° - Fujikura Ventus Blue 5S - Golf Pride MCC Plus4 grip

Fairway woods: TaylorMade Sim Max 3/15° - Fujikura Ventus Blue 6S & TaylorMade Stealth 7/20° - Fujikura Ventus Red 6S - Golf Pride MCC Plus4 grips

Utility Iron: TaylorMade Stealth UDI 3/21° - Aldila Ascent 90HY - Golf Pride MCC Plus4 grip

Irons: TaylorMade P790 (5-PW)  - Fujikura Axiom 75R - Golf Pride MCC Plus4 grips

Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 50°, 54° and 58° - KBS Tour Hi-Rev 2.0 shafts - Golf Pride MCC Plus4 grips

Putter: Evnroll ER2B - Gravity Grip 

Ball: TaylorMade - Tour Response (Yellow) 

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