Category: Parkland (Page 24 of 25)

14. Kinloss Country; 9th April 2015

June 3, 2015 / Moly McMillan

Young “American” style parkland course close to Findhorn Bay on the Moray Coast

Summary: £20 (18 holes); £12.50 (9 holes); £30 (day). Par 68. Score 90. Value (out of 5) – 2.5

Detail; Kinloss Country is a bit like the proverbial Curate’s Egg – “good in parts”. It is an unusual parkland find on this links laden Moray coastline.

The difficult par 3 third, with sweeping views to the North

It has a very unusual start of 3 par 3s, the first 2 of which are very straight forward; indeed if you don’t pick up a scorecard, you might be forgiven for thinking you were on a par 3 course.

But things get better with the 3rd played downhill with sweeping views, with challenges ahead on the 5th and 7th two of the more difficult holes.

12th hole – with lake in front.

The 12th hole, most likely characterised as the signature hole, has a manufactured lake in front of the green, so make sure you take enough club.

The course was in reasonable condition when I played with special note for the good condition of the fairways and bunkers. The course is quite open to the elements though with the 11th being aptly named “Windy Hills”.

15th – A bit of a Pig!

In fact, please take heed of the hole names! Although I must admit the 15th hole, a bit of a pig, should be renamed.

I played pretty steady throughout, and shot 90, despite having two 8’s on the back 9.

I was also caught out at the 17th, called “Carnoustie Twist” – needless to say I found the hidden green side bunkers!

17th “Carnoustie Twist”

Kinloss Country also has a nice little clubhouse with reasonably priced food and drink; the staff were also particularly friendly.

I wouldn’t go out of my way to play again, but it is a nice holiday venture and is close by the wonderful Findhorn bay, an ideal spot for a nice pub meal or picnic.

Findhorn Bay, close to Kinloss Country GC

Key Facts

Course Type: Parkland

Green Fees: 18 holes £20, 9 holes £12.50, Day £30 (All week)

Par 68 (2 par 5, 10 par 4s, 6 par 3s)

Distance(white) 5321 yards

Moly’s Gross score: 90

Moly’s Kinloss Country Scorecard – Gross 90

8. Dalmahoy East; 30th July 2014

August 6, 2014 / Moly McMillan / 0 Comments

Wide fairways, but avoid the bunkers to score well.

Summary: Cost £65 (midweek). Par 73. Score 96. Value (out of 5) – 2.

Outstanding view of Edinburgh Castle from the 16th hole

Detail. Marriot Hotels run the Dalmahoy Hotel, Golf and Country Club, which is on the South East of Edinburgh about a 10 minute drive from Edinburgh Airport. The resort has 2 courses; the East course is a championship layout designed by James Braid and hosted the Solheim Cup in 1992, the West course is a much shorter later addition.

Moly and Andy in front of Estate house adjacent the 18th green.

Moly and Andy adjacent to the 18th green.

This was my first 18 holes played since a back injury in early March, so quite a special day, especially accompanied by my son, Andy, who plays off 17. Despite never being up, I came back from 4 down at the 10th to halve the game; I was 9 over par after 3 holes, having found the sand in very good condition!

Dalmahoy East is a nice, but quite repetitive course, with many holes feeling much the same – i.e. straight, generous fairway, no carry hazard, trees with limited impact, very light rough, well positioned fairway/greenside bunkers, true and flat-ish green. There was only one real dog-leg, the 9th. It is surprisingly accessible to higher handicap golfers playing from the yellow tees, which takes 650 yards off the championship length.

Approach to the 9th over the country house “ha ha” wall, the most picturesque hole

The warm summer had also taken its toll when we played, with several parts of the fairway being brown and a couple of the greens were very dry. However, one can imagine the course a different challenge when wet and playing its full length.

At £65 for a weekday round and £75 for a weekend round, I had expected a bit more conditioning and challenge, and I would strongly recommend seeking to play using a voucher if available, otherwise you might be disappointed. We used a Golfcare insurance voucher which made it good value.

Andy teeing to the 17th, “the wee wrecker”

With a good group discount this would make a good venue for society days, as the Marriot has great changing and eating facilities.

Key Facts

Course Type: Parkland

Green Fees:

Summer Weekday, £65 per round; Weekend, £75.

Par 73 (4 par 5s, 11 par 4s, 3 par 3s)

Distance(yellow): 6684 yards

Moly’s Gross score: 96. (9 over for first 3 holes; 14 over for other 15 holes!)

Dalmahoy Scorecard – a disastrous start!

5. Lundin Ladies 9 hole; 26th Dec 2013

December 31, 2013 / Moly McMillan / 0 Comments

Get past the Ladies Tee on this course!

Clubhouse and 9th Green

Lundin Ladies is the oldest all-female members club in the world, and as such deserves a visit for its place in golfing history. Interestingly, I don’t think it picks up quite as much criticism though for it’s single sex membership rules as does The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers at Muirfield does. Then again, Muirfield doesn’t have an honestly box!

In many ways Lundin Ladies is a quintessential Scottish small course, typical of the type often found in the Scottish Highlands; 9 holes, small clubhouse with external toilet, and honesty box beside the starter. As a womens club, the “back tees”, are the LGU Red tees, with the white tees being in front, therefore this is one of the few courses where my tee shots were guaranteed to land in front of the ladies tee!

It’s course signature is 3 standing stones set on the 2nd fairway, which also has a well positioned bunker down the right side, designed for a tee shot aimed to the right of the stones.

Standing Stones on the 2nd hole – an interesting hazard!

However, the ideal line is directly over the stones, as a good drive should clear the stones comfortably.

The course is relatively straight forward, with the first 4 holes, all par 4s, having wide fairways with accessible greens, albeit the 3rd (stroke index 1) is played uphill and the approach shot needs a club selection at least 1-2 clubs longer (advice I’m afraid I didn’t follow!).

Views from Lundin Links

Although near to the Fife coast there are no sea views, however this is made up for by some nice countryside views inland.

7th Teeing area

The 7th hole, a par 4, but really a long par 3 for men, is the most picturesque hole, with a long carry to a raised green.

With the right wind conditions, some of the par 4s are within range for the longer hitters; I actually reached the green on the 8th – the wind must have got up at that point!

I had a disastrous first 5 holes, 3 putting 2 greens and going out of bounds with a hook of the par 4 third hole. Luckily I played the last 4 in around par to save my card.

A nice course, well worth playing for its historical place in the history of golf. I’ll need to go back for those first 5 holes 🙂

Key Facts

Course Type: Parkland

Green Fees: 18 Holes £16.00; 9 Holes £10.00

Par 34 (7 par 4s, 2 par 3s)

Distance: 2365 yards

Moly’s Gross score: 44

Lundin Ladies scorecard

4. St Michael’s, Leuchars; 17th Dec 2013

December 31, 2013 / Moly McMillan / 0 Comments

Beware the Typhoon

View to Monument adjoining course

Even though it was December, all tees and greens were fully in play, due to the great drainage provided on Gallowhill, which the course sits on. Although this is on a hill, the course itself is not a difficult walk; however, it does have some fine views, to the Sidlaws to the North beyond Dundee and South towards St Andrew’s bay overlooking RAF Leuchars, which is only a couple of miles away.

Typhoon from the nearby RAF Leuchars

Indeed, one of the key hazards is the noise of the Typhoon fighter jets as they take off and land at the base. This course is a real joy for the plane spotter, and there can’t be a much better location to view the annual RAF Leuchars show in September each year.

Wide fairways on most of the par 4s and par 5s, make this a slightly flattering course for the more wayward driver (me!), albeit the par 3s present the sternest test on this course.

In particular, club selection on the downhill 15 is key to avoid going over green onto railway line.

Walk down to the short Par 3, 15th Green

I played the 17th as a long par 3 with the Dundee-Edinburgh train line hugging the left of

17th Hole with the Aberdeen to Edinburgh train

the fairway, and a real challenge for anyone who draws/hooks the ball. In other than winter, this hole is a short par 4, and an easier prospect when a mid to long iron would be a sensible tee club choice. I hit a lucky low running rescue off the tee to about 20 feet, and 2 putted for a par – I’m sure the members would buy that.

Play the pars 3 to handicap should see you beat your par at this nice little course.

Key Facts

Course Type: Parkland

Green Fees:

Nov – Mar; £15 any day

Par 68 (1 par 5, 5 par 4s, 3 par 3s)

Distance: 5588 yards

Moly’s Gross score: 86.

St Michaels Scorecard

Category: Parkland (Page 24 of 25)

14. Kinloss Country; 9th April 2015

Par 68 (2 par 5, 10 par 4s, 6 par 3s)

8. Dalmahoy East; 30th July 2014

5. Lundin Ladies 9 hole; 26th Dec 2013

4. St Michael’s, Leuchars; 17th Dec 2013

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