Category: Course Owned By (Page 36 of 45)

38. Dunning. 6th May 2016.

May 12, 2016 / Moly McMillan

Dunning is a little gem – but don’t play the locals!

Round £12. Par 33. Value (out of 5) – 4

Dunning is a beautiful little gem of a 9 hole golf course situated in the Perthshire village of the same name, with the backdrop of the Ochil Hills, about 10 miles south west of Perth. It is easily accessible by car being about 2 miles from the main A9 – I suspect, like me, many readers will have driven past Dunning many times.

The intimidating 1st tee at Dunning with Out of Bounds along the right.

The current course was laid out by Joe Anderson in 1946 on lands gifted by Lord Rollo of Pitcairn, who remains the Honorary President of the club. However, don’t let this lordly context leave you mistaken that Dunning is in any way uppity – quite the contrary, I found the welcome among the warmest and humblest I’ve ever received as a visitor.

The well manicured 1st green at Dunning

The club also boasts many progressive policies to expand the game of golf, such as a free open day each year to allow potential members to play.

The course was in excellent condition when I played with my wife; the tees, fairways and greens were all great and the bunkers in particular would put many links courses to shame.

The approach to the 3rd at Dunning with the rural Perthshire backdrop

The course is on nice open parkland and at only 2199 yards off yellow or 2405 off the white tees, should offer some birdie chances. However, there are several challenges. The first tee shot with OOB all along the right makes for a tough opening. Next, the long par 3 second will play like a par 4 for many.

My wife Fran chips over the water hazard in front of the tricky par three 5th hole at Dunning

There is also several tricky hazards, including the water in front of the 5th, to the left of the 6th green and all the way down the left of 7 – for those who take a more conservative line to the right of the 7th fairway need to go over 2 deep and hidden bunkers in front of the green.

Out of Bounds down the left at the cleverly architectured 7th

The club has a catering partnership with two local business ladies – in effect the club house is the local tea rooms.

I played very well, with a birdie on the first, and was round in 38, 5 over the card, although 7 over the SSS of 31.

Lastly, Colin Montgomerie, arguably Scotland’s finest ever golfer (I know, I know!), lives in the village and is an Honorary Club Member. I did mention not to play the locals!

Some Facts

Course Type: Parkland

Par 33 (6 par 4s, 3 par 3s)

Distance 2199 yards

Moly’s Gross Score 38

Stableford 22

Moly’s Dunning scorecard – a good day:)

37. Strathmore Leitfie Links. 22 Apr 2016.

April 24, 2016 / Moly McMillan

Little 9 hole course ideal for holiday or starter golf – but not a Links!

Round £12. Par 29. Value (out of 5) – 3

Leitfie Links is a 9 hole course and part of the Strathmore Golf Centre which also has the 18-hole Rannaleroch Course. The centre is in the Strathmore valley, sometimes referred as the River Isla valley, in eastern Perthshire, close to the town of Alyth.

4th hole at Leitfie Links – one of the 2 par 4s

As I was playing the “links”, I couldn’t help wondering if any foreign holiday maker had ever turned up for a taster of Scottish “Links” golf and come away wondering what all the fuss was about. After all, this very open parkland layout of only 1666 yards is about as far removed from a test of Scottish Links than you could imagine. Although much debate exists about what defines a “links” course, if any “links” copyright were ever developed Leitfie would definitely not qualify!

3rd green at Leitfie Links

Nonetheless, Leitfie (the name of the local hamlet and associated farm) is a great place if you were looking for either a taster of golf or a short 1 hour warm up before playing its challenging 18 hole neighbour.

4th green at Leitfie Links, which is in the heart of rural farmland

Although its a short course, the small greens, some sloping, and the couple of long pars 3s (2 and 8) make it a challenge especially for your scrambling game. The 8th, in particular, is very tricky to hit with a hedge running very tight the whole 200 yards from tee to green. The 2 tier 9th green is also very difficult to find on the right level.

The course was in quite good condition, with nice fairways, but no more than average tees and greens. However, for the price and the fact you can go round as many times as you like in a day, it represents good value.

The 110 yard 9th at Leitfie Links – a tricky 2 level green requires precise distance control

I went round twice and was 39 versus the card of 29 the first time round; this was to my new handicap (20) that was recently cut following an improvement in my game having had lessons from Ross Dixon of the Renaissance Club – Ross is highly recommended.

Some Facts

Course Type: Parkland

Par 29 (2 par 4s, 7 par 3s)

Distance 1666 yards

Moly’s Gross Score 39 (first 9 on card below)

Stableford 17

Strathmore Leitfie Links Scorecard – 39

36. Alloa. 18th April 2016

April 19, 2016 / Moly McMillan

Good design with many memorable holes and outstanding Ochil Hills view.

Round £38. Par 71. Value (out of 5) – 3.5

The site for Alloa Golf Club, Schawpark, has a long and heraldic Scottish history and is named after James Schaw of Greenock who in 1431 married Mary de Annand, heiress to the Lands of Sauchie, whose ancester, Henri, was granted the lands in 1321 by King Robert the Bruce. The only notable existing relic of the historic estate is the derelict Sauchie Tower dating from the 15th Century.

1st at Alloa with Ochil Hills.

The golf club was founded in 1891, but the current course was designed by James Braid in 1935. The site is blessed with outstanding views of the Ochil Hills and Braid makes sure the hills are never far from sight through the variety of trees on the course. The fairways are invariably tree lined with some cleverly undulating fairways, most notably the stroke index one 8th hole.

The par 3 7th at Alloa, which depends so much on the wind direction.

The 7th at Alloa, which depends so much on the wind direction.

However, this is not a course where you’ll need a dozen balls to get round as many of the tree areas have fairly open surrounds. The course layout also uses the rolling countryside well, with significant changes in direction on each hole (except the 11th and 12th) so respite from any wind is never long in coming.

The treacherous ditch in front of the long 17th at Alloa

I played Alloa GC with long standing member Brian Fearon and our mutual friend Frank Crowe, both Trustees of Apex Scotland, a charity which does such fantastic work supporting people who have offended or at risk of offending. We had 20+ mph winds when we played, so the downwind holes were very welcome. None of us played especially well, but all had enough good shots to keep our golfing aspirations up!

The difficult to hit par 3 15th green looking back to the tee.

The difficult to hit 15th green looking back to the tee.

The course was in pretty good condition, particularly in light of the amount of rain that had recently fallen with the fairways being the highlight for me – I never got the pace of the greens but they were well conditioned.

The course has a very difficult last 4 holes, including 2 par 3s (one being the 18th) and I suspect this stretch has laid waste to many a potentially good medal card. In fact, the par 3s were the highlight of the course for me with the uphill 15th and the last both being very difficult greens to hit – I suspect the members would settle for bogies every time on these holes. The 2nd and 17th holes are par 5s off the white tees, but more difficult long par 4s from the yellow tees – the 17th needs to be played as a 3 shot par 5 for all but the longest hitters as it has a devilish blind ditch just in front of the green.

The par 3 18th at Alloa – a great finishing hole.

Alloa is a good golf course, with many memorable holes and fantastic views – well worth playing.

Some Facts

Course Type: Parkland

Par 71 (3 par 5s, 11 par 4s, 4 par 3s)

Distance (yellow) 5991 yards

Moly’s Gross Score 100

Stableford 28

Alloa – Moly’s scorecard – 100

35. Milnathort. 20th Oct 2015.

October 20, 2015 / Moly McMillan

Well kept and subtlety challenging course with Lomond Hills view.

Round (9 holes) £10. Par 34. Value (out of 5) – 3.5

Milnathort golf course is in the village of the same name in Kinross-shire, close to the M90, with very easy access from Edinburgh or Perth. It was founded in 1910 and laid out by W. Binnie the professional from Kinghorn, the small Fife links course.

1st at Milnathort looking back to clubhouse from the green.

It is basically a “9 hole” course, but with 2 adjacent greens for the long 6th and 15th played from the same tees and fairway, and different tees on the 4th and 13th to the same green. On the day I played the “front 9” card off the yellow, which is par 34 versus the white par 35, due to the 6th played as a very long par 4 of 467 yards.

Moly on the 6th tee at Milnathort – need to get the hips out of the way! Lomond Hills in the distance.

Its a really nice course, which was in great condition due I’m sure to the Indian Summer of September that had just gone. There are some very tough holes, with the first being a demanding opening 400 yard par 4 with a tight tee shot then played uphill slightly to a large double green shared with the 5th. After that things get more straight forward, until the long 6th, the signature hole, with views of the Lomond Hills, then the long par 4 7th, “The Spire”, played back towards the village.

7th approach at Milnathort – “The Spire”

The fairways in particular were a pleasure to play and walk on, and the trees were in full Autumn colour when I played. The greens are generally large and very true.

I played the best I’d done for a while, carding a 42 versus the par 34, including a lost ball at the 2nd, which was one of those shots that occasionally get lost inexplicably – I shot a 5 with the provisional ball.

6th approach at Milnathort

Lovely course, nice little clubhouse, easily accessible, with limited hazards – well worth a visit.

Some Facts

Course Type: Parkland

Par 34 (“front” nine) (0 par 5s, 7 par 4s, 2 par 3s)

Distance (yellow) 2834 yards

Moly’s Gross Score 42

Stableford 20

Moly’s Milnathort Scorecard – 42

Category: Course Owned By (Page 36 of 45)

38. Dunning. 6th May 2016.

Par 33 (6 par 4s, 3 par 3s)

37. Strathmore Leitfie Links. 22 Apr 2016.

Par 29 (2 par 4s, 7 par 3s)

36. Alloa. 18th April 2016

Par 71 (3 par 5s, 11 par 4s, 4 par 3s)

35. Milnathort. 20th Oct 2015.

Par 34 (“front” nine) (0 par 5s, 7 par 4s, 2 par 3s)

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