Category: Course Owned By (Page 43 of 45)

10. Spey Valley; 7th July 2014

August 9, 2014 / Moly McMillan / 0 Comments

Breath-taking scenery, but your “A” game is required if you want to truly enjoy the views!

Summary: Cost £40 (midweek pm). Par 72. Score 102. Value (out of 5) – 4.5

Andy’s approach to the 18th with the Cairgorm mountains in view (note the rain on the right!)

Detail: Spey Valley, designed by the renowned architect Dave Thomas, is part of the McDonald Aviemore hotel resort. It is a magnificent golf course that feels much more mature than its actual age and is now an established part of the European Challenge Tour, hosting the Scottish Hydro Challenge (2009-2014). The scenery of the Cairngorm mountain range is breath-taking and Spey Valley, arguably, has the best golf views from any course in the UK.

The formidable approach shot to the 15th green

The course is a significant test at over 7000 yards from the white tees with a SS of 75, versus a par of 72. It’s a very traditional layout with 4 par 3s and 4 par 5s, with the 5th being Scotland’s longest hole at 635 yds (608 yds off Yellow!). The par 3s are particularly challenging and I needed a wood from the tee on them all. The heath and the heather are always close by to eat up your precious golf balls, so make sure you stock up well before starting.

Spey Valley’s version of the “spectacles” on the 7th – in range with a driver.

Andy Needham and Alvin Hopley of the Army GC

I played with Alvin Hopley (8 hcp) and Andy Needham (19 hcp), both of the Army GC; we played a three-ball match play game, using the 6 points/per hole format. Alvin and I halved, both narrowly beating Andy. In truth the golf course soundly beat all 3 of us and this on a day blessed with sunshine and only a light highland breeze. I scored 102, but the local assistant pro advised that many people never break 100 on this monster.

Take your A game or lots of balls – probably both!

At a £40 green fee, which also received 20% discount because I played free using a Golfcare voucher, this course is also incredible value. However, either ensure you take your A game, or just accept that the fee is worth it for the views alone whilst having a drink in the lovely little bar with its nice terrace area.

Key Facts

Course Type: Parkland/Heathland

Green Fees: Variable Summer PM (not twilight): £40

Par 72 (4 par 5s, 10 par 4s, 4 par 3s)

Distance(white): 7071 yards

Moly’s Gross score: 102

Moly’s scorecard – 102 with 3 lost balls

9. Monifieth Medal; 5th July 2014

August 8, 2014 / Moly McMillan / 0 Comments

Classic and historic links experience

Summary: Cost £59 (midweek). Par 71. Score 87. Value (out of 5) – 4.

Grange, Broughty and Monifieth golf clubs, adjacent to the 18th green on Monifieth Medal

Detail. Monifieth Links is where I play as a member of Monifieth GC, alongside the members of Grange, Broughty and Panmure Ladies Golf Clubs! Confused? – then welcome to a historic Scottish Golf Links! The links are organised separately from the golf clubs, so you need to book tee times direct with the links, and contact the clubs if you want to check on food/drink/changing.

Golf at Monifieth was first referenced in local church records in 1639, with an 18 hole layout dating from 1880. Click here for a great resource on golfing history at Monifieth. Like all links courses, Monifieth can be either a tiger or a kitten, so it’s best if you can check the weather first – if wind and rain are forecast, stock up on golf balls.

Aberdeen to London train passing the 2nd as seen from the 17th

Monifieth is the first course east of Dundee on the north bank of the Tay estuary, and starts the coastal golfing heaven (or hell!) which has Carnoustie as its masterpiece. The Angus coast vies with the Fife, North Berwick, Aberdeenshire, Morayshire and Ayrshire coasts as the best collective place for golf in the world, I’ll leave you to make up your mind.

The course has an out and back feel, with the first 6 holes hugging the main Aberdeen-London railway line, before you turn to face the tough 7th, normally into the westerly prevailing wind.

View towards St Andrews Basin from the 12th Green

It’s an unusual links, in that it has limited sea views, but you can look across to the St Andrews basin, from some holes.

Walk from the tee to the fairway at the 7th, a challenge into the normal prevailing wind

There are several great holes, in particular the 4th, 7th, 13th and 17th holes, all par 4s. The greens are normally excellent, and are well bunkered.

The course is penal if you veer off the fairway, so its best to concede on length where possible. Although short by todays standards, the Medal is still used for final qualifying when Carnoustie plays host to the Open Championship.

Monifieth is a really down to earth place to play golf, which is highly recommended. I played with my son Andy (handicap 17), and I won with one of my best rounds on a day the wind decided to play kitten.

Key Facts

Course Type: Links

Green Fees:

April – October: £59 weekdays, £65 weekends

Nov – Mar: £25 weekdays, £35 weekends

Par 71 (2 par 5s, 13 par 4s, 3 par 3s)

Distance(yellow): 6420 yards

Moly’s Gross score: 87

Moly’s Monifieth Medal Scorecard – Gross 81

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!

7. Blairgowrie “Wee” 9 hole; Wed 8th Jan 2014

January 10, 2014 / Moly McMillan / 0 Comments

Avoid Wednesdays and Saturdays!

Summary: Cost £10 (winter). Par 32. Score 43. Value (out of 5) – 3.5.

Detail. Blairgowrie has a population of 8000, it has some quaint but dated shops, certainly no high street coffee branded shops here. It does however have a fine golf club with 3 courses, 2 of which are listed amongst the very best in the world, laid out by the renowned James Braid! Blairgowrie epitomises the wonderful conundrum of Scottish golf.

The weather looked good and I set off after being advised during a quick telephone call that the Lansdowne course was free for several tee times around mid-day. However, as it turns out, Wednesday and Saturday are the days traditionally the members play en mas, and when I arrived the tee times were taken. I therefore settled for playing the Wee Course, and it turned out fine. But the message for visitors is avoid Wednesdays and Saturdays.

“The Wee”, is a lovely little 9 hole course (5 par 4s, and 3 par 3s), with ample lush fairways (they get their fair share of rain in Blairgowrie!) set in very mature woodland. Other than the 416 yard 8th, the par 4s are short and require accuracy, not length, from the tees, especially as some are dog legs where a driver will out-run of fairway. The bunkers have soft sand and were well raked, and the greens were big for a 9 hole layout.

The 2nd hole, a dog leg right, has a green protected by 2 magnificent trees making the approach an interesting challenge. Much easier to play in winter with less leaves!

2 trees guarding the 2nd green

However, the most intriguing hole was the par 3 7th, where you must trust your yardage as there is an unseen valley full of bunkers in front of the green.

Hidden Greens in front of 7th green

I had a disaster on the par 3 4th, where I pulled both tee shots well left, and ended with a 7. That actually sums up Blairgowrie – stay out of the trees to have any chance of scoring well. I look forward to tackling the Rosemount and Lansdowne courses, both championship quality.

News of the Day: Dennis Rodman, the US former basketball player, has apologised for angry comments he made about a US man detained in North Korea. Rodman is the most high-profile American to meet the young North Korean leader Kim Jong-un , who he describes as a friend. Bizarre!

Key Facts

Course Type: Heathland

Green Fees:

May – Sep; £30.00 per day; Winter £10 for 9, or £15 for 18.

Par 32 (5 par 4s, 4 par 3s)

Distance: 2373 yards

Moly’s Gross score: 43

Blairgowrie “Wee” scorecard

Category: Course Owned By (Page 43 of 45)

10. Spey Valley; 7th July 2014

Par 72 (4 par 5s, 10 par 4s, 4 par 3s)

9. Monifieth Medal; 5th July 2014

Par 71 (2 par 5s, 13 par 4s, 3 par 3s)

8. Dalmahoy East; 30th July 2014

7. Blairgowrie “Wee” 9 hole; Wed 8th Jan 2014

May – Sep; £30.00 per day; Winter £10 for 9, or £15 for 18.

Recent Posts

Useful Links