A guide to green fee value for money

Category: under £20 (Page 10 of 11)

5. Lundin Ladies 9 hole; 26th Dec 2013

Get past the Ladies Tee on this course!

Clubhouse and 9th Green

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.  131226_Lundin Ladies 6th teeAs 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!

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

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

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)

Distance2365 yards

Moly’s Gross score: 44

Lundin Ladies scorecard

Lundin Ladies scorecard

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

Beware the Typhoon

View to Momument adjoining course

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

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

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

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)

Distance5588 yards

Moly’s Gross score: 86.

St Michaels Scorecard

St Michaels Scorecard

 

2. Piperdam 9 Hole; “Wee Piper”; 12th Dec 2013

No Camera’s Please!

If you intend to take photos while you play golf, remember to charge the batteries!

Piperdam is a Golf and Country Resort set up on the Western boundary of Dundee, surrounded by tasteful housing.

The “Wee Piper” is a good par 3, 9 hole golf course, with at least 3 or 4 of the holes easily being able to be suited to a decent 18 hole layout.  Piperdam also has a fairly demanding 18  hole course as well.

Depending on the wind the first is a challenging opening hole, requiring a rescue or longer club, followed by a well architected 2nd hole.  After that, holes 3-8 are in more open space and very forgiving off the tee.   Only two of the holes present any “carry” requirements (2nd and 9th).

Although the course has views of the Piper Dam, the dam water doesn’t come into play at all.  This is a fun little course, that will still challenge most handicaps.

My round was a better score than my general play would have expected, which was poor, helped by the fact that there are not many hazards.

This is a nice little course, but in my view only really worth the travel if you were combining a day at Piperdam, as it presents a nice accompaniment to the 18 hole course.  It would make a good society day out.

Key Facts

Course Type: Open Parkland

Green Fee – Mon-Fri £12;  Weekend £15;  Members of other Carnoustie Country clubs get 50% discount.

Par 27 (9 par 3s)

Moly’s Gross score: 39.

"Wee Piper" Scorecard

“Wee Piper” Scorecard

 

3. Kingennie 9 hole; 13th Dec 2013

What a Trout….I mean Treat!

Water hazard which awaits a slice off the 8th tee.

Water hazard which awaits a slice off the 8th tee.

Kingennie Estate Fishing Lake

Kingennie Estate Fishing Lake

Forbes of Kingennie is a Golf and Country Resort set on the East of Dundee, about 3 miles north of Monifieth.  It is surrounded by housing, some of which is pretty exclusive.  This is an excellent 9 hole golf course, designed by architect Dave Webster. The course has stunning views of the fishing lakes surrounding the main hotel area, albeit they don’t come into play as they are used for fishing, and are well stocked (apparently).

Dog-leg 6th hole, with an array of bunkers on the left of the dog-leg

Dog-leg 6th hole, with an array of bunkers on the left of the dog-leg

 

 

Two or three of the holes are of championship quality, especially the par 4, dog-leg 6th which has a risk-reward drive on offer from the tee to cut the dogleg leaving a shorter iron.

 

The course was in first class condition for the time of year.   I scored better than my play would have suggested, with some good putting making up for wayward driving.  Although only a 9 hole course this is a serious and challenging test of golf.  There are plans for a new adjacent development with a championship standard 18 hole layout – when complete this will provide a great parkland compliment to the outstanding links courses in the nearby Carnoustie and Monifieth.

Well worth a visit.

Key Facts

Course Type: Parkland

Green Fees: 

Apr – Oct: Weekday, £16;  Weekend, £20.   Nov – Mar:  Weekday, £13;  Weekend, £17.

Par 34 (1 par 5, 5 par 4s, 3 par 3s)

Distance: 2874 yards

Moly’s Gross score: 41.

Kingennie 9 Hole - Scordcard

Kingennie 9 Hole – Scordcard

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