Scotland Golf Bible

A guide to green fee value for money

Category: 4 star (Page 14 of 20)

68. Braid Hills No 1. 16th Oct 2017.

October 17, 2017 /

Edinburgh’s public gem too prominent to be called “hidden”   

Summary:  Round  £25.30.   Par 70.  Value (out of 5) – 4.5

Braid Hills “No 1” is a wonderful public 18 hole golf course carved among the gorse and hillocks of Braid Hills on the south western edges of Edinburgh.  It has magnificent views of the Edinburgh skyline towards the Firth of Forth and also the Pentland Hills.  Although often misused, the term “gem” could well have been defined just for this golf course.  It is sometimes described as “one of the best loved public courses in Scotland”, and a real gem it is.

Overlooking the 16th green and 17th tee, with the view representing the feel of Braid Hills

“The Braids” takes its name historically from the nearby Braid estate originally the property of the “de Brad” family, one of whom, Henri de Brad, was Sheriff of Edinburgh in the 12th century.  The name has nothing to do with the famous course architect James Braid who, ironically, did not in any way shape his namesake course!

It was appropriate to play here with Sheriff Frank Crowe, fully equipped with Tommy Armour irons, given that Henri de Brad, the 12th Century Sheriff of Edinburgh, is the origin of the Braid Hills name.

The golf course was opened in 1893 and several golf clubs sprang up to accommodate the popularity of the sport with many of those clubs still affiliated: Edinburgh Thistle, Edinburgh Western, Harrison, Comiston Ladies and Braids United.  The 1931 Open Champion Tommy Armour was a member at Edinburgh Western.  Such was the popularity of golf, the nearby Braid Hills Hotel, immortalised in Muriel Spark’s ‘The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie’, originally had a Golf Room erected to serve the golfers playing the new Braid Hills golf course.

It’s a relatively short course, but there are many blind or semi blind tee shots, and I would highly recommend buying the course planner, as some of the holes can be played with very different strategies, most notably the par 4 7th and 14th holes, where successful drives can be 60 yards wide on either left or right.

Brian Fearon teeing off at the very difficult par 4 7th hole. Choose your line with care; my shot seemed the best drive but was never found!

Although easily accessed from the city, whilst on the course if feels incredibly remote, especially in one of the holes surrounded by the gorse.  The main hazard on this course is the pervasive gorse bushes, and the need to get the correct alignment from the tee.  If you play well off the tee here, you will score low, otherwise disaster awaits.  This is reflected abundantly on my card, where I had several disasters, resulting in lost balls.  However, I found many more that I lost – on the 4th hole my own ball was the 7th I found.  Make sure you remember the ball you played with!  Also take care with approach shots, which often seem to take at least one extra shot here – this was evident from the 17th tee, which has about 140 yards of “valley” between the tee and green – you need to get up here to make par.

The lovely par 3 17th, one of 4 nice par 3s, of which the uphill 9th was the most challenging

The walk is quite hilly with some hazardous steps up and down from teeing grounds, but the walk is well worth it just to get to the 18th tee alone which must have one of the best views in Edinburgh.  Even on a fairly misty day we were able to appreciate it.

The course was in pretty good condition when I played with some colleagues from the Apex organisation.  The greens were quite quick and the fairways good; there were some bunkers although they are quite spare and very basic in construction.

A set of happy golfers on the characteristic 8th hole of Braid Hills.

For the record, there once was a Braid Hills No 2 course of 18 holes, but that disappeared a few decades ago, and there is now nearby a small 9 hole course called Wee Braids and also a Braid Hills Golf Centre.

This is a really great little golf course highly recommended.

Facts:

Course Type: Heathland

Par 70 (2 par 5s, 12 par 4s, 4 par 3s)

Distance (yellow): 5508

Moly’s Gross score: 106

Moly’s disastrous Braid Hills Card – 106 including 10 penalty shots and 40 putts

62. Carnoustie Burnside. 9th Aug 2017.

August 10, 2017 /

Treading on possibly the very origins of links golf

Summary: Cost £46. Par 68.  Score 85. Value (out of 5) – 4.5.

The Burnside course, or more correctly the Carnoustie Burnside course, is eclipsed by its magnificent Championship course neighbour, but that’s only because the Championship course is one of the greatest courses in the world!  Do not play the Championship course without also trying The Burnside, which is a great naturally laid out links course.

The wonderful links land view from the 15th tee of The Burnside

Golf on the “Barry Links” was recorded as early as 1527, nearly 50 years earlier than St Andrews, making this the area that “Links” golf was first played.  The Scottish Golf History web site lays out a strong case that these first games of links golf were most likely played on the land between the Barry Burn (more of that later) and the railway line currently where holes 1 to 5 of the Burnside course are.

Therefore, arguably, “The Burner” is the most historical of all links golf courses!  You are truly walking among the ghosts of golf’s distant past playing here.

The 3rd hole, the first of 5 wonderful par 3s, the highlight of Burnside – the Barry Burn awaits!

Of course, there are more recent historical stories worth telling.  It’s largely forgotten that when Ben Hogan famously won his 1953 Open at Carnoustie he qualified on The Burnside course.  It was therefore very apt that I played The Burnside with my brother-in-law, Colin Macqueen, since his fascination with golf started during the same summer of 1953 when he and his elder brothers were mesmerised by the large crowds watching Ben Hogan outside the window of their home, “Lismore House”, which overlooks the Burnside’s 18th green.

Hogan playing the Burnside; Colin Macqueen’s “Lismore House” bedroom highlighted.

Colin has dined in Australia, his home of 50 years now, on the true story of him falling out of the upper floor bay window nearly causing Ben to miss a crucial putt!

The Burnside was designed by James Braid and opened in 1934, not long after Braid had redesigned the Championship course in 1926.  Although a relatively short golf course at just under 6000 yards, many of the holes would easily be at home on an Open venue.  The 5th, 9th and 14th are par 3s of the highest calibre, each with a very different challenge.

The beautifully difficult par 3 9th green.

The 5th is surrounded by the Barry Burn (that of Jean van de Velde fame) where it’s virtually impossible to get close to a right-hand pin. The large plateau green at the 9th makes it imperative to hit the green with the tee shot. The long 14th is stoke index 1 for a good reason, and is a magnificent test.

Bunkers sprinkle the 6th fairway at The Burnside

The 17th, a par 4 of about 450 yards, needs to be played with a 3-shot strategy for all bar the very long hitters.   I could also get into details on many other holes, the course is that good.  To cap it all, the greens have very subtle borrows, so putting needs extra concentration.  It is one of the great small James Braid courses.

The Barry Burn (of Jean van de Velde fame) at the long par 4 17th – a card wrecker

With the large green keeping staff at Carnoustie, it was no surprise that the course was in such fine condition.  The tees, fairways, bunkers, rough and greens were all superb, and to have the sun shine made for a quite memorable round.  I scored 85 for a net level par score off my new handicap of 17; this was enough to beat Colin 3 and 1, which at least meant he could focus on the 18th green photograph, close to the site of Hogan’s zenith and also Colin’s boyhood fall.

My playing partner, Colin Macqueen, on the 18th with his bedroom highlighted in the background, where he fell in 1953 during Hogan’s Open!

A quite magnificent days’ golf.

Key Facts

Course Type: Links

Par 68 (1 par 5, 12 par 4s, 5 par 3s)

Distance (blue): 5740

Moly’s Gross score: 85

Moly’s Burnside scorecard – 85 for 36 points (off 17)

61. Ballater. 2nd Aug 2017.

August 3, 2017 /
Good course in the heart of Deeside which offers challenge for all levels.
Summary:  Cost £35.  Par 67.  Score 94.  Value (out of 5) – 3. 

Ballater seemed a good choice to return to golf blogging after several months absence due mainly to my sojourn to watch the British Lions take on the All Blacks. Ballater is 40 miles east of Aberdeen, in the heart of Royal Deeside, an area I spent many happy years hill walking in during my teens.  The “royal” tag comes as Balmoral Castle, The Queen’s summer residence, is only a few miles away.

18th green and large clubhouse at Ballater

A nine hole golf course was founded in Ballater in 1892, and extended to 18 in 1905, the pedigree of the course demonstrated by an exhibition match between James Braid and Harry Vardon in 1906.

Although the course is described on it’s web site as mainly heathland with parkland characteristics, I beg to differ and say it’s actually the other way round, and felt much more parkland to me.  Although surrounded by hills and forest, the course is surprisingly flat and offers an easy walk.  With many fairways adjacent to each other, with only light rough in between, it offers regular opportunity to be wild off the tee and still easily find your ball – something I unfortunately took advantage of often!  However, overall this is not an easy course with some very tricky greenside bunkers (some of which are blind to your approach shots) and some very penal rough.

The very large 1st green at Ballater

Although the course lies close to the River Dee the river does not come into play as often, by comparison, as Braemar (further along the Dee).  These open fairways and lack of water in play, means the course is quite good for holiday golfers.  However, the course is quite busy and I would recommend booking, especially during the Summer months.

The course has some challenges in particular the opening six holes are very tough – I double bogied the first 5 holes, and actually felt I struck the ball well!   The 3 par 3s on the opening 9 holes are particularly tough, culminating with the 9th hole which has a semi blind small green.

The typically Scottish 2nd green at Ballater with the town houses in background

The course was in all round good condition when I played, with good greens and lush but firm fairways.   I played better than my scorecard would suggest.  It felt like a 30 point day, but with 3 balls lost, for 6 penalties, made it only 25 points.  I had a nice birdie 2 on the par 3 17th though.

I played having booked through the teeofftimes.co.uk website and paid £22.50 versus the course published price of £35 for a midweek round.  At £22.50 it would be worth 4/5 for value but only 3/5 using its rack rate.

It’s worth playing this nice course, which also has a big bar and good value restaurant food.

Tricky Par 3 5th at Ballater

Note: I had to use my phone for pictures, which are not the usual standard….sorry!

Key Facts

Course Type: Parkland

Par 67 (0 par 5s, 13 par 4s, 5 par 3s)

Distance (yellow): 5582

Moly’s Gross score: 94.

Moly’s Ballater scorecard – 94 for only 25 Stableford points:(

59. Edzell. 15th Dec 2016.

December 15, 2016 /

Great course worth playing, but only good value with discounted green fee

Round £60.  Par 71.  Value (out of 5) 3.

Edzell Golf Course, in the nice village of Edzell close to the Angus Glens, was established in 1895.  It is located close to the main A90 between Dundee and Aberdeen so is very easily accessed and well worth playing.

The course was designed by Bob Simpson, with further input from James Braid in the 1930s and recently in 2015 was upgraded by Martin Ebert of Mackenzie & Ebert a company with a growing and prestigious global catalogue.  The current course lays testimony to golfing architecture at its best; the course fits naturally to its surroundings with, in particular, a great array of fairway bunkers which will especially challenge the longer hitters.

The dangerous 9th hole approach – keep it left!

The course is part heathland part parkland but the fairways are generous.  The greens are very large, with some subtle fairway hollows, making it important to check your yardage.  Some of the front flag locations are very tricky when coupled to the tight greenside bunkering.

The par 3 14th at Edzell emblazed with Winter sun

After a relatively straight forward par 4 first, the 2nd, 4th and 5th are all long par 4s, at well over 400 yards.   The 6th is also a tricky par 3 with 5 green side bunkers, where most golfers will be using a hybrid or fairway wood.  After a bit of respite at 7 and 8, the par 5 9th presents a hazardous approach with a steep river bank close to the right of the green. Play well left with your second and third shots, in my advice.

The 15th, with a typical array of dangerous fairway bunkers

To score well at Edzell you need to get through the first 9 without disaster (I didn’t!). I suspect many cards are deposited in a waste bin before the 10th tee!

Of the many highlights on the back 9, my favourite was the aptly named 16th, the “Spion Kop”, with 2 very large green side bunkers on a devilishly sloping bank.  Don’t take on a front pin here.

The relatively straight forward par 5 18th, with the fine clubhouse and Edzell village in the background

The course was playing winter tees but full greens when I played and in excellent condition, although several of the bunkers were undergoing re-construction; this didn’t dilute my enjoyment though.   I played pretty well for a 97, or 29 stableford points, including the front 9 disasters.

My only gripe is I think the headline green fee, at £60 in summer, is slightly high, no doubt subsidising the £550 membership fees.  However, I played using teeofftimes and got a good deal.

Some Facts

Course Type: Parkland/heathland

Par 71 (2 par 5, 13 par 4s, 3 par 3s)

Distance yards:  6182

Moly’s Gross Score: 97

Moly’s Edzell Scorecard – played better than the score of 97 suggests, for 29 points (16 hcp)

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