Scotland Golf Bible

A guide to green fee value for money

Category: 3.5 star (Page 4 of 10)

103. Colvend. 13th Sep 2020.

June 16, 2021 /

A favorite course of The Times’ sports photographers Marc Aspland and Bradley Ormesher

Round £25. Par 69. Value (out of 5) – 3.5

They say you should never meet your heroes. After reading an article in The Times (25th Aug 2020) about Colvend golf course by the sports photographers Marc Aspland and Bradley Ormesher, I felt obliged to seek out the course whilst in the south west of Scotland on a golf trip a couple of weeks later. Marc and Bradley had written so lovingly about a place that was clearly deep in their hearts, to the extent that the “third hole at Colvend remains my favorite place”, even when compared with Open venues. Really?

Moly (top) replicates the photo of Marc Aspland (bottom) at the third hole “Solway View” that appeared in The Times article on 25 th Aug 2020.

Colvend golf course has 9 holes either side of the A710, the road which skirts the northern coast of the Solway Firth, from Dumfries and Dalbeattie. The course was established in 1905 with the 9 holes on the coastal side of the road, designed by Willie Fernie (Ailsa course at Turnberry) and the 9 inland holes were added in 2005 by Dave Thomas (Belfry, Spey Valley).

13th hole at Colvend, easily the stroke index 1 hole, and a clearly modern parkland design which could be picked up from the Belfry. Plan your way to a bogie and move on quick!

Although on the coast, this is very much a parkland layout, with great views on a couple of holes across the Solway Firth to the Lake District.

Looking at the card, you’ll see the difference in length between the original holes and the ones later laid out by Thomas – the par 4 18th at 266 yards, was the original 9th hole. There’s also significant architectural differences as well, with the coastal holes being very naturally laid out, and the inland holes being clearly “designed”, no more so than at the 13th, the clear stroke index 1 hole.

There are some neat challenges as well. The par three 8th has a hidden burn in front so take enough club, but with danger behind the green as well, I imagine this being a “lay-up par 3” for many of the members.

The dangerous 8th green, take at least 1 extra club to avoid the water in front, which is obscured from the tee.

The par-4 dogleg 18th is a clever hole. Only 266 yards long, I imagine the longer hitters see this as a risk reward hole, trying to drive the green. But the green has a burn in front and very large trees obscuring the approach, mean you need to be well back to get over easily. With no wind it’s probably something like 7 iron, then wedge to the green. Very strategic, and to be fair to Dave Thomas, it has the feel of the 10th at the Belfry.

Keep left on the 4th, with plenty of room to chip and putt. One of the original naturally designed holes.

The course was in decent, but not great, condition when I played, but to be fair we had only recently come out of the first prolonged covid-19 lockdown so everyone was just grateful to be out of the house. The greens had become quite mossy.

The 18th green at Colvend with treacherous burn awaiting to spoil a good round

Few things to be aware of. This is not an easy walk as the amount of buggies for hire in the car park attested to, so is not necessarily an occasional holiday golf game venue; the steep uphill first being one of several inclines to navigate. There was also a need for better signposting between the 16th green and the 17th tee, which left Fran and I lost for a few minutes.

The aptly named “Roon the Bend” 17th hole, which is difficult to find, the clue is its part of the 12th tee, but you can’t see that as you walk onto the “17th” tee.

Despite high winds I scored very well breaking my handicap with a steady round. I did walk off though a little perplexed at how “rose tinted” The Times article had been – it was a nice course, but sometimes over-marketing isn’t actually good business as it can just lead to disappointment. Perhaps it needed a clearer day for those views.

Worth playing.

Facts:

Course Type: Coastal/Parkland

Par 69 (1 par 5, 13 par 4s, 5 par 3s)

Distance: 5036

Moly’s Gross score: 83

Colvend Scorecard – 83 in high winds a great day out, level against SSS of 67

97. Blair Atholl. 7th July 2019.

March 30, 2020 /

Nine hole course to boost your confidence

Round £15.   Par 35.  Value (out of 5) – 3.5

If web searching for Blair Atholl golf club, don’t confuse this Perthshire course with the Blair Atholl Estate golf course in South Africa, built by Gary Player, and a monster of some 8300 yards – yes, that was correct, 8300 yards!

The 438 yard par 4 opening hole at Blair Atholl

Gary Player’s estate actually takes its name from the original Blair Atholl, which is just off the A9 and, since 2008, included within the boundary of the Cairngorms National Park. The original Blair Atholl is also home to a lovely little 9 hole course, which is an easy walking affair of around 3000 yards, or 6000 yards for the 18 holes, not short by any means.

Given its Highland location this course is soft underfoot and was very green during the July time I played here. Surrounded by tranquil ‘highland’ scenery this must be very beautiful to play during the Autumn.

The very short 4th hole at Blair Atholl, at only 96 yards, but well bunkered

With the rough being quite receptive and not too penalising, this is a course which can yield good results – the greens were also receptive and very true. I can well understand why this is a well played course by the tourist community – especially given the restaurant “The Tulach” in the small clubhouse, which also attracts non golfers as well.

The course was established in 1896, and mysteriously on some web sites, is cited as being designed by James Braid, but I’m afraid it does not appear on the list of James Braid courses as kept by the James Braid society. I would appreciate if anyone can advise on the architect.

The course was in good condition when I played, and in particular the teeing grounds had been well prepared.

The tricky approach shot over water at the Stoke Index 1, par 4, 7th hole.

After a long par 4 to open, but played ‘down’ from a plateaued tee next to the clubhouse, the next 4 holes, all relatively short, are where the score is gained on this course. If you avoid the water hazards, which are in play on 3 holes and you should play short off the tee, most notably at the 7th (par 4 SI 1), then this course can be a good opportunity to boost your confidence. After the 7th, with the second shot being over water, the par 5 9th hole also needs great care with the second or 3rd shot (depending on your strategy) needing to avoid some mature trees. Also double check the whereabouts of the pin on the 9th, which shares a double green with the 3rd.

The demanding par 5 9th at Blair Atholl

I indeed kept out of the water hazards and my round of 42, for 20 stableford points, was my best play all season.

This is a nice course and worth playing

Facts:

Course Type: Parkland

Par 35 (1 par 5, 6 par 4s, 2 par 3s)

Distance: 2739

Moly’s Gross score: 42

Moly’s scorecard, 7 over par 42, for 20 points.

92. Fairmont Torrance. 9 Dec 2018.

July 21, 2019 /

American style resort “Links” designed by Sam Torrance, the Scottish former Ryder Cup player/captain     

Round £95.   Par 72.  Value (out of 5) – 3.5

The Torrance is one of two courses on the Fairmont hotel complex just outside St Andrews.  The resort was opened as the St Andrews Bay Golf Resort and Spa by the American pharmaceutical entrepreneur Dan Panoz in 2001, but has transferred ownership a number of times since.  The sister course is the Kitticks which I previously blogged.  Both courses are championship venues and have hosted major qualifying and senior events, albeit the Torrance is regarded the senior course, and is named after its designer the Scottish golfer Sam Torrance..

The 6th at The Torrance, Fairmont St Andrwews, with the hotel in view.

Both courses previously had a headline Summer rate of £140, although new management has repriced it at “only” £95.  I say “only” to highlight how crazy, in my opinion, golf prices in Scotland have become at the higher end of the market – Kingsbarns, only a couple of miles away, is £275 for a 2019 summer round!  Assessing “value”, my key course assessment, is inevitably subjective, especially considering the different types of golfers each course targets – Kingsbarns starter box has a toll free American number!  Comparing “value” between Kingsbarns (£275), St Andrews New (£90), Scotscraig (£70), Tain (£65), or the Kittocks at £95, is highly debatable….but good fun! (all 2019 prices)

Although playing in mid-December full tees and greens were in play, and the course was in good condition.  Like its sister Kittocks course, it is quite open with wide fairways. The greens are generally very large and fast.   

The Torrance course meanders around the hotel and takes in some great views, of the North Sea, the Tay Estuary towards the Angus coastline and from the 11th has great views across to St Andrews.

It is worth noting that, in my opinion, its not a true links as the turf is more arable, and certainly in other that the height of summer, the course wont necessitate any running links approach shots.

Best holes for me were the risk/reward par four 7th, which could be driven, otherwise a straight forward dog leg right requiring a hybrid off the tee; the dog leg right 10th hole, which the prevailing westerly wind will challenge the strongest driver, and; for the view, the short 11th with “The Auld Toon” in the background.

I played and scored better on The Torrance than I had on The Kittocks the year before. I shot 96, but only 44 on the front nine, which was my best nine holes of the year.

If you are looking for a golf resort whilst in St Andrews, the Fairmont offers a great location with the fees for unlimited golf on both courses during your stay being very reasonable and much better value than a single round.   I got a good deal with a winter fee of only £30, but my score of 3.5 represents a value at £95 per round.

Facts:

Course Type: Links

Par 72 (4 par 5, 10 par 4s, 4 par 3s)

Distance (yellow): 6051

Moly’s Gross score: 96

Moly’s scorecard at The Torrance – 96 for 30 Stableford points.

90. Musselburgh. 22 Oct 2018.

July 20, 2019 /

The highest ranked of the three Musselburgh courses even though the other two are more historically significant

Round  £60.   Par 71.  Value (out of 5) – 4

Musselburgh is the largest of the towns in East Lothian, situated on the coast about 5 miles from Edinburgh and close to the start of the great North Berwick coastal run of courses which includes Muirfield.

1st at Musselburgh, a very typically picturesque example of this courses holes

But to say you’re playing ‘Musselburgh’ doesn’t really clarify matters, nor indeed is saying you’re playing in Musselburgh. There are in fact three named ‘Musselburgh’ courses: ‘Musselburgh Links’, which is in Musselburgh and recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest course in the world; ‘Royal Musselburgh’, the regally appointed course somewhat nearer to Prestonpans than Musselburgh and; plain old ‘Musselburgh’, which is actually in Monktonhall. Confused?

Given that the two other Musselburgh courses enjoy either a pedigree as the oldest course in the world or has a ‘royal’ appendage, I suspect many people are surprised to learn that the course simply called ‘Musselburgh’ is the highest rated of the 3 in most compilations of Scotland’s courses.

The well bunkered short 3rd hole at Musselburgh

This Musselburgh course opened in 1938 having been designed by James Braid as “a championship” layout. Off the back tees it’s over 6800 years long, and hosts many regional standard competitions, and in the past has held regional Open qualifiers and the Final Qualifier as recently as 2013, such is the best measure of this course.

Off the yellow tees, Musselburgh is still over 6200 yards, and given the amount of breeze on the day I played, presented a very stiff challenge. I shot 99, but 3 lost balls accounted for my scoring only 27 stableford points. I drove the ball well, and the often generous fairways allowed for that. The course was in good condition, although it was let down by the poor maintenance of the teeing areas and readers of my other blogs will realise this is one of my common misgivings, especially with a green fee of £60.

The ‘hidden’ hazard behind the difficult par 4 15th hole at Musselburgh

Apparently, the golf course was laid out in open parkand, but visionary tree planting during the 1950s has transformed this into a mature parkland setting and I benefited from the late autumnal colour.

Fran drives at the inviting fairway on the 17th at Musselburgh

The greens were in great condition and very true to putt on, but you needed to be careful with the greenside bunkering, which I thought was the best feature of this nice layout. With the trees fully matured and the constant changes in direction, one needed to keep track of the wind direction.

My favourite holes were the short 3rd, the slight dog leg right 9th, which had a ditch which long drivers needed to be mindful of, and the tough par 4 15th where a water hazard lies at the back of the green which I found having hit my longest 7 iron of the season!

The last hole is a very long par 4 uphill to a welcoming clubhouse. Its worth mentioning the friendliness of the staff in the bar.

The brutish finishing uphill par 4 to the awaiting and impressive clubhouse at Musselburgh

Some Facts

Course Type: Parkland

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

Distance (yellow)   6241 yards

Moly’s Gross Score  99

Moly’s Musselburgh scorecard – 99 for 27 points
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