Category: 3.5 star (Page 9 of 10)

17. Scotscraig. 23rd May 2015

June 13, 2015 / Moly McMillan

Great links worth the visit if you’re also playing St Andrews

Summary: Midweek £65 (round); £85 (day); weekend (morning) £80. Par 71. Value (out of 5) – 3.5

Detail:

Scotscraig 18th green and clubhouse

Scotscraig was founded in 1817 by some members of the St. Andrews Society of Golfers (later to be the R&A) and therefore became the 13th Golf Club in the world. Pedigree apart, it’s a great test of golf and has been a final qualifying venue many times when The Open has been at St Andrews. It has therefore played host to many of the world’s best golfers.

It is a fine links course, but with a layout more typical of a parkland course, therefore wind direction impacts differently on each hole, unlike many of the “out and back” links courses on the east of Scotland.

Par 3 6th at Scotscraig

Scotscraig also has a fair number of trees as well. This, coupled with a lot of broom, the indigenous Scottish links shrub, makes for a really nice vista on many of the holes.

The greens had recently been rotavated and treated by the newly appointed green keeper, and so were not typical of the good condition that I’d experienced here several times before – however, the rest of the course was in excellent condition.

Approach to the 7th at Scotscraig

Playing with an old family friend, David Husband, a member of Scotscraig for many years, I was reminded of the importance of local knowledge to playing links courses, especially when the ground around the greens becomes so hard, and the need to play the chip and run, sometimes from up to 100 yards out. Even if you’re not used to this form of the game, its nice to try this shot out.

There are some great holes at Scotscraig, with the par 4 fourth hole, stroke index 1, being the first major test, played to a steep sided plateau green, over a second shot carry from the fairway – settle for a bogey and move on. You also need to be aware from several of the tees of the adjacent greens and tees which criss-cross at times.

The par 3 15th with Moly’s best shot of the day!

There are also 2 really nice mid iron par 3s, the 6th and 15th, the latter to a 2 tier green would be a good “nearest the pin” for a society.

I had a mixed round, with 55 out and 45 home, the latter with an 8, but enough to win my match – but to be fair neither David nor I played to our handicap, on a day when the wind got up sufficiently to make scoring difficult.

A nice club house with good visitor facilities make this course well worth a visit.

Key Facts

Course Type: Links

Green Fees:

Midweek £65 round £85 day
Weekend £80 (morning)

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

Distance(yellow) 6310 yards

Moly’s Gross score: 100

Moly’s Scotscraig scorecard – 100

15. Braemar. 10th April 2015

June 8, 2015 / Moly McMillan

Highest course in Scotland is well worth a visit

Summary: £26 (18 holes); £13 (9 holes); £32 (day). Par 68. Value (out of 5) – 3.5

Braemar Scorecard with Historic Cover Picture

Detail; As the claimed highest course in Scotland, and competing with a Snowdonia course for the highest in the UK, Braemar is a surprisingly flat and open parkland type layout. However, surrounded by the Grampian mountains, and at the bottom of the glen from the Glenshi ski centre, Braemar merits a “highland” classification, not least for its exposure to the elements – beware of the prevailing wind down the glen.

Braemar was one of the first 18 hole courses I played as a 13 year old, so I must admit that I may be nostalgically biased.

The formidable 2nd at Braemar – into the prevailing wind with an elevated green – pray for bogey and survival!

As long as you get over the burn at the first it’s a pretty easy first hole, but the 2nd hole represents one of the toughest par 4s in the Highlands; played into the prevailing wind, the approach to an elevated green can easily play 4 clubs longer. A bogey here represents a good score no matter your handicap.

The story goes that there have been several attempts to fill the several bunkers

One of the sand less bunkers at Braemar – the wind kept blowing the sand away!

with sand – all to no avail. However, you still can find some bunkers, albeit sandless ones!

The course at Braemar is always in good condition, and with a very nice clubhouse with views over the course, is a favourite haunt for the many visitors drawn to Braemar each year, especially those also drawn for its famous Highland Gathering. The Royal connection is also with the club, with HRH Prince Andrew, the current Patron.

“Cluney Water”, the name of the river running through the course, is also often in play, particularly on the tough par-4 10th and par-4 15th, which, coupled with the 11th, are the 3 tough holes on the back 9.

A view towards the course from the “Glenshi road”, with Cluney Water in the foreground.

Overall Braemar is a delight to play, with many visitors coming back year after year. I’m sure you wont be disappointed.

Key Facts

Course Type: Highland

Green Fees: 18 holes £26, 9 holes £13, Day £32 (All week)

Par 64 (0 par 5, 10 par 4s, 8par 3s)

Distance(yellow) 4712 yards

Moly’s Gross score: 88

Moly Braemar Scorecard – Gross 88

12. Buckpool; 8th April 2015

April 25, 2015 / Moly McMillan

Accessible Links golf with good views of the Moray coastline – A terrific warm up for golfing tourists before attempting some of the nearby monsters!

Summary: £30 (day), £25 (18 holes). Par 70. Score 88. Value (out of 5) – 3.5

Detail: Buckpool Golf Club is in the small fishing town of Buckie in Moray. Its links style course, elevated above the sea, has views across the Moray Firth towards the hills of Caithness.

View to Portgordon from the 15th tee

The course is built on sand, and has fast, rolling fairways, invariably lined by tall mature gorse bushes, which makes finding balls a touch painful.

The typical Buckpool terrain from the short par-4 12th tee

The approaches to fast tricky greens, are protected by several deep score-wrecking bunkers.

This was my first round of golf since August 2014, having suffered a back relapse, so I was absolutely delighted by my general standard of play. I was also blessed with one of the nicest April days one could imagine in this part of the world.

The Moray coastline has some outstanding links courses at Nairn and Lossiemouth, plus the majestic nearby Aberdeenshire links of Cruden Bay and, recently, the Trump International.

“Drive of the day” in front of the short par-4 12th, with moray firth in the background

For golfers not used to Links golf, Buckpool would be a nice start to a golfing break in the area. It has a friendly staff at the “golf club”, which is actually a local Sports & Social Club.

Course planner on back of local scorecard – great idea

Apart from 2 very bland holes (the 10th and 18th) played towards the unattractive clubhouse, the rest of the course is a delight to play. Tees, fairways and bunkers were all good, and the greens were excellent.

View from behind the 16th Green

With the severe gorse, it’s crucial to concede length for accuracy to score well.

Key Facts

Course Type: Links

Green Fees: Day £30. 18 holes £25 (All week)

Par 36 (2 par 5s, 12 par 4s, 4 par 3s)

Distance(yellow): 5826 yards

Moly’s Gross score: 88

Moly’s Buckpool Scorecard, 88 with 3 lost balls!

11. Carrbridge; 18th Aug 2014

August 19, 2014 / Moly McMillan / 0 Comments

A seducing Scottish golfing experience on a classic Highland 9 hole course – but always take your waterproofs no matter what the forecast says!

Summary: £22 (day), £15 (9 holes). Par 36. Score 46. Value (out of 5) – 3.5

Detail: Golf has been played for well over a hundred years at Carrbridge, but the current course was recovered in 1980 after a period in the wilderness.

It’s difficult not to fall in love with Carrbridge golf course as it represents a classic Highland course. It’s short, thereby allowing golfers to feel long drivers of the ball; the greens and fairways are fantastic because even in the warmest summer you usually get enough rain to make the course play well; it’s completely unstuffy and accessible, welcoming players of all standards; and most importantly…..well just play it late in the day on your own while taking in the scenery and pondering your life and you’ll just never want to stop!

Golf in the Highlands requires you to bring your sense of humour

I played the day after the local Open Championship had been washed out, but the course had almost completely recovered and was playing its full length. It was only 11 Celsius, but the sun was shining on this August day when I set off, only to have the umbrella up and waterproofs on after my opening drive! Always carry your wet weather gear, no matter what the forecast might say.

Carrbridge is a great layout, with 9 very contrasting holes, with the burn (stream for the non-Scots) being in play on most of them. I would recommend playing 18 holes, rather than just 9, as 5 of the holes, the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th and 9th, require “blind” shots over some carry. These holes seem much easier when you’ve navigated them once. The 9th, a par 4, plays as the par 3 18th hole off a forward tee, avoiding a long walk up a steep track to the 9th tee.

The 4th Tee, with the gap to the fairway directly behind the 3rd Green…Watch Out!

The 4th hole from the white tee, represents a hazardous drive for both the player and anyone near the 3rd green, as you play directly over the 3rd green through a small gap in trees.

7th green looking back to tee – take 2 extra clubs to the elevated green

It’s important to take enough club at the 2nd, 4th, and 7th all which have shots to plateau greens, and are typically large and fairly flat.

Par 3 8th – Take enough club

There is only one real par 3, the 8th, which is a challenging hole, and again it’s best to be long so take enough club.

Carrbridge also has a lovely little clubhouse, which looks like a pavilion, and it’s a super place to sit and have tea and cake, even if you’re not paying golf, indeed this is one of the secrets of Highland golf clubs – they are great venues to just have a cup of tea and the ubiquitous “millionaire’s shortbread”!

Finally, it would be remiss not to mention the heather – it looks great, especially in late August and September, but you might end your round hating it!

Key Facts

Course Type: Highland

Green Fees: Day £22. 9 holes £15

Par 36 (1 par 5, 7 par 4s, 1 par 3)

Distance(white): 2720 yards

Moly’s Gross score: 46

Carrbridge Scorecard – the 9th (par 4) and 18th (par 3) have different tees

Category: 3.5 star (Page 9 of 10)

17. Scotscraig. 23rd May 2015

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

15. Braemar. 10th April 2015

Par 64 (0 par 5, 10 par 4s, 8par 3s)

12. Buckpool; 8th April 2015

Par 36 (2 par 5s, 12 par 4s, 4 par 3s)

11. Carrbridge; 18th Aug 2014

Par 36 (1 par 5, 7 par 4s, 1 par 3)

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