Scotland Golf Bible

A guide to green fee value for money

Category: 4 star (Page 3 of 10)

133. Gogarburn. 25 Mar 22.

May 8, 2022 /

This 12 hole course next to Edinburgh airport feels like what you would build if you could afford your own golf course

Round £17.50. Par 70. Course Rating / Slope Rating (yellow) 64.4/111. Value (out of 5) – 5

Gogarburn golf course is located very close to both Edinburgh airport and the headquarters of the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS). RBS was around the year 2000 the “largest bank in the world”, but infamously came tumbling down as part of the 2008 Global Banking Crisis, triggered by the ‘unknown’ amount of sub-prime mortgages held on its books. Iain Martin’s excellent book “Making it Happen: Fred Goodwin, RBS and the Men Who Blew Up the British Economy” exposes the excesses of bankers which contributed to the crisis.

I mention this, because when I played Gogarburn, a quite delightful 12 hole course, it felt like it would be the sort of ‘spending excess’ that Fred Goodwin, the RBS CEO, would have built in his back garden. I was a bit disappointed to find it had never been owned by RBS, but I still strongly suspect that Fred must have tried to buy it at some point, as he was a great lover of golf and used the banks money to sponsor his golfing hero, Jack Nicklaus.

The stunning second hole at Gogarburn, a delightful par 4. Short, at 273 yards, but full of danger.

The golf course sits on the former 18th century Hanley Estate grounds, which had been in use as a hospital since 1948, and was actually created by some local hospital workers for their own leisure in 1977 with 9 holes, then extended in 1983 to the current 12 hole layout. So it wasn’t only bankers that overstepped their work boundaries!

The par four 5th hole at Gogarburn, another hole where an iron or hybrid off the tee makes sense.

The course is laid out in very mature and varied parkland, and has a clever layout, whereby 18 holes are played in competitions by using holes 6 through 8 once, and all the others twice. It would make for a lovely and easy walk for non playing partners.

Its not long, as the slope index would suggest, but it has some narrow channels to drive through, so don’t be fooled otherwise you’ll really rack up some big scores. Take hybrid or irons off the tee, or drive straight.

The pretty green at Gogarburn’s 11th, a good par three of 166 yards

Some of the short par 4s are technically drivable, but are cleverly protected by very narrow green entrances between bunkers. For example, the 259 yard, par four 3rd hole, has only nine yards between the greenside bunkers – although the ‘easiest’ hole, you need to take care. The greenside bunkering, with excellent sand, is one of the good features of this course.

The finishing hole at Gogarburn, the longest hole at 379 yards, and stroke index 1.

My round of 50, 7 over par, was made up of 5 pars and 7 bogies. I played very well and really enjoyed playing this course; not because of my score, but because of the all round condition and layout.

It’s brilliant value, especially at the discounted rate I paid of only £13 using the ClubV1 booking system; it’s still 5 star value at the £17.50 rack rate. A good place to practice your wedge game, but don’t get complacent. Overseas visitors might try and use it to overcome jet lag!

Course Type: Parkland

Par 43 (7 par 4s, 5 par 3s)

Distance: 3031 (yellow)

Moly’s Gross score: 50

Gogarburn card. Played well for 50, just 7 over gross.

130. Kilmarnock (Barrassie). 22 Mar 22

April 20, 2022 /

A course to play to help appreciate “Golf; from a new angle”

Round £95. Par 72. Course Rating / Slope Rating (yellow) 71.9/125. Value (out of 5) – 3.5

The Ayrshire coast is home to some of the finest golf Scotland has to offer. Barrassie used to be a village in its own right, but is now considered part of the town of Troon. Ironically, it was the ‘long’ distance from Troon golf course, that caused the locals of Barrassie to establish a course in 1894, designed by the Prestwick professional, John Allan.

It was in the early 1930s that a new 18 holes course was designed by Matthew M Monie, who was an author who wrote under the pseudonym ‘Theodore Moone’. As for the course in play today, it comprises nine holes from Moone’s 1930s design and nine new holes built in 1997. Nine of Moone’s original holes are retained as a 9 hole course called ‘Hillhouse’.

The scientist, golfer and author, Theodore Moone, proved that golf course architecture was also one of his numerous talents, with Barrassie being one of only a few courses he designed. I suspect we all recognise the subject of the book’s cover!

Search for Moone on the internet and you will be presented with opportunities to buy his book, “Golf from a New Angle”, based around fictional letters about the fundamentals of golf. Look a little deeper and his scientific approach to golf, may have been way ahead of his time – I suspect Bryson DeChambeau may be a fan.

The brilliantly designed approach at the par four 3rd, the stroke index 3 hole. Note the obscured view to the left hand side of the green and the sharp left to right slope towards the front right bunker; coupled with the burn 40 yards short of the green, this is a great hole, typifying Barrassie’s architectural guile. It is stroke index 1 on the Ladies card.

Although no sea is in sight, this is unquestionably a classic links course of a high standard. Playing at almost 6500 yards from the yellow tees, and with several dog leg holes and semi-blind approaches, this is also a course with plenty of guile. It was handy that I played in a group that included a long term member, who was on hand to offer advice when needed.

The aesthetic, or terrifying, view of the par three 4th hole, at 150 yards. Here, old pals, from left to right, Brian, Douglas (our host) and Stephen, look happy – before teeing off! I think this might be one of the most obvious “lateral hazards” in Scotland?

Nevertheless, I suspect you need to play Barrassie a great many times to appreciate which sides of the greens to play into, as there are often ‘hidden’ gullies and slopes which make getting up and down impossible for all, but the most gifted players, if you are “short sided”. The club has a delightful video on it’s website here – once viewed, it is clear why Barrassie has hosted many top amateur competitions and is also an Open Final Qualifying venue.

The majestic framing around the newly re-built par four 13th hole.

The course was in magnificent condition for a mid March day, with the fairways and greens playing as if it were already June. The bunker conditioning was the only thing I would criticise, but even that was likely down to the legacy of the pandemic which was just easing off.

Barrassie member Douglas driving at the 401 yard par four 17th hole.

We all played about the same with respect to our handicaps and my partner, Brian, and I, halved a closely fought 4BBB game against Douglas and Stephen, having come back from 3 down (well played Brian!). It is always nice for a ‘friendly matchplay’ (although an oxymoron for some) to be in the balance until the very last putt is holed.

Stephen eyeing another fine drive down the middle – almost right through the eye of a needle.

One thing about Barrassie worth mentioning; the winter golf rate of £45 is brilliant value, especially when compared with the £95 summer fee, an amount reflecting the significant recent price growth I’ve witnessed across Scotland. I think this has been driven by both the increased demand for golf due to the pandemic and also the ongoing tussle between clubs’ loyalty to their membership versus serving the needs of the peripatetic golfer, for whom membership is not desired. The latter conflict is a matter of fierce debate within the Scottish Golf Union organisation.

The 17th green, showing the great conditioning of the course in mid March, and the little gully left being a treacherous ‘leave’, for two of us.

I once heard the great football manager Bill Shankly describing a Stallworth player as “honest” meaning they always gave their all and could be completely relied upon. That’s how I felt when playing Barrassie – it is an “honest” links golf course, if such a thing is possible.

Course Type: Links

Par 72 (3 par 5s, 12 par 4s, 3 par 3s)

Distance: 6460 (yellow)

Moly’s Gross score: 96

Up and down round of golf. Gross 96, but still 29 stableford points.

129. Strathclyde Park. 21 Mar 22.

April 20, 2022 /

A challenging Council “9 holer”

Round £10. Par 71. Course Rating / Slope Rating (yellow) 69/124. Value (out of 5) – 4

South Lanarkshire Council state on their website they are “proud to operate six quality golf courses” – and so they should be if Strathclyde Park represents the offering, being one of the two 9 hole golf courses in the package which can all be played by subscribing to their season long Rover deal.

Looking back from the 8th green at Strathclyde Park, towards the Hamilton Racecourse grandstand.

Having been brought up on Caird Park “9 holer”, a Dundee Council course, I was expecting a similar set up from Strathclyde Park. How wrong I was – this is a serious and ‘meaty’ golf course. A little under 6000 equivalent yards (from the Yellow), this is a a big challenge, especially for those taking up the sport.

The nice fairway on show at the 1st, a good starting hole at well over 350 yards, making you realise this is not ‘pitch ‘n putt’, with the natural edge bunkering dominating the approach.

Set in Strathclyde Country Park, adjacent to junction 6 of the M74, with the backdrop of Hamilton racecourse on the finishing holes, I really enjoyed this great value course.

The view from the 4th tee at Strathclyde, the SI 1 hole.

Because there was one winter green still in play and still being on the winter rate (even though I was able to play in shorts on an unseasonably warm March day), I paid only £5.40 for 9 holes. The tees were in poor condition, but the fairways were very good as were the bunkers. The greens are varied in size, shape and contour with many very challenging (I three putted several times).

There is plenty of wildlife on show at Strathclyde, with the adjacent nature reserve. Here, some residents sharing my journey to the 3rd green, a difficult par 3.

I got to thinking, at only £10, for the high season rate for 18 holes, what is the value of a course as the price tends to zero? Or put another way, how do you really offset course quality and value?

Overall, this course is probably 2 out of 5 for ‘quality’ on a national basis, but at such a low price it is 4 for ‘value’, a score I would say provides an upper bound for the quality – even if free, because you still have to spend the time playing! It’s a great debate.

The second par three, the uphill 7th, requiring your 180+ yardage club. Against the backdrop of the housing developed alongside the Racecourse.

The course is well designed with a rounded mix of two par 3s, two par 5s and five par 4s – a classic combination. The fairways were wide, and very firm for the time of year.

I played better than I scored with several three putts in my gross 48.

We were staying in our caravan in Strathclyde Country park, which is a great location to set down to play all the courses on offer from South Lanarkshire Council.

Course Type: Parkland

Par 36 (2 par 5s, 5 par 4s, 2 par 3s)

Distance: 5891 (yellow)

Moly’s Gross score: 48

Moly lost count of the number of 3 putt greens on this tough 9 hole council course. Played better than 48 suggests.

127. Winterfield. 26 Sep 21.

April 9, 2022 /

The greens might be the firmest in Scotland – any fast bowling attack would like them!

Round £31. Par 65. Course Rating / Slope Rating (yellow) 63.2/103. Value (out of 5) – 4

When I played Winterfield golf course, on a blustery, but warm, late September day, certain questions and thoughts kept going through my mind:

  • This is the most fun golf I’ve had in years.
  • The West Indies fast bowing heroes of my youth could bowl on these rock hard greens!
  • Tiger Woods couldn’t get near this pin – it’s impossible!
  • This is mickey mouse golf!
  • How can this be assessed as a 103 slope rating, with 4 par 3s well over 200 yards?
Fran at the very difficult par 3 opening hole, which is a par 4 for the ladies.

Winterfield golf course is located in Dunbar on the “golf coast” of East Lothian. Overshadowed by the magnificent Dunbar golf course, which is also known as the “East Links” course in Dunbar, Winterfield is close to the “West Links” area of Dunbar where golf is first recorded as being played in 1616. Therefore, there is arguably a greater historical story with Winterfield, albeit the course was only established by the local town council in 1935, without any note of the course designer in the club website.

The Bass Rock dominates the backdrop of the 5th green, where Moly was putting for birdie (missed!).

The golf course sits on a beautiful piece of ‘links’ land around the fine clubhouse, called St Margaret’s House, which is home to the “Fairways” restaurant.

The 18 hole course is not long, at only 4817 yards from the yellow tees most visitors will use. However, the slope rating of only 103, belies the real challenge of the course. It has some of the toughest and long par 3s in the area, starting at the opening hole which is 224 yards long, over a long carry. It deserves the Stroke Index 3 rating. Play the first hole as if a par 4, and be happy with a bogie is my advice, as the holes 3 through 6 is the easiest stretch on the course and enable you to get under your handicap; the long par four 7th, SI 1, will challenge the best and has the most difficult green on the outward 9.

The wonderful par three 14th hole “The Point” (192 yards from yellow), here pictured from behind the green towards Dunbar Beach.

The back 9 is where the course presents the coastal challenges, with a number of the holes skirting Dunbar beach. No more so than at the aptly named “The Point”, the long par three 14th hole. With a very strong wind and fast running fairway I played a 9 iron (normally my 115 yard club) to the front of the green at the 192 yard hole! I four putted for a 5!

The last of the par 3s – the long 15th at 223 yards (yellow). The wind helped Moly reach the green here.

There are fantastic views views across the Firth of Forth towards The Kingdom of Fife, with the Bass Rock headlining the vistas. It is a nice walk for any non playing partners.

If you want a low cost links experience and challenge, in non stuffy surroundings, Winterfield is an ideal venue. But this is no easy holiday golf course and only the very top golfers will par many more than half of the par 3s on this course. The club also boast of a number of members who went on to play top amateur or professional golf.

The 18th, a short par 4, with St Margaret’s house in the background.

I felt I played well for my 88, which although 10 over net, was 30 stableford points. The greens were treacherous; very dry and fast, impossible to get any check spin on. The positions of the pins were also very difficult. The green side bunkering is also pretty tricky, and you should try and navigate away if you can.

There is tough bunkering at Winterfield, here shown at the par five, 17th hole; where the tough pin positions meant it was nigh impossible to flirt with the pins.

In summary, don’t be fooled by the slope index, which I imagine will adjust higher after several years data is compiled. I think if felt more like a 115 course.

Great value golf, but the hard greens devalue it a bit, hence only 4 rather than 5 for value.

Course Type: Links

Par 65 (1 par 5s, 9 par 4s, 8 par 3s)

Distance: 4817 (yellow)

Moly’s Gross score: 88

Moly’s decent round of 88, for 30 stableford points, including a 10 at the par four 12th hole!
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