Category: When Course Established (Page 44 of 51)

30. Muir of Ord. 30th Aug 2015

September 11, 2015 / Moly McMillan

Nice course – play on Sunday after 3pm for best value golf in the area

Round £25. Par 67 (yellow). Value (out of 5) – 3.5

Muir of Ord is an interesting heathland course, about 13 miles north-west of Inverness close to the Beauly Firth. The course is bisected by the Inverness-Wick railway line, with the track being a significant hazard on several of the holes. I played on a Sunday afternoon, taking advantage of a fantastic standing offer of only £10 for a round after 3pm, which is very popular deal. On the basis of that price the value rating would have been 4.5, rather than 3.5 using the midweek standard price of £25.

The course was established in 1875 and is party laid out by James Braid. Apparently there has been several changes since Braid’s involvement, but the current layout has some great holes, many unchanged from Braid’s time.

The first 4 and last 3 holes are on one side of the railway line and are flat and almost links like, with the 5th through 15th on the other side, where the course is more undulating and very different in character.

The highlight for me was the 4 hole stretch from 11 to 14. The par 4 11^th, is the stroke index 1 hole, followed immediately by 2 very different par 3s, the 12^th is a hazard laden 200+ yard hole and the 13^th is a 100 yard hole with a 100 ft climb to a tricky green – the 14^th presents a very challenging drive with the railway line tight along the left of the hole. I suspect these 4 holes will heavily influence your card.

Another hole worth mentioning is the 4^th, with a drive and approach again both influenced by the railway.

The course was in beautiful condition when I played in August 2015, with the heather in full bloom, it would be worth playing at this time of year just for the floral colour. The tees in particular were very well maintained.

I played as well as I’ve done all season, chipping and putting very well, with several single putts in a gross 86, for 37 stableford points. I had an interesting 6 on the 14th, including playing out of a bush where my ball had come to rest about 2 feet off the ground! Happy day all round on this very nice course.

Why not pray for good weather after 3pm on Sunday!

Some Facts

Course Type: Heathland

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

Distance (yellow) 5229 yards

Moly’s Gross Score 86

Stableford 37

Moly’s Muir of Ord Scorecard – 86, best for a while!

28. Brechin. 22nd Aug 2015

August 23, 2015 / Moly McMillan

Weak link in the Braid Association?

Round £40 (variable). Par 72. Value (out of 5) – 2.5

Green at the par 3 third at Brechin

This 6162 yard, 18 hole parkland course, was founded in 1893 and is part of the Braid Association – a group of courses designed by James Braid, which gives golf playing discounts to members of courses within the association. On closer examination, some of the association’s courses have fairly tenuous links to Braid – in Brechin’s case, it’s website claims:

“By 1926 the famous James Braid was invited to play the course. J.P Gellatly, the Club’s Captain at the time, generously offered to pay his fee. Braid was so impressed he suggested suitable sites for sand bunkers in the Limefield section (holes 10-17) of the course.”

The tricky and fun par 4 8th at Brechin

It’s clear that holes 10-17 are the best part of the course, with holes 13 and 14 being the toughest in my book – the greens are also measurably better in the section and some of the best in the area. However stand on the first tee and you’ll realise this is a weak addition to the Braid association.

12th green at Brechin with views of the Angus Hills

Moreover, several of the holes are new editions in the 1990s, and fairly bland additions at that. These new holes are on either side of the Brechin A90 bypass and designed by John Farrell.

The 8th deserves a mention, which is a shortish par 4, with a very small gap in a line of trees – the only tactic I could see was take driver and try and clear the trees – there is an ironically placed wishing well to the front right of the green – I enjoyed this humour from the Members:)

Brechin is nevertheless in a nice setting, with good views of the Angus Glens, and is easily accessible and close to the main Dundee-Aberdeen road – coupled with some good clubhouse facilities it would make an excellent venue for a society golf day. However, the amount of road noise is significant.

Brechin’s 17th green

It’s a well kept course, with nice fairways and greens, but the £40 per round is a bit over priced in my opinion, hence the value for money score of 2.5.

I played well on the front 9, but 3 “blobs” on the back meant I ended up with a 97, for 31 stableford points.

Some Facts

Course Type: Parkland

Par 72 (4 par 5s, 10 par 4s, 4 par 3s)

Distance (white) 6162 yards

Moly’s Gross Score 97

Moly’s Brechin Scorecard – 97

27. Letham Grange Old. 19 Aug 2015. CLOSED

August 20, 2015 / Moly McMillan

8th at Letham – “Augusta of Angus”

10th tee with water in front of green in distance

Scottish Enigma with great Golfing Architecture

Round £30 ( any day). Par 73. Value (out of 5) – 4

18th tee towards Letham Grange

Letham Grange, on the outskirts of Arbroath, has likely had more written about it in court proceedings than in golfing magazines! It is one of the failed attempts in Scotland to create an American style Golf & Country Club Estate similar to Gleneagles, or Wentworth in Surrey. Opened in 1987 as a full resort, the hotel and many facilities are long since closed.

The club members, several living in the many fine houses which still adorn the fairways, now do a great job at keeping the Old course and the smaller Glens course open.

The Old Course is a par 73 Championship American-style parkland layout, designed by the renowned Donald Steel, and which twice held the Scottish Open in its heyday.

There is great variety on this course, presenting a variety of challenges. It has, in particular, some memorable water hazards on the par 3 8th hole, and par 4 10th hole – indeed the 8th through 10th feel like an “Amen Corner” of Angus – the 9th, the stroke index 1 hole, is a long and very difficult par 5, with a demanding drive.

12th tee Letham

The highlight of this course is now in the architecture, and it’s probably not surprising to find the quality level of greens, fairways and tees less than in it’s prime – the bunkers were the most disappointing when I played, being filled with very stony sand. However, the lessor quality is more than compensated for in the relatively low price of £30 per round. I was able to play on the Carnoustie Country offer, and paid only £15.

I had a reasonable round with 33 stableford points, but again two 9s on the par 5s, put paid to a decent medal score.

18th Green at Letham with the Grange

It’s well worth playing Letham Grange Old course, and just imagining the fine old building behind the 18th green in full use. Now empty, it provides a rather forlorn backdrop.

Some Facts

Course Type: Parkland

Par 70 (5 par 5s, 9 par 4s, 4 par 3s)

Distance (white) 6348 yards

Moly’s Gross Score 97

Moly’s Letham Grange Old Scorecard- 97

26. Grantown-on-Spey. 6th Aug 2015.

August 11, 2015 / Moly McMillan

Best Value Highland Golf

Round £29 ( any day). Par 70. Value (out of 5) – 5

The Signature 9th at Grantown on Spey

Grantown-on-Spey is in the Strathspey area of The Highlands, an important location for whiskey and salmon fishing lovers, both of which benefit from the waters of the Spey river.

The difficult drive at 10th tee

This course was formed in 1890 and designed by Willie Park with assistance from James Braid. Unlike some if its neighbouring “highland” courses, Grantown is a traditional parkland course, with holes 7-12 played through some hilly woodland, without the expected broom and heather.

12th green Grantown on Spey

In many ways I think Grantown is overshadowed by the nearby Boat of Garten course, which gets so many accolades, although it is a similar length to “The Boat”, and represents a good challenge for all.

In terms of condition, it is unparalleled in the area in my view, and gives some of the prestigious more expensive courses a run for their money. One of my visiting playing partners said “the last time I saw a course so well presented was the K-Club during the Ryder Cup!” That’s high praise indeed to the small green keeping staff. Considering it has a £29 round change on any day, it scores the highest “Value for Money” rating of 5. It also has a well presented clubhouse with all the expected facilities.

The well bunkered par 3 16th

The ‘signature’ hole is the 275 yard 9th, a short downhill par 4 with a spectacular backdrop of the Cromdale Hills. There are also views of the Cairngorms. There are some difficult holes with out of bounds coming into play regularly for both “hookers” and “slicers” – no-one is safe. My favourite holes are the 3rd, 7th, 10th, 12th and 15th. The only tips I would give are take enough club at the par 3 8th and 11th, both played uphill. Also, don’t have a disaster in the middle of your round like I did (12 over for the 13th, 14th and 15th – my 32 Stableford points tells I played well otherwise).

The 17th green – Grantown on Spey

Go out of your way to play Grantown, it is amongst the best value golf anywhere in the world.

Some Facts

Course Type: Parkland

Par 70 (1 par 5, 14 par 4s, 34 par 3s)

Distance (white) 5710 yards

Moly’s Gross Score 96

Moly’s Grantown scorecard – 96

Category: When Course Established (Page 44 of 51)

30. Muir of Ord. 30th Aug 2015

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

28. Brechin. 22nd Aug 2015

Par 72 (4 par 5s, 10 par 4s, 4 par 3s)

27. Letham Grange Old. 19 Aug 2015. CLOSED

Par 70 (5 par 5s, 9 par 4s, 4 par 3s)

26. Grantown-on-Spey. 6th Aug 2015.

Par 70 (1 par 5, 14 par 4s, 34 par 3s)

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