Category: 1901 – 1945 (Page 14 of 15)

21. Kirriemuir. 9th July 2015

July 9, 2015 / Moly McMillan

Kirriemuir – Gateway to the Angus Glens

Summary: Round Sun-Fri £24; Sat £28 . Par 68. Value (out of 5) – 3.5

Detail: Kirriemuir is the “Gateway” to the Angus Glens, the collective name for the six

Approach to 4th, with Angus Glens in the background

glens (Glens Doll, Clova, Prosen, Isla, Lethnot and Esk) which run in the same general direction stretching through the Angus countryside towards the edge of the Cairngorm National Park.

Kirriemuir, close to Glamis Castle, is one of several towns in the area with golf courses, therefore golf here can be part of a holiday, with walking, cycling and fishing being other sports abundantly on offer.

7th green at Kirriemuir

Kirriemuir is a lovely course, with spectacular open country views of the Glens, particularly on the front 9. The course is not long, so if you get off the tee well, you’ll be leaving your mid irons in the bag. I didn’t use an iron longer than an 8 off the fairway. Therefore, this is a course that most players can play well on.

13th Green at Kirriemuir looking towards the tee

The greens were excellent when I played, as were the fairways – overall a very well kept course, with ample fairways. The course has been described as Heathland, but I think Parkland if more fitting given the amount of trees. The main difficultly I faced was the slickness of the greens, which meant holding an iron onto the green difficult.

The only annoyance when I played was the use of mats on the par 3s, which given the condition of the tees was not necessary in my view.

16th Green at Kirriemuir

The highlights of the course for me, was the par 4 13th stoke index 1, which you need to be to the right of the fairway to approach the well guarded green. There was the unusual finish of par 3s at both the 16th and 17th holes, with the 17th being the toughest of the par 3s.

Long par 3 17th at Kirriemuir

Kirriemuir is a course where every level of golfer has the opportunity to play well, and is well worth a visit

Key Facts

Course Type: parkland/heathland

Green Fees:

Round: Sun-Fri £24; Sat £28
Day: Sun-Fri £32; Sat £36

Par 68 (0 par 5, 14 par 4s, 4 par 3s)

Distance(white) 5223 yards

Moly’s Gross Score 91

Moly’s Kirriemuir Scorecard – 91

18. Caird Park Main Course. 30th Jun 2015.

July 2, 2015 / Moly McMillan

A great example of why golf is Scotland’s “game of the people”

Summary: Midweek £20 (round); £30 (day); weekend £25/£35 . Par 69. Value (out of 5) – 4

Detail: Caird Park in the north of Dundee is a great example of Scotland’s golfing accessibility; it is the sort of local authority owned and managed course that golfing visitors to Scotland would benefit from playing.

Caird Park 1st Hole – a seductive straight forward start.

This accessibility did have a slight drawback when in the 1980s Caird Park was deemed Europe’s busiest course – although the course is no longer that busy. Current annual membership fees for concessions (Pensioners, unemployed, etc) start from around only £150. Given the quality of the course this is incredible value “golf for the people”.

It is also one of those course where playing from the yellow tees (white is only available to competition play) has a significant drawback, with 3 of the relatively short par 5s (all under 500 yards), becoming long par 4s on the yellow card.

Moly at the 5th tee – must keep that right nee bent!

To my mind these 3 shots to the card more than offset the other 600 yards given up.

After a relatively easy start over the first 4 holes, things get increasingly difficult. You need to score well on the first 9 at Caird Park as the back 9 is significantly longer. The course was in excellent condition on the day I played, with the fairways being particularly lush and welcoming. In fact, Caird Park has generally wide fairways so you can open your shoulders off the tee.

Chipping to the well architechtured 10th hole

The greens were also excellent, with subtle borrows. Only the tees could have done with a bit more care.

On the day I played, I was accompanied by my wife, and hence some of the photos are of the author in action – although that may not add to the entry!

Par 3 17th in the evening sun

I played the 4 par 3s very well, with 3 pars and a bogey. The 3 7s on my card contributed to my round of 92.

A typical Dundee Course Hazard? A wheelie cyclist with his dog!

Caird Park, is a very mature easy-walking course surrounded by mature avenues of trees and views north to the Sidlaw Hill. Opened in 1923, it also has a 9 hole course in the park grounds. It is well worth a visit.

Key Facts

Course Type: Parkland

Green Fees:

Weekday £20 round (£16 concession), £30 day
Weekend £25 round (£19 concession), £35 day
Winter Greens £12

Par 69 (1 par 5, 13 par 4s, 4 par 3s)

Distance(yellow) 5772 yards

Moly’s Gross score: 92

Moly’s Caird Park Scorecard

16. Downfield. 20th May 2015.

June 11, 2015 / Moly McMillan

Dundee’s other wonderful Discovery

Summary: (hi/lo season) £65/£45 (round); £75/£60 (day). Par 72. Value (out of 5) – 4

Detail;

Captain Scott’s Discovery in Dundee

Dundee, on the east coast of Scotland, can proudly boast of being a city closest to some of the greatest golf courses in the world, many being very accessible. It is less than 20 minutes drive to either St Andews or Carnoustie. The “City of Discovery”, named because of its association with Captain Scott of the Antartic, is blessed with another wonderful discovery – Downfield golf course.

Downfield’s 3rd Green

Downfield, nestled amongst Adler, Black and Templeton Woods, can safely be categorised as a Woodland course! It’s on the north-west of Dundee adjacent to industrial and large housing estates – entered via iron gates it soon becomes apparent you are in a golfing oasis. You could be in Surrey or New England once inside the fence!

14th Green towards the fairway

Surrounded by an arboretum, Downfield is a outstanding golf course, and well worth its place amongst the best courses in the UK. Tees, fairways and greens were all excellent when I played, as were the bunkers filled with some of the finest sand I’ve experienced.

Moly and Eric on the majestic 11th hole

Its very important to drive straight and keep the ball on the fairway – something I regularly failed to do for the first 13 holes. However, a good finish (2 over for the last 5) enabled me to win a close fought contest with Eric and Moira Brown, my partners for the day.

There are many highlights on the course, but the 11th is surely one of the best inland holes in Scotland:

From the 11th green towards the fairway with the water hazard in view

a drive needs to be on the right to view the green, which has a water hazard in front, not unlike something from Augusta.

Downfield also has a very impressive club house, with a fantastic view over the course. It would be well worth planning to eat there to take full benefit of the surroundings.

So, a classic layout, and a real gem in the industrial heartland of Dundee – please don’t miss this treat whilst on your tour of the hallowed links nearby.

Key Facts

Course Type: Woodland

Green Fees:

Day – Hi Season (May-Sep): £75.00, otherwise £60.00
Round – Hi season: £65, otherwise £45
Deposit, £20.00

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

Distance(blue) 6560 yards

Moly’s Gross score: 99

Moly’s Downfield Scorecard – 99

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

Category: 1901 – 1945 (Page 14 of 15)

21. Kirriemuir. 9th July 2015

Par 68 (0 par 5, 14 par 4s, 4 par 3s)

18. Caird Park Main Course. 30th Jun 2015.

Par 69 (1 par 5, 13 par 4s, 4 par 3s)

16. Downfield. 20th May 2015.

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

15. Braemar. 10th April 2015

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

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