Category: 1 star (Page 2 of 2)

Decent greens and fine scenery don’t warrant playing this overpriced course

Round £32.  Par 66.  Value (out of 5) 1

Culcrieff golf course is part of the well known Crieff Hydro hotel located in Perthshire. The parkland course, with fine views of the local Perthshire hills, was established in 1972 from a disused 9 holes, then extended to 18 in 2002, using a design by John Stark the local Crieff professional.

The greens at Culcrieff were the worst I’d ever experienced, as evidenced here at the 5th green, NOT one designated as GUR.   Many others were much worse!

Being part of the Hydro, the course feels as if it’s managed as one of the very many holiday activities on offer, therefore there is no Golf Club oversight of the course.  This apparent lack of specific golfing focus, has resulted in a course that is under invested and not worth the money to play.  I rather suspect that holidaying golfers staying at the hydro are taken a bit for granted as a captive cash cow.  When you look at the price of £32, there are very many council courses in Scotland in much better condition, and no more than £20. The best discount offer I could find was through www.teeofftimes.co.uk at £26, even that is over priced, in my opinion.

1st approach at Culcrieff with nice views

The greens were decent, granted, and apparently built to USGA specification, but the bunkers were the worse condition I’ve played, several were designated as GUR although they would have been better designated as Ground Under Neglect.  The fairways also needed a cut when I played.

The 16th at Culcrieff had a tricky green to find.

Setting aside the condition, the course has some nicely designed holes that are challenging, not least because of the small greens.  The dog leg left 2nd hole, although short at 295 yards needs a very accurate 2nd shot into a well protected green.  The long dog leg right par 4 5th will test the longest hitters.  The second to the par 4 12th will also require a longer shot that expected to hit the plateau green, and the downhill par 3 16th, aptly called “Deil’s delight,” is devilishly tricky to find the small green.

Nice finishing hole at Culcrieff, a 200+ yard par 3.

I played fairly decent scoring 32 stableford points with a gross 87. However, I shall not return to try again, and I would certainly not recommend playing here.  In its current condition, it should be priced at about £15 – £20.

Some Facts

Course Type: Parkland

Par 66 (12 par 4s, 6 par 3s)

Distance yards:  4892 (white)

Moly’s Gross Score: 97

Moly’s Culcrieff scorecard – 87 for 32 stableford points