Category: 3 star (Page 13 of 15)

22. Kinghorn. 14th July 2015

July 15, 2015 / Moly McMillan

Small Historical Links Challenge at a Bargain Price

Summary: Round weekday £18; weekend £22 . Par 65. Value (out of 5) – 4

Detail:

Kinghorn's second green with views over the course to Burntisland and the Forth Estuary

Kinghorn’s second green with views over the course to the Forth Estuary

Kinghorn Golf Club, was founded in 1887, with the initial 9 holes being designed by Old Tom Morris – the remaining 9 holes were laid out in 1905 by Willie Fernie of Troon. Kinghorn therefore represents a fine historical pedigree of golfing architecture.

Kinghorn is one of 7 courses managed by the Fife Golf Trust which was established in 2011 to take over Fife Council’s directly managed courses.

The tricky Par 3 3rd with the wall in play!

This is becoming a common practice by Local Authorities in Scotland to manage golf courses. The golf club is private, like many Scottish clubs associated with public courses.

The course presents a fine test of all aspects of your game, especially your course management – my advice would be that other than the long par 4 8th and 13th holes (the 2 hardest on the course), leave your driver in the bag. Accuracy from the tee will pay dividends here.

An “eagle” at the par 4 6th – putting a joy on these greens

There are some tricky blind tee shots, with the 2nd and the 6th, both par 3s (from the yellow), needing good club selection to reach the green. Although I played from the yellow tees, it was easy to imagine how much more difficult from the white boxes several of the holes were. The SSS is 3 shots different between white and yellow.

Uphill approach to the Par 4 10th

The longest hole on the course – the 8th – a might 2 shots might not reach here.

The greens, and their immediate surrounds, were the highlight of the course condition when I played, and must be amongst the best in Fife; hard, true and very fast, it was difficult to judge your approach shots at times. The fairways were mixed, most were very good but some, notably the 18th, were poor. The tee boxes in particular needed attention. I think if some of the considerable effort placed on the greens, were shared to other areas, the whole course would benefit greatly.

This is a great little course, with magnificent views of the Forth Estuary and if you’re able to play after 3pm during the week in Summer, the twilight round rate of £12 represents great value.

Key Facts

Course Type: Links

Green Fees:

weekday £18 (round), £24 (day)
weekend £22 (round), £29 (day)

Par 65 (0 par 5, 11 par 4s, 7 par 3s)

Distance(white) 4587 yards

Moly’s Gross Score 88

Moly’s Kinghorn Scorecard – 88

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

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