Scotland Golf Bible

A guide to green fee value for money

Category: £20 – £39 (Page 11 of 21)

98. Piperdam New. 12th July 2019.

April 4, 2020 /

Great value course close to Dundee well worth playing

Round £30.   Par 71.  Value (out of 5) – 4.5

Opened in 1997, the main golf course at the Piperdam Leisure estate is 8 miles to the east of Dundee on the A923. Originally called Piperdam Osprey, because Ospreys nest around the fishing lake that is the centrepiece of the estate, the course was upgraded in 2014 and renamed Piperdam New.

The beautiful par 3 9th hole at Piperdam New

This is a really great value course at only £30 for a midweek round, with offers of further discounts available through web sites such as GolfNow. Fran and I paid only £15 each, and therein lies the great challenge for golf clubs in Scotland – why pay a membership of £700+ when great value golf is readily available at such prices and freely accessible. Whilst the golfers retired from work may play 2 or which should go from strength to strength following the very sad closure of the nearby Camperdown Park course in 2020.3 times every week (and these members are invariably and understandably the people running the committees), how many working age people play more than 40 times a year? Piperdam pricing offers a great model of what I think courses in Scotland should compete with. The course should go from strength to strength following the very sad closure of the nearby Camperdown Park course in 2020.

The long par 4 7th hole at Piperdam, a good drive to the right of center is needed to give a good chance of reaching the green at this SI 3 hole

As a leisure complex, catering for holidays, weddings, etc, the facilities are also excellent for traveling golfers – little wonder its very popular with Societies. It also has a strong 9 hole course as well which I played and blogged in 2013 here .

Another great thing about Piperdam, is the number of tee options which visitors are welcome to play off whichever they feel capable of – I played the blue tees making the course 5800 years long, but given that it was very wet when I played that was long enough for me.

The Par 5 8th hole, with water all down the right of the hole – part of the strongest run of holes at Piperdam New

The course is set around the large fishing lake, which comes into play on several holes, and with the reeds and grasses it makes for an aesthetic walk even if your golf isn’t what you would like – perhaps pop the binoculars in the bag as the bird life is abundant here.

After the fairly short par 3 opening hole with a 125 yard water carry, the tough par 5 2nd needs to be played with a 3 shot strategy, then the 3rd hole is a very difficult Stroke Index 1 par 4. In other words you need to focus from the very first shot.

1st green at Piperdam New, a short par 3, over water – never a nice way to open the round

Some of the holes were very strong, and the run of 3 holes Numbers 7 through 9, comprising a long par 4, a long par 5 and an excellent mid to long iron par 3 over water, would not be out of place on much higher rated courses. I suspect being part of a commercial leisure complex in some way diminishes the perception of the quality of Piperdam New.

The course was in excellent condition when we played, with lush fairways, well maintained bunkers and very true greens.

On the day I played well, shooting 92 for 32 points, helped by my back 9 of only 7 over. This is probably a typical scoring pattern here, given the very tough opening and closing 3 holes of the front 9. Moral is “keep going at Piperdam” you rewards will come.

With a good drive this is a birdie opportunity hole. Typically aesthetic hole at Piperdam.

A really great value course.

Facts:

Course Type: Parkland

Par 71 (4 par 5, 9 par 4s, 5 par 3s)

Distance: 5818

Moly’s Gross score: 92

Moly’s Piperdam New Scorecard – Solid 92 in the wet conditions

97. Blair Atholl. 7th July 2019.

March 30, 2020 /

Nine hole course to boost your confidence

Round £15.   Par 35.  Value (out of 5) – 3.5

If web searching for Blair Atholl golf club, don’t confuse this Perthshire course with the Blair Atholl Estate golf course in South Africa, built by Gary Player, and a monster of some 8300 yards – yes, that was correct, 8300 yards!

The 438 yard par 4 opening hole at Blair Atholl

Gary Player’s estate actually takes its name from the original Blair Atholl, which is just off the A9 and, since 2008, included within the boundary of the Cairngorms National Park. The original Blair Atholl is also home to a lovely little 9 hole course, which is an easy walking affair of around 3000 yards, or 6000 yards for the 18 holes, not short by any means.

Given its Highland location this course is soft underfoot and was very green during the July time I played here. Surrounded by tranquil ‘highland’ scenery this must be very beautiful to play during the Autumn.

The very short 4th hole at Blair Atholl, at only 96 yards, but well bunkered

With the rough being quite receptive and not too penalising, this is a course which can yield good results – the greens were also receptive and very true. I can well understand why this is a well played course by the tourist community – especially given the restaurant “The Tulach” in the small clubhouse, which also attracts non golfers as well.

The course was established in 1896, and mysteriously on some web sites, is cited as being designed by James Braid, but I’m afraid it does not appear on the list of James Braid courses as kept by the James Braid society. I would appreciate if anyone can advise on the architect.

The course was in good condition when I played, and in particular the teeing grounds had been well prepared.

The tricky approach shot over water at the Stoke Index 1, par 4, 7th hole.

After a long par 4 to open, but played ‘down’ from a plateaued tee next to the clubhouse, the next 4 holes, all relatively short, are where the score is gained on this course. If you avoid the water hazards, which are in play on 3 holes and you should play short off the tee, most notably at the 7th (par 4 SI 1), then this course can be a good opportunity to boost your confidence. After the 7th, with the second shot being over water, the par 5 9th hole also needs great care with the second or 3rd shot (depending on your strategy) needing to avoid some mature trees. Also double check the whereabouts of the pin on the 9th, which shares a double green with the 3rd.

The demanding par 5 9th at Blair Atholl

I indeed kept out of the water hazards and my round of 42, for 20 stableford points, was my best play all season.

This is a nice course and worth playing

Facts:

Course Type: Parkland

Par 35 (1 par 5, 6 par 4s, 2 par 3s)

Distance: 2739

Moly’s Gross score: 42

Moly’s scorecard, 7 over par 42, for 20 points.

93. Strathmore Rannaleroch. 18 May 2019.

August 2, 2019 /

Ideal Golfing Society venue with a challenging course     

Round £36.   Par 71.  Value (out of 5) – 4

“A Challenging course for golfers of all abilities”. How often do you read that on golf course websites? I suspect it really means “please come and play no matter what standard you are, we could do with the money?”. The wealthier clubs, in much less need of visitors, rarely say it.

The nice par three 6th, one of the few holes with water in play

So, if a “for all abilities” layout does really exist, I propose the Rannaleroch course at the Strathmore Golf Centre, near Alyth in Perthshire, might be the closest I’ve found. But the more you think about it, the more obscure the statement is. Firstly, how can any one player know? I have played many times with low handicap players and I regularly play with my mid to high 20s handicap peers. Neither group has sufficient empathy, I suggest, of what constitutes a comparable challenge for the other group! Again, one of the many “unsolvable” debates golfers love.

The first green at Rannaleroch, a good example of the greens and surrounds at this main Stranthmore Golf Centre course.

Strathmore Golf Centre, near Alyth in Perthshire, was opened in 1996, and also has a 9 hole course, Leiftie Links, which I blogged in 2016. The Rannaleroch course was designed by former R&A Captain, John Salveson, now deceased; John turned to golf course design later in life after retiring as a farmer, mainly in conjunction with Donald Steel.

The 17th, the last of the nice par threes at Rannaleroch

The par 72 main course (although 70 off the yellow tees I used) is very picturesque, amongst rolling countryside, with mature trees, and the wide fairways means you can afford to use driver on all the longer holes. It’s an excellent architecture job.

The greens are large and I suggest you spend sometime on the practice greens to avoid several 3 putts; I putted very well on the front 9, then lost it on the back.

There are some really memorable holes, but I think the par 3s are the star here, with the 4th and the 17th both needing long irons. The short 6th over water is also a nice hole.

The difficult long iron par three 4th hole, with trouble left and right

The course was in excellent condition when I played along with Fran, despite the very wet weather that had prevailed the previous month. The tees, fairways and greens were all very good, albeit the bunkers were a little in need of raking and a bit of maintenance. Having said that, the course represented really good value. It would be a great course to add to a Blairgowrie centered golfing break. It also has a very good reputation for food, and I would recommend booking, as the restaurant is popular amongst local non golfers.

It’s really worth going out of your way to play Rannaleroch.

Facts:

Course Type: Parkland

Par 70 (2 par 5, 12 par 4s, 4 par 3s)

Distance (yellow): 5848

Moly’s Gross score: 97

Moly’s 97 at Strathmore Rannaleroch, not helped by the rain making it play long!

83. Dunkeld & Birnam. 25 Aug 2018.

September 3, 2018 /

This brilliantly located course, with great countryside views, is a tough 18 hole undulating walk – I wonder whether in time the club may reflect it should have stayed as a 9 hole layout? 

Round £30.   Par 69.  Value (out of 5) – 3.5

Dunkeld and Birnam Golf  Course is just a few miles east of Dunkeld, in the village of Birnam,  in what the club describe on their website as “Highland Perthshire”.    Birman and Dunkeld were actually different villages set on opposite banks of the river Tay, until they were connected in 1809 by a Thomas Telford bridge.  It is in an area of outstanding beauty, and I suspect many visitors may decide to play golf whilst on holiday.

Moly at the par 3 11th, one of the new holes created in 2000.

The course was designed by Old Tom Morris in 1892, and was only extended to 18 holes in 2000.  The new holes are very much more open parkland, and slightly out of sorts with many of the original holes, which provide some typical “highland” holes.

The new layout also caused a change in the hole order, with the 17th and 18th (both originally part of the 9 hole course) being 2 of the 4 par 3s of the 18 hole course.  This makes for a rather unbalanced course in my view.  With the increasing debate about 9 hole golf competitions, as a means of encouraging play, I wonder whether Dunkeld and Birnam should have remained a 9 hole course?  I certainly think there is a charm in the “highland 9 holer”, which arguably has been lost.

The risk reward par 4 6th hole, with the picturesque surrounds.

The course is relatively short, but it feels much longer, due to the many undulating holes, and there are a couple of fairly long walks between green and tee (the 7th to 8th being the longest, between the old and new holes).  The walk up to the 18th green warrants a buggy hire in its own right and, thankfully, there are several available for hire.

The tough approach shot at the par 4 8th at Dunkeld and Birnam

Having said all this, which might be unfairly critical, it’s really well worth the visit to play Dunkeld and Birnam.  The overall condition of the course was excellent and the greens were lovely.  The views were outstanding, including overlooking Dunkeld and taking in The Loch of the Lowes, and I think that playing in early Autumn must be particularly spectacular, due to the many trees surrounding the local hillsides.  It is an area renowned for local bird life.

The 9th tee, with The Loch of the Lowes in the distance.

Even if not playing golf here, the Golf Club has a really nice clubhouse, with beautiful countryside views and would be nice to visit for the good food also on offer.   The members were very friendly to Fran and I, and they were very proud of their club.   They are also an enterprising club and have an apartment for rent in the clubhouse.

The first green looking towards the lovely club house at Dunkeld and Birnam

The course has some very interesting holes, and also several short par 4s which present the classic risk and reward dilemma, no more so than the 6th, one of several drive-able holes; on the day I stuck to a conservative strategy, albeit my scoring (91 for 33 points), may indicate I should have played driver more often!

The best hole for me was the SI3 7th hole, where a mid iron is likely needed to a raised green surrounded by trouble.    I suggest you play more club than you think towards the left side of the green.

Fran putting at the 11th at Dunkeld and Birnam

 

Worth playing Dunkeld and Birnam, not least for the friendly welcome and the outstanding views from the clubhouse, over the tipple of your choice.

Facts:

Course Type: Heathland

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

Distance (yellow): 5192 Yards

Moly’s Gross score: 91

Moly’s 91 scorecard at Dunkeld & Birnam

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