Category: 4 star (Page 10 of 12)

38. Dunning. 6th May 2016.

May 12, 2016 / Moly McMillan

Dunning is a little gem – but don’t play the locals!

Round £12. Par 33. Value (out of 5) – 4

Dunning is a beautiful little gem of a 9 hole golf course situated in the Perthshire village of the same name, with the backdrop of the Ochil Hills, about 10 miles south west of Perth. It is easily accessible by car being about 2 miles from the main A9 – I suspect, like me, many readers will have driven past Dunning many times.

The intimidating 1st tee at Dunning with Out of Bounds along the right.

The current course was laid out by Joe Anderson in 1946 on lands gifted by Lord Rollo of Pitcairn, who remains the Honorary President of the club. However, don’t let this lordly context leave you mistaken that Dunning is in any way uppity – quite the contrary, I found the welcome among the warmest and humblest I’ve ever received as a visitor.

The well manicured 1st green at Dunning

The club also boasts many progressive policies to expand the game of golf, such as a free open day each year to allow potential members to play.

The course was in excellent condition when I played with my wife; the tees, fairways and greens were all great and the bunkers in particular would put many links courses to shame.

The approach to the 3rd at Dunning with the rural Perthshire backdrop

The course is on nice open parkland and at only 2199 yards off yellow or 2405 off the white tees, should offer some birdie chances. However, there are several challenges. The first tee shot with OOB all along the right makes for a tough opening. Next, the long par 3 second will play like a par 4 for many.

My wife Fran chips over the water hazard in front of the tricky par three 5th hole at Dunning

There is also several tricky hazards, including the water in front of the 5th, to the left of the 6th green and all the way down the left of 7 – for those who take a more conservative line to the right of the 7th fairway need to go over 2 deep and hidden bunkers in front of the green.

Out of Bounds down the left at the cleverly architectured 7th

The club has a catering partnership with two local business ladies – in effect the club house is the local tea rooms.

I played very well, with a birdie on the first, and was round in 38, 5 over the card, although 7 over the SSS of 31.

Lastly, Colin Montgomerie, arguably Scotland’s finest ever golfer (I know, I know!), lives in the village and is an Honorary Club Member. I did mention not to play the locals!

Some Facts

Course Type: Parkland

Par 33 (6 par 4s, 3 par 3s)

Distance 2199 yards

Moly’s Gross Score 38

Stableford 22

Moly’s Dunning scorecard – a good day:)

33. Drumoig. 16th Sep 2015

September 20, 2015 / Moly McMillan

A Driver’s paradise with some prayers needed around the turn!

Round £25. Par 73. Value (out of 5) – 4

Drumoig golf course is a substantial par 73 golf course, designed by Dave Thomas, set in a resort style estate, with housing and a hotel, situated between Dundee and St Andrews. It is a parkland layout and sufficiently undulating to make for a tiring walk on this 7000 yard course.

The difficult 9th hole with water on both sides of the fairway.

It is well set within the surrounding arable land with some far reaching views, notable across to Broughty Ferry, Monifieth and Carnoustie, on the other side of the Tay Estuary.

Surrounded by the classic links on this north Fife coastline, Drumoig would make a nice contrast for touring golfers, who may be finding the local links fairways a bit tight.

The “cliff side” green at the 5th – the long signature hole at Dromoig

My main impression of Drumoig, was the width of the fairways, especially on the five par 5s; you can really open your shoulders whilst driving here, that is all bar the 9th, 10th and 11th, where all three holes are set around a large lake, making up its own Amen Corner. These holes at the turn were the highlight for me, particularly the 10th, where I took a bogie 5, having taken 3 from the tee!

The 11th green at Drumoig

There are other interesting features, with a 25-foot quarry wall sitting immediately behind the 5th hole, a long par 5, and the 13th. The 18th, is also a very nicely architected hole, with carefully laid water hazards, where the safe play is a medium iron or hybrid from the tee, leaving a short iron to the green.

13th at Drumoig with the quarry wall behind.

The course is a little unbalanced in my opinion with only 1 par 3 (the 2nd) and 2 par 5s on the front 9 of 37, but 3 par 3s, 3 par 4s and 3 par 5s on the back 9. The course was in nice condition when I played, although the bunkers were a little stony and greens much slower that the nearby links courses. That aside, its a good course which is well worth playing and good value.

The greenside bunker at the left of 14th, a natural target with OOB all down the right.

I had a fairly good day for me, shooting 96, with 46 on back 9.

Some Facts

Course Type: Parkland

Par 73 (5 par 5s, 9 par 4s, 4 par 3s)

Distance (green!) 6472 yards

Moly’s Gross Score 96

Stableford 33

Moly’s Drumoig Scorecard – 96

31. Garmouth & Kingston. 8 Sep 2015

September 15, 2015 / Moly McMillan

Lovely Parkland & Links Course! – worth playing just for the 15th Tee shot!

Round £20. Par 67. Value (out of 5) – 4

Garmouth & Kingston Golf Club lies on the west bank of the mouth of the River Spey, which comes into play only on the 15th, but still probably eats up a great deal of golf balls – more later.

2nd tee – Garmouth & Kingston

The course was founded in 1932, and at a little over 5000 yards presents, in theory, a reasonably straight forward test of golf, with several short par 3s and par 4s. Its a very interesting layout, with a parkland front 9 and a links back 9 – it is literally 2 different golf courses.

5th Green at Garmouth & Kingston – course is in beautiful condition

It’s also very flat and an easy walk, with some good views, especially of the Moray Firth on the links side – its a really great course for a round whilst on holiday, with many local attractions for the non golfer.

13th green with the Moray Firth in the distance.

The course was in perfect condition when I played, with beautiful fairways and greens. At only £20 for a round it is great value golf.

There are a number of nice holes, with most of the par 3s quite short, but they are well guarded so club selection is important, and I suspect difficult if any wind gets up.

The frightening 15th tee – pray for a left to right wind.

The highlight of the course is the par 3 15th played alongside the River Spey – a right to left wind would make this hole a nightmare, and must destroy many a medal round. I played badly, except for the 15th where an 8 iron to only 7 feet left me my first birdie for a while – highly enjoyable.

Worth playing just for the 15th! Lovely little course and great value.

Some Facts

Course Type: Parkland & Links

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

Distance (yellow) 5046 yards

Moly’s Gross Score 99

Stableford 29

Moly’s Garmouth & Kingston Scorecard – 99

29. Comrie. 25th Aug 2015

August 29, 2015 / Moly McMillan

Comrie’s 9 is better than most 18s

Round (9 holes) £15. Par 35. Value (out of 5) – 4

Moly’s approach to the short par 4 2nd at Comrie

Ever played on a course where the original layout was 9 holes, but a later extension to 18 completely destroyed the beauty and originality of the initial layout? Comrie, in Perthshire, is testament to why sometimes leaving a great 9 hole layout as just that is the best thing to do!

Comrie’s Par 3 3rd tee

Comrie is a really great 9 hole course, founded in 1891, and with significant input later by the renowned architect James Braid. Off the white tees it is over 3000 yards, but even off the yellow (at 2699 yards) it is a demanding test of golf. No two holes are similar, and with the high standard of the course, coupled with great views of the local Perthshire hills, it’s well worth going out of your way to play Comrie. It also has a delightful clubhouse with a comfortably furnished lounge to while away the hours in the lovely surroundings.

Views of Perthshire Hills above the Comrie clubhouse viewed from 5th tee

The fairways are quite generous, but the rough is very penal, so think twice about taking driver, even on the long par 5 6th – even for long hitters, this is likely to be a 3 shot hole, because of the very clever short dog leg right to the green, only some 50 yards further on.

The greens were also in excellent condition when I played, albeit slower than what one might expect in August.

Par 3 5th at Comrie

It would be difficult to pick any signature hole, but I thought the par 3 5th, par 5 6th and par 4 7th, represented a run of great golfing architecture.

For my own game, I was 3 over after 5, and then 10 over for the next 4; I just cant help getting a bit excited when I string some form together, then the golfing gods always decide to teach me a lesson. Oh well, if you cant help but play badly, Comrie’s delightful course lifts your spirits.

In trouble at the 6th!

Well worth a game here.

Some Facts

Course Type: Highland

Par 35 (1 par 5, 6 par 4s, 2 par 3s)

Distance (yellow) 2699 yards

Moly’s Gross Score 48

Stableford 15

Moly’s Comrie Scorecard – 48

Category: 4 star (Page 10 of 12)

38. Dunning. 6th May 2016.

Par 33 (6 par 4s, 3 par 3s)

33. Drumoig. 16th Sep 2015

Par 73 (5 par 5s, 9 par 4s, 4 par 3s)

31. Garmouth & Kingston. 8 Sep 2015

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

29. Comrie. 25th Aug 2015

Par 35 (1 par 5, 6 par 4s, 2 par 3s)

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