Category: Commercial (Page 9 of 9)

10. Spey Valley; 7th July 2014

August 9, 2014 / Moly McMillan / 0 Comments

Breath-taking scenery, but your “A” game is required if you want to truly enjoy the views!

Summary: Cost £40 (midweek pm). Par 72. Score 102. Value (out of 5) – 4.5

Andy’s approach to the 18th with the Cairgorm mountains in view (note the rain on the right!)

Detail: Spey Valley, designed by the renowned architect Dave Thomas, is part of the McDonald Aviemore hotel resort. It is a magnificent golf course that feels much more mature than its actual age and is now an established part of the European Challenge Tour, hosting the Scottish Hydro Challenge (2009-2014). The scenery of the Cairngorm mountain range is breath-taking and Spey Valley, arguably, has the best golf views from any course in the UK.

The formidable approach shot to the 15th green

The course is a significant test at over 7000 yards from the white tees with a SS of 75, versus a par of 72. It’s a very traditional layout with 4 par 3s and 4 par 5s, with the 5th being Scotland’s longest hole at 635 yds (608 yds off Yellow!). The par 3s are particularly challenging and I needed a wood from the tee on them all. The heath and the heather are always close by to eat up your precious golf balls, so make sure you stock up well before starting.

Spey Valley’s version of the “spectacles” on the 7th – in range with a driver.

Andy Needham and Alvin Hopley of the Army GC

I played with Alvin Hopley (8 hcp) and Andy Needham (19 hcp), both of the Army GC; we played a three-ball match play game, using the 6 points/per hole format. Alvin and I halved, both narrowly beating Andy. In truth the golf course soundly beat all 3 of us and this on a day blessed with sunshine and only a light highland breeze. I scored 102, but the local assistant pro advised that many people never break 100 on this monster.

Take your A game or lots of balls – probably both!

At a £40 green fee, which also received 20% discount because I played free using a Golfcare voucher, this course is also incredible value. However, either ensure you take your A game, or just accept that the fee is worth it for the views alone whilst having a drink in the lovely little bar with its nice terrace area.

Key Facts

Course Type: Parkland/Heathland

Green Fees: Variable Summer PM (not twilight): £40

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

Distance(white): 7071 yards

Moly’s Gross score: 102

Moly’s scorecard – 102 with 3 lost balls

8. Dalmahoy East; 30th July 2014

August 6, 2014 / Moly McMillan / 0 Comments

Wide fairways, but avoid the bunkers to score well.

Summary: Cost £65 (midweek). Par 73. Score 96. Value (out of 5) – 2.

Outstanding view of Edinburgh Castle from the 16th hole

Detail. Marriot Hotels run the Dalmahoy Hotel, Golf and Country Club, which is on the South East of Edinburgh about a 10 minute drive from Edinburgh Airport. The resort has 2 courses; the East course is a championship layout designed by James Braid and hosted the Solheim Cup in 1992, the West course is a much shorter later addition.

Moly and Andy in front of Estate house adjacent the 18th green.

Moly and Andy adjacent to the 18th green.

This was my first 18 holes played since a back injury in early March, so quite a special day, especially accompanied by my son, Andy, who plays off 17. Despite never being up, I came back from 4 down at the 10th to halve the game; I was 9 over par after 3 holes, having found the sand in very good condition!

Dalmahoy East is a nice, but quite repetitive course, with many holes feeling much the same – i.e. straight, generous fairway, no carry hazard, trees with limited impact, very light rough, well positioned fairway/greenside bunkers, true and flat-ish green. There was only one real dog-leg, the 9th. It is surprisingly accessible to higher handicap golfers playing from the yellow tees, which takes 650 yards off the championship length.

Approach to the 9th over the country house “ha ha” wall, the most picturesque hole

The warm summer had also taken its toll when we played, with several parts of the fairway being brown and a couple of the greens were very dry. However, one can imagine the course a different challenge when wet and playing its full length.

At £65 for a weekday round and £75 for a weekend round, I had expected a bit more conditioning and challenge, and I would strongly recommend seeking to play using a voucher if available, otherwise you might be disappointed. We used a Golfcare insurance voucher which made it good value.

Andy teeing to the 17th, “the wee wrecker”

With a good group discount this would make a good venue for society days, as the Marriot has great changing and eating facilities.

Key Facts

Course Type: Parkland

Green Fees:

Summer Weekday, £65 per round; Weekend, £75.

Par 73 (4 par 5s, 11 par 4s, 3 par 3s)

Distance(yellow): 6684 yards

Moly’s Gross score: 96. (9 over for first 3 holes; 14 over for other 15 holes!)

Dalmahoy Scorecard – a disastrous start!

2. Piperdam 9 Hole; “Wee Piper”; 12th Dec 2013

December 31, 2013 / Moly McMillan / 0 Comments

No Camera’s Please!

If you intend to take photos while you play golf, remember to charge the batteries!

Piperdam is a Golf and Country Resort set up on the Western boundary of Dundee, surrounded by tasteful housing.

The “Wee Piper” is a good par 3, 9 hole golf course, with at least 3 or 4 of the holes easily being able to be suited to a decent 18 hole layout. Piperdam also has a fairly demanding 18 hole course as well.

Depending on the wind the first is a challenging opening hole, requiring a rescue or longer club, followed by a well architected 2nd hole. After that, holes 3-8 are in more open space and very forgiving off the tee. Only two of the holes present any “carry” requirements (2nd and 9th).

Although the course has views of the Piper Dam, the dam water doesn’t come into play at all. This is a fun little course, that will still challenge most handicaps.

My round was a better score than my general play would have expected, which was poor, helped by the fact that there are not many hazards.

This is a nice little course, but in my view only really worth the travel if you were combining a day at Piperdam, as it presents a nice accompaniment to the 18 hole course. It would make a good society day out.

Key Facts

Course Type: Open Parkland

Green Fee – Mon-Fri £12; Weekend £15; Members of other Carnoustie Country clubs get 50% discount.

Par 27 (9 par 3s)

Moly’s Gross score: 39.

“Wee Piper” Scorecard

3. Kingennie 9 hole; 13th Dec 2013

December 31, 2013 / Moly McMillan / 0 Comments

What a Trout….I mean Treat!

Water hazard which awaits a slice off the 8th tee.

Kingennie Estate Fishing Lake

Forbes of Kingennie is a Golf and Country Resort set on the East of Dundee, about 3 miles north of Monifieth. It is surrounded by housing, some of which is pretty exclusive. This is an excellent 9 hole golf course, designed by architect Dave Webster. The course has stunning views of the fishing lakes surrounding the main hotel area, albeit they don’t come into play as they are used for fishing, and are well stocked (apparently).

Dog-leg 6th hole, with an array of bunkers on the left of the dog-leg

Two or three of the holes are of championship quality, especially the par 4, dog-leg 6th which has a risk-reward drive on offer from the tee to cut the dogleg leaving a shorter iron.

The course was in first class condition for the time of year. I scored better than my play would have suggested, with some good putting making up for wayward driving. Although only a 9 hole course this is a serious and challenging test of golf. There are plans for a new adjacent development with a championship standard 18 hole layout – when complete this will provide a great parkland compliment to the outstanding links courses in the nearby Carnoustie and Monifieth.

Well worth a visit.

Key Facts

Course Type: Parkland

Green Fees:

Apr – Oct: Weekday, £16; Weekend, £20. Nov – Mar: Weekday, £13; Weekend, £17.

Par 34 (1 par 5, 5 par 4s, 3 par 3s)

Distance: 2874 yards

Moly’s Gross score: 41.

Kingennie 9 Hole – Scordcard

Category: Commercial (Page 9 of 9)

10. Spey Valley; 7th July 2014

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

8. Dalmahoy East; 30th July 2014

2. Piperdam 9 Hole; “Wee Piper”; 12th Dec 2013

3. Kingennie 9 hole; 13th Dec 2013

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