{"id":3260,"date":"2026-10-27T17:07:02","date_gmt":"2026-10-27T17:07:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/?p=3260"},"modified":"2026-10-27T17:39:32","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T17:39:32","slug":"197-seafield-2-may-23","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/?p=3260","title":{"rendered":"197.  Seafield.  2 May 23."},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><strong>Belleisle\u2019s little sister. Born on a racecourse, raised in the shadow of a more renowned sibling.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Price Paid:<\/strong> \u00a319.99 (GolfNow)<br><strong>Current Price (2026):<\/strong> \u00a332 list; \u00a332 GolfNow, with hot deals from \u00a321<br><strong>Value:<\/strong> 4\/5 at \u00a319.99 \/ 3\/5 at \u00a332 \/ 4\/5 at \u00a321<br><strong>Moly\u2019s Score:<\/strong> 85 gross, nett 73, 31 Stableford points (off 12)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video height=\"1080\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1920 \/ 1080;\" width=\"1920\" controls src=\"https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/230502_Seafield_Fran-at-17th_edited-1.mp4\"><\/video><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><strong>Fran with her approach on the 17th. <\/strong><\/em><strong><em>This is not typical of what Seafield looks like<\/em>, most is flat and easy walking.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My final South Ayrshire council course, and the smaller of the two within Belleisle Park. Seafield shares its estate, pro shop and car park with Belleisle (<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/?p=3071\"><strong>Blog 189<\/strong><\/a>), and GolfNow calls it \u201cBelleisle\u2019s Little Sister.\u201d That\u2019s fair, but the family history is more interesting than the nickname.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Long before golf, there were horses. Ayr races were run at Seafield from 1771 on an oval with bends likely to unseat a jockey. Its patrons included the Earl of Eglinton, the Duke of Portland and the Caledonian Hunt, to whom Burns dedicated his Edinburgh edition in 1787. The Ayr Gold Cup, one of the UK&#8217;s richest sprint handicaps, was raced here. In 1907 the track was judged too small for racing which moved to Craigie.  Part of the old oval became part of Seafield golf course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2023-05-02_seafield_hole01_tee1-1-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"http:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2023-05-02_seafield_hole01_tee1-1-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3268\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2023-05-02_seafield_hole01_tee1-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2023-05-02_seafield_hole01_tee1-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2023-05-02_seafield_hole01_tee1-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2023-05-02_seafield_hole01_tee1-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2023-05-02_seafield_hole01_tee1-1-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2023-05-02_seafield_hole01_tee1-1-676x507.jpg 676w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>The 1st, from the elevated tee down into the burn valley. It\u2019s a fine opening view, and one of only a handful of holes with any real change in height.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When golf started here is less clear.  A 1988 greenkeeping article says nine holes were laid out inside the racecourse in 1904, which would have meant golfers dodging racehorses for three years. GolfNow says 1907, then \u201credesigned by James Braid in 1927.\u201d A long-standing course list says 1930. Braid certainly designed Belleisle in 1927. For Seafield, I couldn\u2019t find an independent source that names him, and the 1988 article calls it the \u201cpoor relation.\u201d I suspect the Braid credit came across from big sister along with the shared car park. Until someone shows me a plan with his name on it, it\u2019s unproven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2023-05-02_seafield_hole12_ygreen1-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"http:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2023-05-02_seafield_hole12_ygreen1-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3269\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2023-05-02_seafield_hole12_ygreen1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2023-05-02_seafield_hole12_ygreen1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2023-05-02_seafield_hole12_ygreen1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2023-05-02_seafield_hole12_ygreen1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2023-05-02_seafield_hole12_ygreen1-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2023-05-02_seafield_hole12_ygreen1-676x507.jpg 676w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Behind the 12th green: View House, once the racecourse grandstand. Today it\u2019s boarded-up arches and a toilet block.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The racing connection still stands. View House, built in 1867 by the Ayr architect James McDerment, provided changing rooms and viewing terraces for the Western Meeting and by 1957 was a golf clubhouse. It isn\u2019t anyone\u2019s clubhouse now. Belleisle got the smart new building. Seafield got the leftovers of the racecourse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2023-05-02_seafield_hole13_ygreen3-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"http:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2023-05-02_seafield_hole13_ygreen3-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3270\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2023-05-02_seafield_hole13_ygreen3-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2023-05-02_seafield_hole13_ygreen3-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2023-05-02_seafield_hole13_ygreen3-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2023-05-02_seafield_hole13_ygreen3-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2023-05-02_seafield_hole13_ygreen3-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2023-05-02_seafield_hole13_ygreen3-676x507.jpg 676w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Moly lining up a putt on the 13th beneath ivy-clad Scots pines and the old estate wall. The greens were in good order, with the wall in play on a few holes.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The golf is pleasant. At 5,452 yards off the whites, par 68 with no par 5s, it\u2019s short but not trivial. Fourteen par 4s give it a steady rhythm, and the four par 3s ask enough questions. It sits in a more salubrious part of Ayr than Dalmilling (<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/?p=3158\"><strong>Blog 192<\/strong><\/a>), and it feels like it. The turf and greens were good, and most of the course is flat parkland. The burn valley only comes into play on the 1st and 16th, which are the holes people photograph. I went out in 40 and came home in 45 for 31 points, respectable rather than memorable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/230502_seafield_16th-Moly.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"http:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/230502_seafield_16th-Moly-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3271\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/230502_seafield_16th-Moly-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/230502_seafield_16th-Moly-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/230502_seafield_16th-Moly-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/230502_seafield_16th-Moly-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/230502_seafield_16th-Moly-676x380.jpg 676w, https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/230502_seafield_16th-Moly.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Moly driving off the 16th across the burn and footbridge, with the fairway climbing to the bunkers. This is Seafield at its most dramatic, so enjoy it while it lasts.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two gripes. There were too few rakes for the number of bunkers. And the caf\u00e9 was shut by 3.30pm on a spring afternoon. South Ayrshire markets this place to the world as part of its golf coast. I\u2019m not sure what an American visitor makes of finishing 18 holes in Burns country and finding nowhere to buy a cup of tea.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2023-05-02_seafield_hole05_tee1-1-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2023-05-02_seafield_hole05_tee1-1-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3275\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2023-05-02_seafield_hole05_tee1-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2023-05-02_seafield_hole05_tee1-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2023-05-02_seafield_hole05_tee1-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2023-05-02_seafield_hole05_tee1-1-676x507.jpg 676w, https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2023-05-02_seafield_hole05_tee1-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2023-05-02_seafield_hole05_tee1-1-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>The 14th, a very typical hole at Seafield<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At \u00a319.99 on GolfNow, Seafield is a well-kept, enjoyable 18 holes for less than a round of drinks in the clubhouse it doesn\u2019t have. That\u2019s 4\/5. At \u00a332 list you\u2019re paying a full municipal fee for the lesser course, with Belleisle next door. That\u2019s 3\/5. The \u00a321 hot deals bring it back to 4\/5. It\u2019s a minor course, honestly priced when discounted, and its history is more interesting than its golf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><strong>Facts:<\/strong><\/em><br><em><strong>Course Type:<\/strong> Parkland<\/em><br><em><strong>Par:<\/strong> 68 (0 par 5s, 14 par 4s, 4 par 3s)<\/em><br><em><strong>Distance:<\/strong> 5,452 yards (whites)<\/em><br><em><strong>Course Rating \/ Slope:<\/strong> 66.5 \/ 111<\/em><br><em><strong>Course Quality:<\/strong> 3\/5<\/em><br><em><strong>Moly\u2019s Gross Score:<\/strong> 85<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/230502_Seafield_scorecard.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"806\" src=\"http:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/230502_Seafield_scorecard-1024x806.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3266\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/230502_Seafield_scorecard-1024x806.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/230502_Seafield_scorecard-300x236.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/230502_Seafield_scorecard-768x604.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/230502_Seafield_scorecard-1536x1209.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/230502_Seafield_scorecard-676x532.jpg 676w, https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/230502_Seafield_scorecard.jpg 1985w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Steady round of 85, with all 4s, 5s or 6s.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Belleisle\u2019s little sister. Born on a racecourse, raised in the shadow of a more renowned sibling. Price Paid: \u00a319.99 (GolfNow)Current Price (2026): \u00a332 list; \u00a332 GolfNow, with hot deals from \u00a321Value: 4\/5 at \u00a319.99 \/ 3\/5 at \u00a332 \/ 4\/5 at \u00a321Moly\u2019s Score: 85 gross, nett 73, 31 Stableford points (off 12) My final South [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17,23,35,45,51,19,29,32,9,132,133,15,27,30,38,11,2,18,20,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3260","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-18-holes","category-1901-1945","category-3-star","category-3-5-star","category-ayrshire-arran","category-course-architech","category-course-owned-by","category-course-quality","category-course-type","category-discounts","category-golfnow","category-holes","category-james-braid","category-local-authority","category-overall-value","category-parkland","category-price-range","category-region","category-when-course-established","category-20-39","post-preview"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3260","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3260"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3260\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3282,"href":"https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3260\/revisions\/3282"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3260"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3260"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.scotlandgolfbible.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3260"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}