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| Home Scottish Links Golf The Basics Detailed information AFSD - how to determine the real length of a golf course Helpful Websites Platinum Page Upscale golfing products & services Aberdeen & Grampian Highlands Royal Aberdeen, Cruden Bay... Ayrshire Royal Troon, Turnberry, Prestwick... Just east of Edinburgh Scotland's Golf Coast NorthBerwick, Muirfield, Gullane... Northern Highlands Boat of Garten Bonar Bridge Ardgay Brora Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golspie Nairn Nairn Dunbar Royal Dornoch Strathpeffer Tain St. Andrews area Other golf courses Machrihanish, Pitlochry... Links Lite Great links golf for the not-so-great golfer Donate What others say |
Golspie Golf Club ©
James Braid, the designer of such gems as Gleneagles, Carnoustie, Nairn, Brora and Boat of Garten, must have had a challenging time designing Golspie. The terrain on which it's built romps from links to heathland then jumps to wooded parkland. It's a testament to his vivid imagination and design skills that he could rise to the challenge and create eighteen holes that intertwine the topography so seamlessly. This is one golf course few, if any, golf tour operators visit. That's the advantage of independent golf travel--you can pick and choose among the lesser known but nevertheless terrific golf courses such as Golspie. And it's kept in great shape. Consider this: One of Scottish golf's most prestigious accolades awarded by the Golf Tourism Scotland was given to Alexander Macdonald, the head greenkeeper at Golspie Golf Club at their annual awards dinner in 2009. In giving the award Ian McCaig of the Scottish Golf Classics commented, "We host the Highland Golf Classic on an annual basis featuring Royal Dornoch, Tain, Brora and Golspie courses. Every year we come north we are always conscious of the players' comments and their views of playing golf in such a unique area. Golspie is the least known of the four courses on the rota but never fails to surprise the visitors with its charm and quality. This year the effect was even more noticeable with comments on the quality of the course..." Like so many golf courses in this area, it all begins innocently enough with an unexceptional looking par 4. At 385 yards from the visitor's tees it seems to offers no problem--and it doesn't. But this hole, and the next five holes, are typical of the Scottish links golf holes, and on this first hole your second shot must negotiate a deep depression and a series of moguls to a smallish green. The next five or so holes on the outward links layout tiptoe along the shore obediently following the outlines that nature decreed hundreds of thousands of years ago. There are deep depressions, huge gullies, ripples and bumps, and all patterns natural that you'll be hitting or rolling your ball over. The beginning links golf holes are a wonderful treat.
How fortunate for golfers traveling independently because you get to play a course like Golspie and at such moderate fees.
By now your blood is up and you're thick into the challenge. But then the curtain goes down on the first act and the second act begins as you gently transition to the more heathlands part of the golf course, with fabulous number 9 called Paradise, to negotiate. This is one of Braid's gems swirling its way through the heathland in a gentle dogleg left with deep rough on either side and two bunkers hungrily anticipating your approach.
The final act is through the more parkland terrain of this unconventional golf course ending with a difficult 437 yard par 4 that has dramatic changes in elevation on the fairway with a deep gully in front of the green.
You'll be hard-pressed to play a more unusual golf course than Golspie. I was with two friends and we were unanimous in our praise of this jewel. I feel sure you'll agree.It was my first round on Golspie and it quickly shot up to one of my must re-plays. Now I play it every time I'm in the area. From the time you arrive to check in with friendly Jeanette Cummings to the time you leave after having had a a pint or two and some well-prepared food in the unassuming clubhouse, you'll be treated to golf as it should be played and has been played in these parts since James Braid put pencil to paper to create it 100 years ago.
Golspie -- "unanimous praise for this jewel" - 11 miles north of Dornoch. Turn right on Ferry Road off the A9. The golf club is at the seafront.
Golf Nook Scotland Rating - BIRDIE www.golspie-golf-club.co.uk . |
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