Golf in the Scottish Borders (3/4)
Golf in the Scottish Borders – (Part 3 of 4)
The Scottish Borders is a region in Scotland full of castles, abbeys, stately homes, museums and historic buildings, some still standing and some in ruins. Additionally, the area is famed for its scenery, fishing, rugby & textiles – so where does golf fit in, in the Scottish Borders?
Well I decided to head south to re-aquaint myself with Scottish Borders Golf and find out for myself. The result is a series of four blogs on ‘Golf in the Scottish Borders’ – this is part three of four, with links to the previous blogs here – part 1 & part 2.
Today I am featuring The Woll Golf Course, situated between Hawick & Selkirk, where you can get free golf – keep reading to find out how! I’ll also be highlighting 3 other courses in the Scottish Borders that are worth a visit.
There is a huge amount to do in the Scottish Borders apart from golf, so I’ll touch upon some of the other activities and places of interest in the area, at the end of the blog.
Today’s Featured Course
The Woll Golf Course
The golf club sits within the New Woll Estate, which is run by the Brown family. Interestingly, there are six ‘4 star’ self-catering properties overlooking the course and if you stay in one of them, you get free golf – yes, free golf!
Whilst the properties are self-catering, the club has a restaurant and bar open throughout the day/evening in case you are not minded to cook for yourself.
The Course
The accommodation package seems like a great deal but what is the course like?
Well, in a nutshell, I like the course a lot. It is a parkland course with a burn, water features, traditional stone built walls, a bit of elevation and a good variety of holes.
First six holes – relatively flat
The first four holes work their way westward, across and along the side of the Woll Burn, which is eventually separated from the course by a stone built wall.
You reach the furthest point west at the 5th hole, which is a lovely par 3, with a water feature and a couple of bunkers that should not trouble you, if you choose the right club.
The 6th hole is lined by the perimeter wall which runs down the left hand side and there is a water feature just short right of the elevated green. You’ll want to keep your ball left of the flag on the approach to this green because if you miss the green right, everything runs down to the water feature.
Middle six holes – undulately
Holes 7, 9 & 10 work their way back and forth over undulating terrain. The two par 3s at 8 & 11 are similar in length at 170 yards but the 8th plays flat along a tree-lined fairway and the 11th is straight downhill with ‘out of bounds’ looming closely down the left.
Two back-to-back par 5s greet you at the 12th & 13th, bringing you down to a flatter part of the course. At 573 yards, the 12th is a tough hole but the 510 yards 13th will offer birdie opportunities.
Final six holes – relatively flat (Exc. 16th)
For a birdie opportunity at the 310-yard par 4 14th, you will have to avoid the out of bounds down the right. If you keep your ball to the left of the fairway and avoid being blocked out by a large tree short right of the green, you’re in with a chance!
Two strong par 3s remain at the 15th & 17th with a great par 4 16th wedged in between.
The 16th tee is the highest point on the course and gives you a great view down to the fairway and the green beyond.
The 17th is a very testing par 3. You will have to cross the water twice and have enough elevation on your shot to stop the ball on the green! Anything stopping on the bank, short of the green, is likely to roll back and get wet. Easier said than done!
The course has five par 3s, all under 172 yards in length, it has three par 5s and of the remaining ten par 4s, only two are over 400 yards! This is definitely a course you can score on but it will depend on how you deal with the middle six holes and three of the final four holes at 15th through to the 17th.
The Woll Golf Course is a lovely course and absolutely ideal for an enjoyable break in the Scottish Borders. Needless to say, their free golf offer is popular so ‘book early to avoid disappontment’ as they say! I’m definitely up for booking a few nights here – might even manage 36 holes a day!
Hawick Golf Club
Located on Vertish Hill on the outskirts of Hawick, the course is a tricky hillside test for golfers of all abilities. The tight opening holes along the road, lead on to holes that climb and wind their way up the hill.
The highest point on the course is the 15th tee where you will be rewarded with breath taking views over Hawick and the surrounding countryside.
There are no par 5s on the course and three of the four par 3s are around the 200-yard mark. Four of the par 4s are over 400 yards and when combined with elevation changes, slopes, gorse and trees, you know you’re in for a challenge on this course.
Founded in 1877, Hawick Golf Club is the oldest club in the Scottish Borders. Over the years, Nick Faldo set the course record at 64 and Tony Jacklin and Colin Montgomery became honorary members. Bill McLaren, BBC commentator and the voice of Scottish Rugby, was made a lifetime member. The club named the 16th hole ‘McLaren’s Miracle’ after he had a hole in one at this downhill par 4!
The club have a Senior Open 15 August (£12) and a Gents Open on 18 August (£15)
Melrose Golf Club
The town of Melrose in the Scottish Borders is the birthplace of Rugby Sevens – their own annual tournament, the Melrose 7s, dates back to 1883. Three years earlier, in 1880, Melrose Golf Club was founded.
The 9 hole course sits at the foot of the Eildon Hills and is a very picturesque, parkland layout. There are eight par 4s and one par 3 on this gently sloping track.
A quick glance at the scorecard, suggests that the course is short, with only one par 4 over 400 yards. This maybe the case but, only by going out onto the course, do you realise that it has plenty of defense in all sorts of other ways.
The first four holes take you straight out to the furthest point on the course. On reaching the 4th green/5th tee you have great views down the course and out onto the Eildon Hills.
The 8th hole is without doubt the toughest on the course – apart from being the longest hole, you will also have a blind tee shot to a downhill fairway that also slopes off to the right.
The 9th hole shows off most of Melrose Golf Club’s defenses – it’s tree-lined, has out of bounds down the right, a burn runs down the hole and across the front of the green to a water feature short left and finally a 4-5 foot drop off at the back of the green ensures you focus on your final approach shot.
Melrose is a delightful 9 hole course and has plenty variety on each hole – your game will be tested here, so it’s well worth a visit.
St Boswells Golf Club
St Boswells Golf Club is another scenic 9 hole course based in the Scottish Borders. It’s a short, tree-lined course that runs along the River Tweed.
There are three par 3s on the course and they all come within the first four holes. One par 5 and five par 4s make up the rest.
Once the 2nd hole leads you down to the lower part of the course, level with the Tweed, its an easy walking course from there on.
The club has a Gents Open on 18 August (£10), a Senior Open Greensome on 22 August (£12/couple) and a Texas Scramble on 9 September (£40/team of 4).
Other non-golfing activities in the Scottish Borders
There is so much to do for both golfers and non-golfers in the Scottish Borders, plenty places to stay and many places to eat and drink in all the main towns.
- Fishing on the River Tweed and the River Teviot.
- Mountain biking at Glentress
- Plenty Hill walking, canoeing/kayaking & cycling to name a few.
Places to Visit (click the links for websites details):
Castles:
- Thirlestane Castle, Lauder
- Hume Castle, Kelso
- Hermitage Castle, Newcastleton
- Floors Castle
- Jedburgh Castle Jail & Museum
Abbeys:
Museums:
- Hawick Museum & Scott Art Gallery
- Eyemouth Museum
- Jim Clark Room (currently closed until Spring 2019)
- Coldstream Museum
- Museum at Gungreen House
- The John Buchan Story
Exhibitions/Visitor Centres/Gardens:
Historic Buildings:
- Paxton House
- Mellerstain House & Gardens
- Borders Textile Towerhouse
- Smailholm Tower
- Old Gala House
- Bowhill House & Country Estate
- Traquair House
- Abbotsford House
Part 1 of ‘Golf in the Scottish Borders’ can be read here – Golf in the Scottish Borders Part 1
Part 2 of ‘Golf in the Scottish Borders’ can be read here – Golf in the Scottish Borders Part 2
NEXT BLOG will be out in a few days – why not follow me on Instagram, Twitter &/or Facebook to keep up to date.
