A Round of Golf – What Could Be Better?
The Perfect Christmas Golfing Gift
As I mentioned last week, one popular Christmas golfing gift idea this year is to send someone off on a short golf trip at the start of 2018!
Booking and playing a round at one of the following courses before the end of March could save you up to 70% of the standard green fee rate!
Once the snow decides to move on, the courses that will be in the best condition between now and the end of March are the links/coastal courses, so I’ve listed some of them below.
All these courses are offering big discounts for playing in the first three months of next year, making them an ideal Christmas golfing gift.
Please read through our ‘Winter Golf Checklist’ before booking.
East Lothian
Craigielaw Golf Club
Craigielaw is a relative newcomer to East Lothian golf. Like all the courses in the area, it is a tough track in the wind and when you take into account that two thirds of the greens are raised to some degree, you soon realise that this course presents many challenges.
The distinctly unstuffy clubhouse is a great place to relax after a round and enjoy the great views of the course, neighbouring Kilspindie golf club, the Firth of Forth and the Edinburgh skyline in the distance. Craigielaw now has its own 24 room accommodation adjacent to the clubhouse.
Winter green fee – £35 from now until 31 March 2018
(40%+ discount off 2017’s standard green fee)
Standard summer green fee – £59 from 2017
Gullane Golf Club
Such is the quality of the courses here that Gullane has hosted not only the Scottish Open in 2015 (won by Rickie Fowler) but it has also been an Open Qualifier course on several occasions. 2018 will be a busy year for Gullane Golf Club as it prepares to once again host the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open and also the Ladies Scottish Open. The first three months of the year may well be the best time to get on these courses.
Gullane No1 – Winter green fee – £75 from now until 31 March 2018
(50% discount off April’s standard green fee)
Gullane No2 – Winter green fee – £41 from now until 31 March 2018
(30% discount off April’s standard green fee)
Gullane No3 – Winter green fee – £29 from now until 31 March 2018
(25% discount off April’s standard green fee)
No 1 – Standard green fee – £150 from 1 April 2018
No 2 – Standard green fee – £59 from 1 April 2018
No 3 – Standard green fee – £39 from 1 April 2018
Longniddry Golf Club
Longniddry is a mix of links and parkland terrain, where the first 6 holes can make or break your round. A bogey 5 at the long 3rd will feel like a par against the prevailing westerly wind, and with 2 par 3s in the first six holes teeing off from elevated positions, into a cross wind, you know you’re being tested. There is also the small matter of the par 4 fifth hole that is just over 300 yards. That shouldn’t trouble you….should it? Put it this way, it’s Longniddry’s signature hole for a reason – enjoy!
Longniddry has just been nominated as qualifying course for the Scottish Open in 2018.
Winter green fee – £30 from now until 31 March 2018
(50% discount off April’s standard green fee)
Standard green fee – £60 from 1 April 2018
North Berwick West Links
You will play over burns and numerous walls – you will play the most copied hole in golf, the par 3 15th (Redan) and you will have to deal with the 16th green, the likes of which you may not have seen before!
North Berwick is very popular most of the year and well worth the visit.
Winter green fee – £55 from 18 December until 28 Feb 2018
(54% discount off the April’s 2018 standard green fee)
Standard green fee – £120 from 1 April 2018
ANGUS region
Monifieth Golf Links
Only a few miles from Carnoustie lies the Medal course at Monifieth. The course is undulating, with gorse and heather never far from the fairway – accuracy is always better than length on this classic links course.
A round on this course will cost £25 and will be played on mats until the end of February 2018. It rises to £35 in March and will increase to £80 as we get into May.
Winter green fee – £25 from now until 28 Feb 2018
(68%+ discount off May’s standard green fee)
Standard green fee – £80 from 1 May 2018
Montrose Links
In terms of hidden gems in Scotland, Montrose links is right up there with the best. It’s not a long course but it is a course you have to manage your way around. If you can negotiate the well positioned bunkers, keep your ball on the fairway and putt well, then you have a chance of building a good score…..I guess that applies to most courses – easier said than done, though!
Winter green fee – £30 from now until 22 March 2018
(62% discount off May’s standard green fee)
Standard green fee – £80 from 1 May 2018
Panmure Golf Club
The links course at Panmure Golf Club is definitely a course worth playing – it is an Open qualifier course and has held numerous regional and national amateur events over the years. It is a fair course but bunkers lurk at most holes to catch over zealous drives. The odd burn and out of bounds will also grab your attention, so accuracy off the tee is key.
Mats will be in use until the end of February 2018 but this is reflected in a very reasonable fee of £30. Fees in March rise to £45 and then up to £105 from 1st May 2018.
Winter green fee – £30 from now until 28 Feb 2018
(71% discount off May’s standard green fee)
Standard green fee – £105 from 1 May 2018
Dumfries and Galloway
Powfoot Golf Club
Powfoot is an easy walking course and offers great value at £23, between now and 26 March 2018. Despite its coastal location on the Solway Firth, it is a mix of links and parkland terrain and there are plenty holes to offer a challenge to golfers of all levels.
Winter green fee – £23 from now until 26 March 2018
(43% discount off the standard summer green fee)
Standard green fee – £40 from 27 March 2018
Wigtownshire County Golf Club
Wigtownshire County is a good links course situated on the shores of Luce Bay. It is a very flat course which some may feel doesn’t offer too much of a challenge. However, when the sea breeze strengthens, this course can provide a test of golf for both high and low handicappers.
The area enjoys a temperate climate, so golfing is possible all year round. Ideal for 36 holes in the one day.
Winter green fee – £18 from now until 15 April 2018
(43% discount off April’s standard green fee)
Standard summer green fee – £32 in 2018
Southerness Golf Club
Not only is Southerness a true links course but also a true hidden gem. Tucked away 16 miles south of Dumfries, the course lies in a beautiful setting on the coast of the Solway Firth.
I would suggest booking Southerness together with rounds at Powfoot GC, Wigtownshire County GC and Portpatrick GC and make a 3-4 day short break out of it. If you book this up before the end of March, you will get four great rounds of golf in for less than £100!
Southerness is definitely one for the bucket list at any time of the year and a perfect golfing gift!
Winter green fee – £35 from now until 25 March 2018
(50% discount off standard green fee from 26 March 2018)
Standard green fee – £70 from 26 March 2018
Ayrshire
Kilmarnock (Barassie) Golf Club
Barassie Links is the championship layout at Kilmarnock (Barassie) Golf Club, which presents a good test for even the best golfers amongst you – and that’s on a calm day!
It has held many high profile events over the years, not least the Final Qualifying for Scottish Open Championship, the Final Qualifying for Senior Open Championship & the Final Qualifying for the Open Championship.
A 4 ball in the summer will cost you £250 but before the end of February 2018 it is reduced by 60% to £100, which equates to £25 per person! I’d book this one whilst you can!
Winter green fee – £40 from Jan to March 2018
(46% discount off May’s standard green fee)
Standard green fee – £75 from May 2018
Irvine Golf Club
Irvine Golf Club is unfairly over shadowed by the neighbouring Open Championship courses of Turnberry, Prestwick & Royal Troon. Irvine is a ‘must play’ course when in the Ayrshire area. It has been a Final Qualifying course for the Open Championship which confirms the quality of the course.
Although set inland, the course sits on links turf and offers a tough challenge for all levels of golfers. The course is just under 6,600 yards, par 71 but the SSS of 73 confirms that you’ll be given a true test out there.
Winter green fee – £30 from now until March 2018
(50% discount off 2017’s standard green fee)
Standard green fee – £60 during 2017
Prestwick Golf Club
The most famous golf competition in the world is perhaps The Open Championship. Prestwick Golf Club holds the honour of being the birthplace of the Open Championship, hosting the first Open in 1860.
It’s been a while since my last outing at Prestwick but the lasting memories were deep bunkers lined with railway sleepers, undulating fairways, immaculate greens and a step back into golfing history. I was playing with a member at the time and was lucky enough to have the full Prestwick experience which included the traditional lunch (jacket & tie required) at the long table in the Dining Room.
Winter green fee – £100 from now until March 2018
(46% discount off May’s standard green fee)
Standard green fee – £185 from May 2018
West Kilbride Golf Club
This 6523 yard championship links course is no stranger to hosting championship golf. It held the Scottish Boys’, British Girls’ and Scottish Women’s Amateur Championships in recent years.
It is a great golf course, with breathtaking views across Irvine Bay and the Firth of Clyde, with the Isle of Arran sitting proudly in the background.
Winter green fee – £30 from now until March 2018
(47% discount off May’s standard green fee)
Standard green fee – £57 from May 2018
Western Gailes
In typical Scottish links fashion, Western Gailes is sandwiched between the railway line and the Firth of Clyde. The prevailing westerly wind will always play a part in your round here, as will the meandering burn and well placed pot bunkers.
Golfing legends such as Gene Sarazen, Harry Vardon, Gary Player, Tom Watson and Tony Jacklin, to name but a few, have all played this course, as have today’s stars such as Luke Donald, Bubba Watson and Rory McIlroy.
Western Gailes should be on every golfer’s wish list and would definitely make a great golfing gift this year!
Winter green fee – £70 from now until February 2018
(57% discount on standard green fee)
Standard green fee – £175 from April 2018.
Please read through our ‘Winter Golf Checklist’ before booking any of the above courses.
And finally……
Hopefully some of the courses above and some from last week’s post will find their way onto your playlist for 2018. As always, please pass these blog post details onto anyone who you feel maybe interested.
Many thanks!
