Tag: Arbroath Golf Course

Winter Golf Deals in the Angus & Fife regions

Winter Golf Deals in the Angus & Fife regions

This week, in the second of three blogs on Scottish Winter Golf, I pick out some of the courses in the Angus and Fife regions that are offering great deals on green fees.

Over the coming months, there are great opportunities to play two Open Championship venues and a number of Open Championship qualifier courses in Angus and Fife.  Not only are the courses are a bit quieter at this time of year but there’s also 50% off green fees in many cases!

The Home of Golf
Views from Montrose Golf Links out to Scurdie Ness Lighthouse

Now, unless the ‘Beast from the East’ returns, most of these links/coastal courses should be fully open throughout the colder months.

We are fortunate to have so many top quality courses offering such great winter golf deals at this time of year.  But, let’s not kid ourselves, apart from the obvious ‘Supply & Demand’ issues, there are other reasons for the discounted rates, such as:

  1. It can get cold, wet & windy out there – waterproofs, woolly beanies & mitts are frequently required!
  2. There may be winter greens in use, in the first few hours, if there is frost about.
  3. There may be winter maintenance works being carried out and the course may have a different layout.
  4. The clubhouse may not be open / available.

These are just a few of the reasons why golf clubs discount their green fees in the winter.  For that reason, I put together a ‘Golfing in the Winter’ checklist last month which you may want to have a quick glance at before booking your next winter round of golf – click HERE.

Next week, I will be highlighting the winter golf deals on the links/coastal courses of East Lothian, Borders, South West Scotland & Ayrshire.  For the time being, here are my course selections from the Angus & Fife regions:

 

Angus Region – Winter Golf Deals

The Home of Golf - Winter Golf

 

Montrose Golf Links – (Open Qualifier Course)
www.montrosegolflinks.com

The Home of Golf - Winter Golf
Montrose Links

In terms of hidden gems in Scotland, Montrose links is right up there with the best.  Golf was first played here, 456 years ago, in 1562 – with history like that, it’s no wonder the main course has been recently rebranded as ‘The 1562 Course’. It’s not a long track but it is an Open qualifier links course that you have to manage your way around – beware of those pot bunkers!

The 1562 Course
Round:   £34 from 1 November to 21 March 2019

Broomfield Course
Round:   £15 from 1 November to 21 March 2019

Winter Membership: £230 from October to 31 March 2019
(includes access to both courses above)

 

Arbroath Golf Links
www.arbroathgolfcourse.co.uk

The Home of Golf - Winter Golf
Arbroath Links

On a strip of links land, wedged between Angus farmland and the East Coast railway line, lies Arbroath Links.  You’ll be tested by well placed bunkers and the ever present sea breeze. Additionally, you’ll have to plot your way over the burns that cross the fairways, on no fewer than nine occasions.

Round:   £12 from 1 November to 31 March 2019

 

Carnoustie Golf Links
www.carnoustiegolflinks.co.uk

The Home of Golf - Winter Golf
Carnoustie

There are three courses at Carnoustie – the Championship Course, The Burnside & the Buddon.  Don’t let the green fees fool you into believing that the Championship Course is 4 times better than the Burnside Course! I am a fan of the Burnside and I believe that if this course was not overshadowed by its Open Championship neighbour, it would gain more recognition as a top Scottish course.  Give it a try, if you’ve not done so before. Winter rates for all courses have been reduced by 50%.

Championship Course
Round:   £100 from 5 November to 31 March 2019

Burnside Course
Round:   £25 from 5 November to 31 March 2019

Buddon Course
Round:   £25 from 5 November to 31 March 2019

The Home of Golf - Winter Golf
Burnside Course, Carnoustie

Panmure Golf Club – (Open Qualifier Course)
www.panmuregolfclub.co.uk

The links course at Panmure Golf Club is definitely worth adding to your agenda, if you are golfing anywhere near this area!  It is an Open qualifier course and has held numerous regional and national events over the years. It is a fair course but bunkers lurk at most holes to catch overzealous drives. The odd burn and out of bounds will also grab your attention, so accuracy off the tee is key.

Round:   £45 from 1 November to 28 February 2019

Panmure Clubhouse - The Home of Golf
Panmure Clubhouse

Monifieth Golf Links – (Open Qualifier Course)
www.monifiethgolf.co.uk

Only a few miles from Carnoustie lie the Medal & Ashludie courses at Monifieth.  The Medal course is an Open qualifier course – its fairways are undulating, with gorse and heather never far away – accuracy is always better than length on this classic links course.

Medal Course
Round:   £25 from 1 December to 28 February 2019

Ashludie Course
Round:   £15 from 1 December to 28 February 2019

Winter Membership:  £125 from 1 November to 31 March 2019
(Winter Ticket – 5 day Medal / 7 day Ashludie)

 

Fife Region – Winter Golf Deals

The Home of Golf - Winter Golf


Scotscraig Golf Club – (Open Qualifier Course)
www.scotscraiggolfclub.com

The Home of Golf - Winter Golf
Scotscraig Golf Club

Scotscraig is the most northerly course in Fife and is virtually equidistant from St Andrews and Carnoustie. The course is a mix of links and heathland terrain.  There is a lot of gorse which looks great in full bloom…. however, you’re unlikely to find your ball if it goes anywhere near it!  Scotscraig is the 13th oldest club in the world and celebrated its 200th anniversary last year. It has also been an Open qualifying course on a number of occasions over the last 35+ years.

Round:   £30 from 1 November to 31 March 2019

5 Day Winter Membership (M-F) – £160 from 15 October to 28 February 2019

 

St. Andrews
www.standrews.com

The courses at St. Andrews need no introduction from the likes of me – all I will say is that whilst you can book tee times online, the only exception is the Old Course where a ballot system is in use.  Check their website for details – www.standrews.com

Old Course
Round: £90 from 1 November to 31 March 2019

New Course
Round: £40 from 1 November to 28 February 2019

Jubilee Course
Round: £40 from 1 November to 28 February 2019

Eden Course
Round: £25 from 1 November to 28 February 2019

Strathtyrum Course
Round: £15 from 1 November to 28 February 2019

Balgove Course – 9 hole
Round: £8 from 1 November to 28 February 2019

Castle Course – closes from 4 November until 1 March 2019
Round: £60 from 1-4 November & 1- 31 March 2019

 

Fairmont St. Andrews
www.fairmont.com

The Fairmont St. Andrews resort sits a few miles south east of St Andrews on a cliff-top spot. The two courses at the resort are new comers to Scottish Golf, only having been open for around 20 years but they both present a good challenge with great views.

The Torrance Course
Round:   £50 from 1 November to 17 March 2019

The Kittocks Course
Round:   £50 from 1 November to 17 March 2019

 

Crail Golfing Society
www.crailgolfingsociety.co.ukThe Home of Golf - Winter Golf

Don’t let the 5800 yardage fool you on Balcomie Links, this course can feel like 7800+ yards in a stiff breeze, where the difficultly, not only lies in playing against or across the wind, but also trying to stop your ball down wind.

Two good tests of golf on both courses, in a beautiful part of Scotland.

Balcomie Links
Round:   £35 from 1 November to 28 February 2019

Craighead Links
Round:   £35 from 1 November to 28 February 2019

 

Golf House Club, Elie
www.golfhouseclub.co.uk

The Home of Golf - Winter Golf
18th Hole, Golf House Club, Elie

Golf has been played over these links since the sixteenth century, by all accounts! Old Tom Morris and James Braid were both involved in the design of the current course layout. A submarine periscope, salvaged from the Royal Navy’s HMS Excalibur, is used to ensure the fairway ahead is clear at the first hole – an intriguing start to your round!

Round:   £47-£49 from 22 October to 22 March 2019
(includes soup or coffee & hot roll)

 

Lundin Links – (Open Qualifier Course)
www.lundingolfclub.co.uk

The Home of Golf - Winter Golf
Lundin Links

Lundin Links sits side by side with Leven Links, separated by the Mile Dyke.  You are tested on this Open qualifying course with deep bunkers, tight fairways, out of bounds, burns, the ever present wind but rewarded with excellent greens and an award winning clubhouse at the 19th.

Round: £30 from 5 November to 31 March 2019 (not available on Saturdays)

 

Leven Links – (Open Qualifier Course)
www.leven-links.com

The Home of Golf - Winter Golf
18th green, Leven Links

Leven Links has been an Open qualifying course on many occasions, in addition to hosting numerous prestigious national, international, professional and amateur events over the years.

Leven is a classic Scottish links course, full of natural dunes, valleys and slopes that will throw or collect your ball in true links style. When the wind gets up it can cause havoc, as your ball appears to take on a mind of its own, on the firm fairways and fast rolling greens. Possibly the toughest par 4 finishing hole in Scotland!

Round: £35 from 1 December to 28 February 2019


I do hope you are able to take advantage of these great green fee rates being offered by some of our top courses.  Please check the course website or facebook page for any updates before your round.


NEXT BLOG POST: Thursday 8 November 2018 – Next week, is the third & final blog post on Scottish Winter Golf Deals.  I’ll be looking at what winter green fee deals are available in East Lothian, Borders, South West Scotland & Ayrshire.

PREVIOUS BLOG POST: from 23 October 2018 – focuses on the Winter Green Fee deals in the Scottish Highlands & the North East – click HERE to read the post from last week.


Tom Kelly the home of golf

Planning a golf trip to Scotland in 2018? Check out these deals first!

Planning a golf trip to Scotland in 2018? Check out these deals first!


With so many great golf courses in our golfing regions, it can be a daunting task to pick a handful of courses when planning a 5-7 day golfing break in Scotland.

To help ease the decision making process, many of the regional golf courses have put their heads together and made available a variety of discount green fees packages with neighbouring golf courses. These packages aim to save you travel time, money and allow you discover some stunning new Scottish courses.

I’ve had a good look at Ayrshire, Angus & Fife this week and here are some of the best packages available in those regions:

Ayrshire

Ayrshire is the birthplace to the Open Championship where the first Open was held at Prestwick Golf Club in 1860. The region is home to 3 Open venues – Prestwick, Royal Troon and Turnberry.The Home of Golf - prestwick KBGC

Ayrshire Open Qualifier Card (www.AyrshireGolfPass.co.uk) *this weblink may be down but I am assured it will be back up soon

This 3 round pass is £170/$223/€190 – add a fourth round at Dundonald Links and the pass becomes £270/$354/€302. However, if you booked all four courses separately the cost would come to £325/$426/€364 – this golf pass would therefore save you £55/$72/€62 (17%) per person.

Gailes Golf Experience (www.gailesgolfexperience.co.uk)

This pass is £260/$341/€291 for 3 rounds (one at each of the above courses). If you booked all courses separately the cost would be £395/$519/€443 – this golf pass would generate a huge saving of £135/$177/€151 (34%) per person.

Prestwick Golf Pass (bookings@prestwickgc.co.uk or +44 (0)1292 477404)

The Home of Golf prestwick st nicholas
The Prestwick Golf Pass allows one round at each of the above for a total of £235/$309/€263 – the cost of booking them separately would be £278/$365/€311 – you would save yourself £38/$50/€43 (14%) per person with this pass.

Golf South Ayrshire (www.golfsouthayrshire.com)

The Braid Trail

This James Braid package is £65/$85/€73 for 3 rounds over the courses above, as opposed to £82/$108/€92 if booked separately – a saving of £17/$22/€19 (20%)

The Home of Golf Belleisle

Troon Links Experience

This package is £65/$85/€73 for 3 rounds over the courses above, in comparison to £90/$118/€100 if booked separately – a saving of £25/$33/€28 (28%)

Angus Region

Angus region is home to Carnoustie Golf links, the venue for the 2018 Open Championship. Their golf passes include the Carnoustie Dream Ticket & the Links Trails and are available from www.carnoustiecountry.com/packages/.

Carnoustie Dream Ticket

The Carnoustie Dream ticket includes one round of golf on each of the above courses for £390/$512/€437 – there is only a saving of £30/$39/€34 (7%) compared to the full price of £420/$551/€470. Better value can found with some of the stay and play packages on Carnoustie Country’s website which include the following courses.

Links Trails


Fife

Fife is steeped in golfing history and has wealth of excellent golf courses in the area.

The ‘Links with History’ golf pass ( www.linkswithhistory.com ) offers you a number of ways to play discounted golf at the following 4 courses:

As long as you play a minimum of 2 courses you will receive apx. 15% discount over the summer months. However, from Nov 2017 through to 31 March 2018 the ‘Links with History’ package is offering a round of golf for £22.50/$29/€25 per person over any of these 4 courses, as long as you play a minimum of 2 of them. This has to be one of the BEST winter season deals this year!

I’ll be having a look at what the Highlands & the North East have to offer next week
 

* I have used 2017 pricing where the 2018 prices were not available.

Some great events and interesting courses to try in October

Some great events and interesting courses to try in October


Free entry to European Tour event plus play Royal Dornoch for half price & a free meal!

Lots happening in October, it really is a great month to come to Scotland. Not only will you save money on travel and accommodation costs, but some golf courses have started to reduce their green fees as well – you may need an extra layer of clothes though!

Here are a handful of events that we have picked out for October:

Dumfries & Galloway
The Wigtown Book Festival (22 Sep – 1 October 2017)
www.wigtownbookfestival.com

Wigtown is a traditional market town, set in the beautiful countryside of Dumfries & Galloway. It is also Scotland’s National Book Town. There are only a few days left of this year’s festival but taking part this week are Chris Brookmyre, Judy Murray, Roy Hattersley, Martin Bell, Gavin Esler, Jeremy Bowen and Mairi Hedderwick

Golf courses to play, if you are in the area, are: https://wigtownshirecountygolfclub.com (M-F £32/$43/€37), possibly one of the flatter courses you will play. On the following courses at PortPartrick Golf Club (after 230pm £30/$40/€34) & Stranraer Golf Club (from 16 Oct £20/$26/€23) you will have some fantastic views.

The Home of Golf - Stranraer Loch Ryan
Stranraer Golf Club over looking Loch Ryan

 

Central
The Enchanted Forest, Pitlochry (28 September – 29 October 2017)
www.enchantedforest.org.uk

As this show is in the evening, you won’t be missing out on any golf. The Enchanted Forest is renowned for being Scotland’s premier sound and light experience and attracted over 70,000 visitors in 2016. Tickets are selling fast and with less that 1,000 tickets available, the event will be sold out soon.

The Enchanted Forest team won the ‘Best Cultural Event in the UK’ at the UK Event Awards in London in December 2016.

The Home of Golf Pitlochry

If you decide to stay in or around Pitlochry for this event, then the golf courses to play in the area are Pitlochry GC – if you can play on a Wednesday its only £15/$20/€17 otherwise its £30/$40/€34 – it’s a short but challenging 18 hole course. It’s hilly but that means you will have some great views. Along the road, you will be equally delighted with a different challenge at the excellent 9 hole course at Blair Atholl Golf Club (£24/$32/€28 for 18 holes).

Fife & Angus
The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship (5-8 October 2017) The Home of Golf - alfred Dunhill Links Championship
alfreddunhilllinks.com

You may want to plan your trip around the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship that runs from 5 – 8 October this year. This European Tour event is played over St Andrews Old Course, Kingsbarns and Carnoustie. Entry is free on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday but there is a £20 fee on the final day (Sunday) at St Andrews.

There are too many golf courses to mention them all in one post, but if you’re staying near Kingsbarns then you must try and play Balcomie Links at Crail where the weekend green fee reduces from £85 to £47/$63/€54.   Further around the coast you will find the excellent links course at Elie – green fees are currently w/d £77 & w/e £88 but these reduce to w/d £45/$60/€51 & w/e £48/$65/€55 from 16 October.

The Home of Golf Monifieth
The Medal, Monifieth Golf Links

If you’re near St.Andrews or Dundee then Scotscraig Golf Club (after 1:30pm £45/$60/€51) , Downfield Golf Club (£45/$60/€51), Monifieth Golf Links (£60/$80/€69) & Panmure Golf Club (from 15 Oct – £60/$80/€69) have to be on the bucket list.

If you are staying north of Carnoustie then book Arbroath Golf Course where you will get a round of golf, soup and sandwich for £20/$26/€23.  Moving a little further north, the medal course at Montrose Golf Links  £50/$67/€57 won’t disappoint.


Fort William/Lochaber
The Royal National Mòd (13-21 October 2017)
http://www.ancomunn.co.uk/nationalmod

Famous for celebrating our Gaelic linguistic and cultural heritage, Scotland’s premier Gaelic festival provides opportunities for people of all ages to perform across a range of competitive disciplines including Gaelic music and song, highland dancing, instrumental, drama, sport and literature.

If you are attending Royal National Mòd then why not get along to Fort William Golf Club (£30/$40/€34) – it is an 18 hole course nestled at the foot of Ben Nevis (Britain’s highest mountain). The Course measures 6217 yards off the white tees, 5464 yards off the yellow tees and 4850 yards off the Ladies tees.


Dornoch
The Dornoch Whisky Festival (27-30 October 2017)
https://www.dornochwhiskyfestival.com

Now in its 3rd year, The Dornoch Whisky Festival is an opportunity to learn about and savour malt whiskies in the beautiful location of Dornoch in the North Highlands of Scotland. A festival programme can be view on their website above.

The Home of Golf Royal DornochAn opportunity, not to be missed, is that you have the chance to play Royal Dornoch on Sunday 30 Oct for half price. Royal Dornoch needs little introduction but it is without a doubt one of Scotland’s finest courses.

The normal rate in October is listed as £130 but for the Stableford Competition, as part of the Dornoch Whisky Festival, the fee has been reduced to £65 plus a coffee and bacon roll before the round, a course planner, souvenir bag tag and a whisky miniature with a one-course meal after the golf – the event is open to both men and women who have an official CoNGU handicap – now that’s a great deal but book soon!

Three other courses to play in the area are: Brora Golf Club, Golspie Golf Club and Tain Golf Club.

Tain Golf Club state on their website that if you play on a Tuesday or a Thursday after 2pm the green fee reduces to £25/€29/$34 – this will give you just enough daylight to get round throughout October.

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