Winter Golf Deals in the Angus & Fife regions

By Tom Kelly - TheHomeofGolf | October 31, 2018

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:

It can get cold, wet & windy out there – waterproofs, woolly beanies & mitts are frequently required!
There may be winter greens in use, in the first few hours, if there is frost about.
There may be winter maintenance works being carried out and the course may have a different layout.
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

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

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

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

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

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

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 13^th oldest club in the world and celebrated its 200^th 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.uk

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

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

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 19^th.

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

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

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.

Scottish Winter Green Fee Deals – Highlands & The North East

By Tom Kelly - TheHomeofGolf | October 23, 2018

Plenty Winter Green Fee
Deals To Keep The Golf
Clubs Out Over The Winter

There is no doubt that winter is approaching but that doesn’t mean it’s the end of the golf season for all of us! The reason I say this is because I have been looking at what some Scottish golf clubs are offering, in terms of winter green fee deals and winter memberships over the coming months.

We are very fortunate in Scotland to have so many links & coastal courses that are playable throughout most of the winter, without having to use winter greens. As a result, this can be a great time to golf on Scottish links/coastal courses for a fraction of the price….albeit, with an extra layer or two of clothing!

Most courses are so much quieter at this time of year and, in many cases, the winter green fee has been discounted by 30-70% or more from the summer rate. Furthermore, if you are lucky enough to have the course to yourself, on crisp winter day, with little or no wind and clear blue skies, you may start to convince yourself that there is no better time, than the winter, to play links golf in Scotland.

The Home of Golf - Cruden Bay - Winter Green Fee — Cruden Bay on a late winter afternoon

I have picked out a number of links/coastal courses in the Highlands and the North East, this week, that are not only offering great discount deals but are also likely to have their full course open all winter. Over the next couple of weeks, I will be highlighting more courses throughout the other regions of Scotland that are also offering great winter green fee deals over the next few months.

Take a quick look at our post from last month ‘Golfing in the Winter’ (click here) – it’s a short checklist which highlights 17 things that you may want to consider before booking your next winter round.

Highlands – Winter Green Fee Deals

Reay GC
www.reaygolfclub.co.uk

The most northerly 18-hole links course on mainland Britain.

Round: £15 winter green fee from October to 31 March 2019

Winter Membership: £90 from October to 31 March 2019

The Home of Golf - North Coast 500 - Winter Green Fee — Reay GC

Wick Golf Club
www.wickgolfclub.org.uk

The outstanding feature of Wick Golf Course is the sand dunes that run the length of the course. This links course is a classic ‘straight-out-straight-back’ layout, with amazing views over Sinclair Bay, out to the Noss Head peninsula and its lighthouse!

Round: £20 winter green fee from November to March 2019

Golspie GC
www.golspiegolfclub.co.uk

Designed by James Braid, Golspie GC is situated on the Dornoch Firth and is a mix of classic links, heathland and parkland holes.

Round: £15 winter green fee from October to 31 March 2019

Royal Dornoch GC
www.royaldornoch.com

Royal Dornoch draws many people to the area because it is regarded as one of the best courses in the world and few would argue with that! This winter you can play the course for £90 which is less than half the price of next summer’s rate.

Round: £90 winter green fee from November to 31 March 2019

Tain GC
www.tain-golfclub.co.uk

Tain is an Old Tom Morris designed links that overlooks the Dornoch Firth. It has everything that you would expect from a top quality links course in this region; undulating fairways, heather and gorse, a meandering burn, sea views and greens that are in good condition throughout the year.

Round: £28-30 winter green fee from 1 November to 31 March 2019

Fortrose & Rosemarkie GC
www.fortrosegolfclub.co.uk

This award-winning links course sits on a peninsula, flanked by the Moray Firth. Fort George lies just across the water, Chanonry lighthouse sits at the end of the course and after your round, you can unwind in the recently refurbished clubhouse which has great views over the course, the Moray Firth and surrounding area!

Round: £25 (M-F) £35 (w/end) winter green fee from 1 November to 10 March 2019

Nairn GC
www.nairngolfclub.co.uk

This is a true championship links course and it has held numerous national and international events over the years. Plenty of gorse and heather guard the fairways, so accuracy will win over length. The views of the Moray Firth, on all the holes, make this former Walker Cup course a scenic delight in the Highlands.

Round: £50 winter green fee from 1 November through to 27 March 2019

Nairn Dunbar GC
www.nairndunbar.com

Nairn Dunbar sits on the east side of Nairn and is a challenging 6,700+ yard, par 72 course. This championship links course is situated on the Moray Firth coast and provides a good test of golf, with great views to match.

Round: £25 winter green fee from November to 31 March 2019

The Home of Golf - Nairn Dunbar - Winter Green Fee — Nairn Dunbar GC

Castle Stuart Golf Links

Castle Stuart Golf Links would be on the ‘Highlands’ list but it closes over the winter from 17^thNov until 29^thMarch 2019.

North East – Winter Green Fee Deals

The Home of Golf - Winter Green Fee — Winter Golf route in the North East of Scotland

Hopeman GC
www.hopemangolf.club

“The 12th hole at Hopeman Golf Club is one of the best par 3s I have ever played”
as quoted by Paul Lawrie, Open Champion 1999.

They have a number of other holes that you’ll enjoy. Furthermore, this is a real hidden gem in the North East and worth stopping at.

Round: £15 winter green fee from October to December 2018

Winter Membership – £100 to 31 March 2019

Moray GC – Old & New
www.moraygolf.co.uk

The Old Course at Moray Golf Club is a fine links course indeed. A classic links, designed by Old Tom Morris, with deep bunkers, undulating, gorse-lined fairways and smooth fast greens. As a result, it’s ideal for winter golf and has a great 6 month winter membership deal at £150.

Round: Old Course – £30 winter green fee from 1 November to 31 December 2018
Round: New Course – £15 winter green fee from 1 November to 31 December 2018

Winter Membership – £150 from October to March 2019

The Home of Golf - Moray GC - Winter Green Fee — 1st tee Moray Golf Club

Buckpool GC
www.buckpoolgolf.com

Elevated above sea level, Buckpool Golf Course has great views across the Moray Firth towards the hills of Caithness. You will encounter gorse-lined fairways, challenging greens and cavernous bunkers to test your game!

Winter Membership – £150

Strathlene GC
www.strathlenegolfclub.co.uk

Strathlene is a cliff top links style course with fabulous view over the Moray Firth.

Round: £12 winter green fee from October to 31 March 2019

Winter Membership – £80 from October to March 2019

Cullen Links
www.cullenlinksgolf.co.uk

Cullen Links is a short but interesting true links course. It was originally a 9 hole course laid out by Old Tom Morris but has been extended to 18 holes. The views, from the elevated position on the 7^thtee, over the course and out to the Moray Firth are worth the visit and, incredibly, £50 will get you 5 months winter membership until the end of March 2019. Seems like a bargain to me!

Round: £15 winter green fee to 31 March 2019

Winter Membership – £50

The Home of Golf - Cullen Links - Winter Green Fee

Inverallochy GC
www.inverallochygolfclub.com

Inverallochy is an 18 hole links course with sea views on every hole. It is a short course with six par 3s, three of which are around the 200 yard mark. As with most links courses, it will feel like twice the length, if the wind gets the better of you.

Round: £10 winter green fee to 31 March 2019

Winter Membership – £100 from 1 October to 1 March 2019

Peterhead GC
www.peterheadgolfclub.co.uk

As you arrive at the car park at Peterhead Golf Club, you may think you’ve taken a wrong turn. Fear not, access, to the course, is by foot across the bridge, over the River Ugie which gives the course a feeling of seclusion. The Craigewan Links at Peterhead has got some great holes once you reach the dunes area and when you add in the views, you’ll be well satisfied at the end of 18 holes.

Round: £35 winter green fee from 1 November to 31 March 2019

Cruden Bay GC
www.crudenbaygolfclub.co.uk

If you haven’t played Cruden Bay before then, I would suggest putting it on your golfing bucket list, if you’re a fan of links golf. In the late afternoon, the shadows cast by the undulating fairways, in the setting sun, make this course all the more dramatic. Additionally, the views looking down onto the course, from the elevated clubhouse at the end of the day, are spectacular and will leave a lasting memory. It is £55 to play over the winter but more than double that to play the course next summer.

Round: £55 winter green fee from 1 November to 31 March 2019

Winter Membership – £235 from 1 November to 31 March 2019

Newburgh on Ythan GC
www.newburghgolfclub.co.uk

Another hidden gem in this region, Newburgh on Ythan has been overshadowed by Cruden Bay to the north and Murcar & Royal Aberdeen to the south. Go and play it and then tell everyone about it.

Round: £30 winter green fee from November to 8 March 2019

Trump International
www.trumpgolfscotland.com

On my first visit to Trump International Golf Links at Aberdeen, I couldn’t help but feel similarities with Cruden Bay, in terms of the views looking down on the course from the clubhouse. Unsurprising really, as there is only 16 miles between them. £75 (plus proof of Scottish residency) will get you a game here which is a sizeable discount off their standard summer green fee.

Round: £75 winter green fee from 1 Nov to 31 Dec 2018 for those with proof of Scottish residency

The Home of Golf - Trump International - Winter Green Fee — Trump International Golf Links, Aberdeen

Murcar Links
www.murcarlinks.com

Murcar Links is 10 minutes from Aberdeen and sits amongst the sand dunes, heather and whins of this fine golf coast. It held a European Tour event in 2015, the Paul Lawrie Match Play, where Kiradech Aphibarnrat beat Robert Karlsson in the final.

Round: £55 winter green fee from 1 November to 31 March 2019

Winter Membership: £180 from November to 28 February 2019

Royal Aberdeen GC
www.royalaberdeengolf.com

Right next door to Murcar is Royal Aberdeen – the Balgownie links at Royal Aberdeen has been host to many national and international events throughout the years but the most notable recent European Tour event was the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open in July 2014 where Justin Rose won by 2 shots over the chasing pack. You can play between the end of October and 14 April 2019 for £90, which is less than half the price of a round next summer.

Round: £90 winter green fee from 26 October to 14 April 2019

The Home of Golf - Royal Aberdeen - Winter Green Fee

Stonehaven GC
www.stonehavengolfclub.com

The cliff top course at Stonehaven Golf Club maybe short but the elevation changes and the wind will make it feel longer. The stunning views of the North Sea, Stonehaven Bay and also Dunnottar Castle will simply add to the experience.

Round: £12 winter green fee from October to 31 January 2019

NEXT BLOG POST: Wednesday 31 October 2018 – If this week’s blog is too far north for you, I’ll be taking a look, next week, at what the courses in the Angus & Fife regions are offering over the winter.

Golfing in the Winter – 2018/19

By Tom Kelly - TheHomeofGolf | September 30, 2018

17 Things To Consider Before
Golfing In The Winter In Scotland

The Home of Golf - North Coast 500

Golfing in the Winter in Scotland has many benefits – you can, at times, have the course to yourself, you can get around a lot quicker, green fees can be 30-70% cheaper than summer time, to name a few.

However, whenever playing any Scottish course over the winter, there are 17 things you may want to consider before heading off, it’ll help manage expectations.

The Home of Golf’s
WINTER CHECKLIST

The Course

Conditions may require you to use fairway mats when golfing in the winter months.
Are there any winter tees or winter greens in play?
What condition are the greens in?
ie: have they been recently cored? left uncut to protect from frost, etc?
Are there any major winter course works in progress at the moment?
ie: Is the full course available or is it a composite/winter course?

Times / When to Play

Can we play at weekends? (many clubs restrict visitors on Saturdays to allow members to play)
What are the earliest/latest times for teeing off? (restricted daylight hours in winter)
You may want to consider teeing off a bit later, as frost can hit many courses early in the morning, resulting in the use of winter greens for the first few hours.
Another reason for considering a later tee time is that fog/mist (haar) can also delay an early start on our coastlines, particularly on the East coast.

The Clubhouse

The Home of Golf - Glencorse Golf Club

Will the clubhouse be open when we arrive or when we get back in? (restricted hours in winter)
When does the kitchen close/last orders?
Are there changing / showering facilities for visitors?
If the clubhouse is not open, is there a professional shop?

Other Stuff When Golfing in the Winter

Does the club require us to bring along handicap certificates?
Be aware that Buggies are not always available due to wet &/or icy conditions.
Take some extra layers; it can get cold out there, particularly if the wind gets up!
Take a dry set of clothes with you……. just in case!
What is the club’s cancellation process – in terms of frost, fog, etc?

Green fees are substantially reduced when golfing in the winter, which means that if there are restricted tee times or mats required and winter greens in play, then these are the reasons for the discounted rate.

Wrap up & enjoy!

NEXT BLOG POST: Tues 23rd October 2018 – I’ll be highlighting many of the golf courses offering discounted winter green fees & winter memberships in the Scottish Highlands and the North East

Four good reasons to golf in Midlothian!

By Tom Kelly - TheHomeofGolf | August 21, 2018

Midlothian sits just south of Scotland’s capital. It’s an ideal spot for a few days break and it has more than enough things going on, to keep you occupied, without necessarily having to venture in to the city of Edinburgh.

The area is a perfect place for outdoor activities such hiking/walking, as the Pentland Hills have over 100km of waymarked routes, for all levels of fitness.

There are historic landmarks and buildings to visit, of which Rosslyn Chapel, as seen in the film, The Da Vinci Code, is one of many.

From skiing, mid-summer, at the Midlothian Snowsports Centre at Hillend, to taking a walk on the wildside at The Edinburgh Butterfly & Insect World, there is something for everyone! I’ve listed a number of activities in the area, at the end of the blog and also listed some accommodation nearby.

….and of course, there’s always golf – I visited four clubs in Midlothian this month and here’s what I found!

Newbattle Golf Club, Midlothian
www.newbattlegolfclub.com

Location

The Home of Golf - Newbattle Golf Club — Newbattle Golf Club

Newbattle Golf Club is 2 miles from the Edinburgh City bypass, 25 minutes from Edinburgh Airport and 60 minutes from Glasgow.

The Course

Newbattle Golf Club can date its origins as far back as 1880 when the club was called, Dalkeith Golf Club. In 1896, the club changed its name to form Dalkeith and Newbattle Golf Club.

Dalkeith and Newbattle Golf Club continued until 1934, when a final name change to Newbattle Golf Club was established. This also coincided with the club moving to its present site.

The 5,912 yard par 69 layout was designed by the well known golf architect, Harry Colt in 1933 and opened in 1934.

Surrounded by trees, the majority of this Midlothian parkland course sits on gently sloping land. The River South Esk separates the first two holes and the last two holes from the rest of the course. Linking the two sections of the course is the Maiden Bridge, built by the monks of Newbattle Abbey in the late 15^th century.

Holes

A large tree at the first hole invites you to play down the left, which is no bad thing as this is the best angle into a green. This first green slopes away from you and there is out of bounds not far behind.

The second is a great wee hole. It’s a 262 yard dogleg right, par four and you tee off from an elevated tee down to the fairway below. The hole is called Maiden Bridge, after the bridge that sits behind the green, as mentioned above.

The first real test comes at the 5th hole where you’ll have 438 yards of a gradual incline to the hole. You are rewarded with great views on the 5th green/ 6th tee over the Midlothian countryside to Arthur’s Seat in the heart of Edinburgh.

The 6th is another tough 423 yard hole and plays into the prevailing westerly wind.

If you find the first six holes a tough challenge, then there is a bit of respite over the next six. Four of the par 4s average around 329 yards between the 7^th & 12th. These par 4s are broken up with two good par 3s at the 8th and the 11th.

The 8th is a great par 3. It’s only 169 yards but it’s downhill and, as you’re playing into a corner of the course, surrounded by trees, you’re never 100% sure what the wind is going to do!

The par 3, 11th is flat and a little bit longer than the 8th, at 171 yards. The green has five bunkers around it, although, depending on where you’re teeing from you may only see three…. but, trust me, the other two are there!

Another good hole appears shortly after, in the form of the par 5, 13th “Lucky Dip”. This dogleg left is on, for the big hitters, as you may have a the prevailing wind behind you and the last third of the hole is down hill.

Your last really tough hole is the very next one at the 14th. This 236 yard par 3 plays into the prevailing wind to a green guarded by three bunkers. Par here is a great score and bogey is certainly no disgrace!

The final four holes are par 4s and all are around the 360 yard mark but it’s the 17th that’s the real standout hole for me.

From an elevated tee, you play over the River South Esk down to the fairway below. If you decide to go for the green with your second then your shot will be back up to an elevated green. With trees on both sides of the green and bunkers front right and left, narrowing the entrance, accuracy is key here.

There are a number of really good holes on this golf course that will test your game. It’s a relatively easy walking track and one that I will return to without hesitation.

Opens

Only one Open left at Newbattle and that’s a Seniors Mixed Open Greensomes on Wednesday 5th September.

Broomieknowe Golf Club, Midlothian
www.broomieknowe.com

Location

The Home of Golf - Broomieknowe Golf Club — Broomieknowe Golf Club

Broomieknowe GC is 2 miles from Edinburgh City bypass, 25 minutes from Edinburgh Airport and 60 minutes from Glasgow.

The Club/Course

The club was founded in 1905 and the original course was designed and laid out by Ben Sayers of North Berwick. The course was untouched until 1932 when none other than five times Open Champion, James Braid was hired to alter and extend Sayers’ layout.

The course would remain the same for 60 years until the construction of the Edinburgh City Bypass in 1992. Whilst some ground was lost at this time, another five holes were built on adjacent ground. By the time this work was complete, Broomieknowe GC measured 6,172 yards with a par of 70.

The course is a parkland layout, with its main defence being tight, tree lined fairways and well placed bunkers throughout.

Holes

The first three holes allow you to get off to a gentle start, on the basis you’re hitting it straight. Length is not an issue but anything too far right or left will leave you chipping out of trees or being blocked out for your second.

A distinct change in layout comes, beyond the walled path, at the short 4^th, which plays over more undulating terrain.

The 5^th hole is a great 167 yard, par 3, which plays down to a green, guarded at the front by three bunkers. Trees and bushes aren’t far from the other three sides of the green.

Holes 6 & 7 are two really good testing par 4s and it’s no wonder that they are stroke index 4 & 3 respectively.

You get a chance to get a stroke back at the 8^th hole. It’s a 467 yard, par 5 (back tees) and the green should be in range for the longer hitters.

The 9^th is another good hole, which plays slightly up hill. This hole offers up another chance for the longer hitters to score here.

The real tough test, on the back nine, comes at the 12^th, 13^th & 14^th holes. 3 back to back par 4s averaging 440 yards each! The 12^th and 14^th are stroke index 1 and 3 respectively.

On the 12^th & 13^th it’s all about avoiding tree trouble and keeping it straight. As you tee off from the 12^th tee, you may want to have a good look to your left and analyse the 13^th green. It is a sunken green, with a severe slope at the front. It’s this slope that you’ll want to avoid, with your approach to the 13th.

As you stand on the 14^th tee, you face and uphill 443 yard par 4, which, if it’s into the prevailing wind, will provide the toughest challenge of the day!

The 15^th is a good par 3 with a bunker sitting to the right of the green. This may force you to play a bit tighter up the left, on this tree lined fairway.

The 16^th & 17^th aren’t dissimilar to the 1^st and 2^nd where it’s all about getting the ball on the short stuff and avoiding the avenue of trees, lining the fairways. The 18^th has an angled tee, which turns this hole into a slight dog leg right. A couple of bunkers guard the front of the green, so as long as you’re not blocked out by trees, it should be a straight forward finish to the round.

I would definitely recommend this Midlothian course, as it is a good test of golf, over a variety of holes and undulating terrain. There are some tough holes on this well maintained course but equally, there are opportunities to get something back on the shorter holes.

On a Monday to Thursday, you can play Broomieknowe for as little at £20! This is incredible value, so, form an orderly queue, it’s definitely worth it.

Opens

A couple of spaces left in their Opens at the moment, however, I think this blog might come out too late for the one on 21 Aug!

Gents Senior Open – 21 August 2018
Ladies Senior Greensomes Open – 6 September 2018

Glencorse Golf Club, Midlothian
www.glencorsegolfclub.com

Location

The Home of Golf - Glencorse Golf Club — Glencorse Golf Club

Glencorse Golf Club in Midlothian, is 3 miles from the Edinburgh City bypass, 20 minutes from Edinburgh Airport and 55 minutes from Glasgow.

The Course

The club was founded in 1890 and was designed by Willie Park. The 18 hole track at Glencorse Golf Club is unusual, in so much that it has eight par 3 holes, yet it is possibly one of the toughest courses to play to your handicap.

The 5,217 yard course is short and it may have a par of 64 but the ‘Standard Scratch’ is 2 shots above at 66. The reason for this is that seven of the eight par 3s are over 200 yards long, in fairly tight surroundings!

The Glencorse Burn runs through the course and is a lovely feature to have. The burn does affect 10 holes and is maybe another reason for the standard scratch being two shots above par.

The course also provides great views of the Pentland Hills and surrounding Midlothian scenery.

Holes

As you tee it up on the first, you immediately get a taste of what this course is all about – challenging par 3s. It is a 225 yard, par 3, over water, to a green guarded by 2 bunkers.

The challenge continues at the 2^nd and 4^th where you’ll find two good par 4s before you reach the 5^th, the toughest par 3 on the course. The 5^th hole is named ‘MacGregor’s Rest’ in honour of, club member, George MacGregor OBE, who was selected five times for the Walker Cup and captained the side twice, in a glittering amateur career.

From the tee, you look down to a flagstick 237 yards away. The hole is completely surrounded by tall mature trees and the Glencorse Burn runs across the hole, separating the fairway from the putting surface. The large green has a slope at the front, which will cast any weak shots back into the burn. This is an intimidating hole, with an amphitheatre feel to it – par this one and you’ll be feeling pretty good!

The following five holes are perhaps where you’ll want to make a score. From holes 6 through to 10, there are four par 4s under 335 yards and only one par 3 at 164 yards.

In contrast, the five holes from 11 to 15 are as tough as you get. Three of those holes are par 3s, all over 210 yards. The first, of these par 3s, is at the 11^th and it has water running the length of the hole, down the right hand side!

As you come to close out your round, one of the highlights is the views from the 18^th tee, over the Pentland Hills and down over the course and clubhouse below.

From an elevated tee, the 18^th is a short downhill par 4, once again, over water. The elevation changes, the Glencorse Burn and prevailing westerly wind will make this lovely finishing hole feel a bit longer than the 319 yards printed on the scorecard.

Glencorse is not the sort of course you come across everyday, as it possibly has the toughest collection of par 3s in Scotland, if not UK. You may find yourself laying up on some of the par 3s with water in front, and having to rely on your short game, to get up and down.

It’s a fairly easy course to walk around, although, there are some big elevation changes but not too many. It is a short but challenging track that has lovely views and it’s certainly worth a visit.

Opens

Glencorse GC has some Open events over the next few weeks, which is always a great way to play a new course or a course you haven’t played for a while:

Gents Open – 25 August 2018
Ladies Greensome Open – 26 August 2018
Gents Texas Scramble Open – 9 September 2018

Kings Acre Golf Club, Midlothian
www.kings-acregolf.com

Location

The Home of golf - Kings Acre Golf Club — Kings Acre Golf Club

Kings Acre Golf Club is 2 miles from the Edinburgh City bypass, 25 minutes from Edinburgh Airport and 60 minutes from Glasgow.

The Course

Kings Acre is a diverse entity. It caters for business and charity functions and events, as well as dealing with its golf academy and 18 holes golf course.

Kings Acre golf course opened its doors in 1997 and its 18 hole course was designed by golf architect, Graeme Webster.

The Academy

The golf academy at Kings Acre includes:

Driving Range (floodlit) – 30 covered bays
Six target greens – laser measured, from the bays to the green
Three water features/hazards & 10 bunkers
2 teaching studios
A separate short game practice area to the left of the driving range
4 hole, par 3 course for juniors

Opening times during the summer –

Mon – Fri 8am to 9pm
Sat – Sun 7am to 8pm

The Course

The clubhouse is where both the outward and inward halves head off from and the conservatory area has great views of those teeing off from the 10^th and those approaching the 18^thgreen.

The course is just over 6,000 yards and plays to a par 70. It has four par 5s, six par 3s and eight par 4s – only one of the par 4s is over 400 yards and only two of the par 3s are over 200 yards.

The ground is undulating throughout, with some gentle climbs here and there. The only severe elevation changes are at holes 15 to 17, where you’ll want to conserve some energy for the climb back up the 17^th.

Kings Acre golf course is a fair test of golf. It has plenty trees and well placed bunkers, in its armoury, but the large contoured greens will also present a real challenge to all levels of golfers.

Holes

The standout holes for me are at the par 5 third, which at 554 yards, you’ll hope the prevailing wind from the west is helping. There are 7 bunkers all around the green, so your approach will take a bit of planning.

The ninth hole, Tom’s Track, has OB on the left and fairway bunkers on the right. Get a good drive away and your second will be fairly straight forward, to a subtly sloping green.

The par 3 eleventh is a great hole, over a traditional stone built wall to a raised green with three bunkers on the left hand side, with no margin for error on the right. It’s 188 yards but plays a bit longer as you’re playing uphill.

By the time you complete the 14^th hole, you can’t allow your concentration to lapse, as you have three potential card wreckers ahead of you at 15, 16 & 17. It’s not so much length that you have to focus on here, but more keeping the ball in play!

The 15^th is a 497 par 5. You tee off from a great, elevated tee position but it is a sharp dog leg to the right, with out of bounds running all the way down the right hand side.

The 16^th is a long par 3 that requires accuracy and the 17^th is a short dog leg right par 4 where a safe tee shot will leave you an uphill second to the green.

Kings Acre welcomes visitors and members alike and positively encourages those who haven’t played for a while (or at all) to come along and use their Midlothian facilities.

Accommodation

Kings Acre also has a cottage that can be rented out and it sits on the course, only minutes from the clubhouse. This is an ideal base for playing golf and exploring the area. Website details here: https://www.kings-acregolf.com/accommodation

What to do in Midlothian & surrounding area

Dalkeith Palace & Dalkeith Country Park
www.dalkeithcountrypark.co.uk

Newbattle Abbey
www.newbattleabbey.com/tours

Rosslyn Chapel
www.rosslynchapel.com

National Mining Museum Scotland, Newtongrange
www.nationalminingmuseum.com

Crichton Castle
Crichton Castle website

Pentland Hills
www.pentlandhills.org

Midlothian Snowsports Centre, Hillend
www.midlothian.gov.uk/hillend

Ryze Trampoline Park, Dalkeith
www.ryze.co.uk

Edinburgh Butterfly & Insect World
www.edinburghbutterflyworld.com

Laser Tag – Edinburgh Combat Challenge
www.edinburghcombatchallenge.com

Pony trekking – Lasswade Stables
www.lasswadestables.com

Dalhousie Castle Falconry, Bonnyrigg
www.falconryscotland.co.uk

Stewart Brewing, Beer Tour
www.stewartbrewing.co.uk

Accommodation in Midlothian and surrounding area

Dalhousie Castle
www.dalhousiecastle.co.uk

Braid Hills Hotel
www.braidhillshotel.co.uk

Craigie Hotel, Penicuik
www.thecraigie.co.uk

Kildonan Lodge Hotel
www.kildonanlodgehotel.co.uk

Prestonfield House Hotel
www.prestonfield.com

Melville Castle
www.melvillecastle.com

Double Tree by Hilton Hotel Edinburgh Airport
Hilton – Edinburgh Airport website

Dalmahoy Hotel
https://www.dalmahoyhotelandcountryclub.co.uk

Dakota Hotel
http://edinburgh.dakotahotels.co.uk

Norton House Hotel
https://www.handpickedhotels.co.uk/nortonhouse

Kings Acre Golf Club – cottage
www.kings-acregolf.com/accommodation

West Lothian Golf Courses (Part 2)

By Tom Kelly - TheHomeofGolf | August 14, 2018

Golf in West Lothian

The Home of Golf - Linlithgow Golf Club — Linlithgow Palace from the 4th green at Linlithgow GC

There are many good golf courses sitting just outside Edinburgh, in the three Lothian regions. The purpose of this blog is to give you an idea of what sort of courses you will find, when playing golf in West Lothian.

This second blog on Golf in West Lothian features (in no particular order) Pumpherston GC, Uphall GC, West Lothian GC, Linlithgow GC and Kingsfield Golf & Leisure. These courses all offer great value. 18 holes will cost you from £20/£35 per round, depending on which course you play and when you play it.

In addition to golf, there are many things to do and places to visit for all age groups in the region. There are hills to climb, country parks to walk around, canals and historic buildings to visit. You can even wander around some of the film location spots from the TV Series ‘Outlander’. I have listed a small handful of ‘what to do in West Lothian & surrounding area’ at the end of the blog plus I have added in some accommodation details.

Pumpherston Golf Club

www.pumpherstongolfclub.co.uk

Location

Pumpherston Golf Club is located just outside Livingston and only 20 minutes by car from Edinburgh.

The Home of Golf - Pumpherston Golf Club — Pumpherston Golf Club © Google Maps

The Course

The course, originally nine holes, was extended in 2002 to 18 holes, by Graeme Webster. Over the extension period, the greens were constructed to USGA standard and numerous water features were added.

In addition to the water hazards, there are plenty trees, bunkers and out of bounds, to test your confidence, as you plot your way around! You will also get some great views over the surrounding countryside.

Golf in West Lothian - The Home of Golf - Pumpherston Golf Club — Pumpherston Golf Club – views from 4th green

Holes

As you set off, the first hole that will make an impression on you is the dogleg right 2^nd hole, where a well placed drive is essential, if you’re going for the green with your second, avoiding the water!

The third is another dogleg right but this time a hollow at the right hand side of the fairway will swallow your ball up and feed it into the thick stuff, if you’re off target!

You’ll want to keep your ball left, on the fifth, as your eye will be drawn to the five bunkers down the right!

By the time you’ve finished the sixth hole you’ll have completed 3 dogleg right holes but the next few holes are a lot straighter.

You’ll encounter water twice at the seventh and face a tough par 3 on the eighth. The ninth hole returns you to the clubhouse but make sure you play it down the left again, as water looms front right of the green.

The back nine holes are made up of three par 3s, three par 4s and three par 5s. The first of the par 5s come at the tenth and is the longest hole on the course.

As you head to the eleventh hole there is a bit of a walk down to the older part of the course where you’ll stay until the 17^th hole.

The course feels a bit tighter and out of bounds, water and bunkers feature on most of these holes. There are a number of holes that you would perhaps pick out as your standout hole. The par 3 thirteenth with water running the length of the hole and the fourteenth, which has water on the right.

However, it is the par 4 sixteenth at 255 yards (back tees) that most people remember. It maybe one of the shortest par 4s you’ll ever play, but the green is surrounded by water on three sides. With a narrow entrance for your approach shot, a par 4 certainly isn’t guaranteed at this short hole!

The par 5 seventeenth is another good hole, veering left then turning right as you approach the green.

To get to the 18^th hole you have a bit of a walk back up the hill to the tee. On this hole, you will see well placed bunkers and water features, both which will influence your choice of shots on this lovely par 5 finishing hole.

Pumpherston GC is a good layout and I feel the old and the new holes work well together, adding variety all the way round. The club has a handful of Opens in August & September and if you haven’t played the course before, one of these would be a good opportunity to try it out:

Opens

Seniors Open – 23 Aug 2018
Seniors 3 man Texas Scramble – 11 Sept 2018
Mixed Open Greensome – 22 Sept 2018

Uphall Golf Club

www.UphallGolfClub.com

Location

Uphall golf club lies apx. 9 miles from the west of Edinburgh on the A899 Broxburn Road.

The Course

Uphall GC is a 5646 yard, par 69 course, which is split into two sections by the A899 road, leading to Broxburn.

Seven holes lie on the clubhouse side of the road, where a burn works its way through the undulating ground. The other eleven holes surround the MacDonald Houstoun House Hotel on relatively flat, tree lined parkland terrain.

Holes

Your first real challenge here is the par 3 third hole. It is a tough hole at the best of times; however, when the prevailing westerly wind is in your face, you’ll do well to walk off with a 3.

Across the A899 to the fourth where you’ll have to deal with 395 yards of tight tree lined fairway, with not too much margin for error, left or right.

Holes 5 to 13 include one par 3 and one par 5, the rest are par 4s that work their way back and forth over a fairly open parkland.

The fourteenth is another straight, tree lined 412 yard par 4 that needs two good, straight shots, if you’re to hit the green in two.

As you cross back over to the clubhouse section of the course, you’ll have two back to back par 3s, The Double (15^th) and The Burn (16^th).

The 15^th green doubles with the 2^nd green and there are 3 bunkers waiting at the front and right of the green for any wayward shots.

The 16^th is short but you’ll have water to cross and tall trees around the green to negotiate. Hit the green and you’ll have a birdie opportunity, miss the green and you’ll do well to finish with a bogey!

The 17^th is a short par 4 heading away from the clubhouse and the 383 yard par 4, 18^th hole brings you back home.

On the clubhouse side of the course some holes maybe termed ‘quirky’. The first time you play it, you maybe asking yourself on the second green a) what other hole is the green shared with b) where are the other players likely to be playing from & c) who has priority?

Most double greens have players approaching from opposite directions but the 2nd & 15th double green at Uphall has players from both holes, approach from a similar direction. It maybe the only double green in Scotland that operates this way!

The 3^rd and 15^th holes cross each other, so that’s something to look out for when teeing off and approaching the greens. However, after you’ve played it for the first time, all will become clear. The professional will keep you right as well, before you tee off.

Uphall golf course maybe short but it has some interesting holes, which will test all levels of golfers. The course is not expensive to play, offers great value for money and it won’t take you an age to get around.

West Lothian Golf Club

www.westlothiangc.com

Location

West Lothian GC is located between Bo’ness and Linlithgow and is about 2 miles from the M9 motorway. The course is only 20 minutes from Edinburgh, 30 minutes from Stirling and about 50 minutes from Glasgow.

The Course

West Lothian is a 6249 yard Par 71 championship course. Once again, we have a course split by a road, although this is a much quieter road than the A899 at Uphall GC.

The outstanding feature of West Lothian Golf Club is the fact that it is on top of Airngath Hill and the views are nothing short of spectacular.

The views facing west, lead you right up the Firth of Forth and the Forth Valley. Looking north, your eyes are drawn to the Ochil Hills and southwards, you’ll look over Linlithgow and Linlithgow Palace. The views to the east, are dominated by the three bridges at Queensferry. However, looking passed the bridge, you’ll see Berwick Law in North Berwick and the Bass Rock.

This is another course that had a distinct links course feel to it when I visited. Having said that, there are plenty trees on the bottom half of the course, which will remind you that you are on a parkland course.

West Lothian is unusual, in that it actually has 19 holes – it uses an additional hole, after the eighth, for those only wanting to play nine holes and finish at the clubhouse.

The official ninth hole leads away from the clubhouse and this is the one you use if you’re playing the full 18 holes. Nice idea for those pressed for time.

Holes

Holes 1, 2, 16, 17 & 18 are on the flatter side of the road, by the clubhouse and the remaining holes are on the other side, which lie on the slopes of Airngath Hill down towards the Firth of Forth.

The first heads out towards the Hope Monument, which sits to the right of the first green. The Hope Monument dates back to 1859, commemorating Brigadier Adrian Hope, killed in India, 1858. Adrian Hope was Lieutenant Colonel in the 93rd Highlanders and youngest son of General John, Fourth Earl of Hopetoun.

The second takes you back to the clubhouse before you head down the hill at the third. There isn’t too much trouble on the first five holes if you keep it straight but it gets a bit tighter from six onwards.

Throughout the round you’ll find that the holes change in four different directions – the good thing about that is you get a bit of respite from the prevailing westerly wind, if it’s blowing.

A climb up the long fourteenth will get you back on flatter ground where you’ll cross back to the clubhouse side of the course for the final three holes.

The 18^th is a par 3 and a very scenic one at that, with views over the Firth of Forth, as you play from an elevated tee down to the green, nestled next to the clubhouse.

West Lothian is a lovely course with spectacular views that constantly change with the light and weather during the day. If you haven’t played West Lothian golf course before, I’d certainly recommend it!

Opens

The club still has a Gents Open on the 1^st September (entry £10) and they also do an 18 hole package, which includes Coffee/Tea and a hot roll on arrival for £35 (weekday) & £40 (Sat-Sun). More details on their website: www.westlothiangc.com

Linlithgow Golf Club

www.linlithgowgolf.co.uk

Location

The course is only 25 minutes from Edinburgh, 30 minutes from Stirling and about 45 minutes from Glasgow.

The Course

Linlithgow golf course sit on the slopes of a hill, which has views out over the Forth Valley, Linlithgow and the Ochil Hills to the north. It’s a par 70 and is 5,851 yards in length from the back tees.

The club has had an association, for over 65+ years, with the MacKinnon family who owned ‘Drambuie’ until 2014. Back in 1950, Gena MacKinnon helped Linlithgow GC, by buying land and leasing it to the club, so the course could be extended to 18 holes.

Holes

Many of the holes are laid out across the slope, so your ball will run off the fairway. The key thing on the tee is picking your landing spot and trying to work out what the ball will do when it lands there.

The first hole is named ‘Drambuie’ for reasons mentioned above. Up ahead you will see a banked green, of which there are a number on the course due to the slopes. Rolling off the sides of these greens can leave awkward shots back onto the putting surface.

The opening six holes are not particularly long but with elevation changes and sloping terrain, they will seem longer than the scorecard suggests.

Two back to back par 3s at 7 & 8 are followed by one of the longer par 4s at the 9^th. On this hole, trees, out of bounds and a dip in the fairway are the main points to consider but if the prevailing westerly wind gets up, it will make it the toughest hole on the course.

No respite at the tenth, where you’re met by a 232 yard (back tees) par 3 and once again, it’s into a westerly wind.

The next five holes can offer up birdie opportunities though – the 11^th 316 yard par 4, two back to back par 5s at the 12^th (530 yards) & 13^th (501 yards), followed by two par 4s at 14 & 15, both under 280 yards.

The 17^th is a memorable 172 yard par 3 which plays shorter that its yardage, as it’s downhill. If you over club, you have the Union Canal and the thick rough waiting!

The 413 yard, 18^th is a good finishing hole, where you have to drive over a ravine to a right to left, sloping fairway. The hole is named ‘Union Canal’, as it runs along the canal side. Your drive is likely to be thrown towards the trees and rough on the left, lining the canal and you may be blocked out for your second, if you don’t hit your target off the tee.

Opens

Linlithgow golf course is one that you will have an advantage at, if you have played it once or twice before. If you’re looking to golf in West Lothian, why not book a bounce game before entering one of their Opens below?

Senior Open – 15 August 2018
Ladies Greensome Open – 26 August 2018
Stableford Open – 19 August 2018
Texas Scramble Open (4) – 16^th Sept 2018

See website for more details – www.linlithgowgolf.co.uk

Kingsfield Golf and Leisure

www.kingsfieldgolfandleisure.co.uk

The Home of Golf - Kingsfield Golf Centre — Kingsfield Golf & Leisure

Kingsfield Golf and Leisure sits on the edges of Linlithgow just off the M9 motorway. Its only 20 minutes from Edinburgh, 25 minutes from Stirling and 45 minutes from Glasgow.

The Home of Golf - Kingsfield Golf and Leisure — Kingsfield Golf and Leisure © Google Maps

Kingsfield opened it doors in 2009 and is a golf complex, with a 9 hole golf course.

The 9 hole course is a 2,857 yard USGA specification course, designed by Graeme Webster, who also had a hand in the redevelopment of Pumpherston GC, as mentioned above, amongst many others.

The rest of the facilities include an 18 hole putting green, a short game area, 20 bay driving range and the Tee Caddy coffee shop.

Kingsfield has a wealth of very experienced PGA-qualified professionals available for lessons and all levels are welcomed from absolute beginners to touring golf professionals.

This is a place where you can learn to play the game and develop what you’ve learnt, in a relaxed and informal way and then test your skills on the 9 hole course.

The 20 bay driving range is east facing, which means that you’re not hitting balls into the prevailing westerly wind. Additionally, you’re protected from any wet weather it may bring, under the 12 covered bays!

There is extension work being carried out at the moment and the short game area was closed when I visited a couple of weeks ago, so best check before heading out.

Kingsfield is a place I have visited many times before and as far a golf in West Lothian goes, it really is an excellent facility to have in the area. It’s a great place to start, build & develop your golf game.

Last week’s blog was Part 1 of Golf in West Lothian and you can read it by clicking HERE – next week’s blog will be on the golf courses of Midlothian.

What to do in West Lothian & surrounding area

The Five Sisters Zoo, Polbeth/West Calder
Five Sisters Zoo Website

Bathgate Hills & Cairnpapple Hill (4,000 year old burial site)
Cairnpapple website info

Beecraigs Country Park
Beecraigs website info

The Scottish Owl Centre, Whitburn – Largest collection of owls in the world
Scottish Owl Centre website

For fans of the Outlander TV series, you’ll know there was a lot of filming done in West Lothian. Here are a couple of websites offering ‘Outlander’ tours around West Lothian.

Mary’s Meanders – www.marysmeanders.co.uk/
Mini Kilt Tours – www.onthetrailofoutlander.co.uk

Blackness Castle
Blackness Castle website

House of the Binns
House of the Binns website

Linlithgow Palace
Linlithgow Palace website

Craigie’s Farm Shop & Café
www.craigies.co.uk

Almond Valley Heritage Centre
www.almondvalley.co.uk

Almondell & Calderwood Country Park
Almondell & Calderwood Country Park website info

Linlithgow Canal Centre
www.lucs.org.uk

Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway
www.bkrailway.co.uk

Dalmeny House
www.roseberyestates.co.uk

Hopetoun House
www.hopetoun.co.uk

South Queensferry & the Forth Bridges
www.visitqueensferry.com

The Kelpies
www.thehelix.co.uk

The Falkirk Wheel
www.scottishcanals.co.uk/falkirk-wheel/

Accommodation in West Lothian and surrounding area

Macdonald Houstoun House Hotel
www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk

Double Tree by Hilton Hotel Edinburgh Airport
Hilton Airport Hotel website

Dalmahoy Hotel
www.dalmahoyhotelandcountryclub.co.uk

Dakota Hotel
www.edinburgh.dakotahotels.co.uk

Star and Gartar Hotel
www.starandgarterhotel.co.uk

Norton House Hotel
www.handpickedhotels.co.uk/nortonhouse

Champany Inn
www.champany.com

Livingston Hilcroft Hotel
www.bestwestern.co.uk/hotel

West Lothian Golf Courses (Part 1)

By Tom Kelly - TheHomeofGolf | August 7, 2018

West Lothian sits just to the west of Edinburgh and it’s an area full of good golf courses. The only problem is trying to pick out which ones to play. I have not been able to cover all of the courses in the area but hopefully, between this week’s blog and next week’s one, you will have an idea of what is available in the region.

This week’s blog on West Lothian Golf features (in no particular order) Harburn GC, Greenburn GC, Bathgate GC and Deer Park Golf & Country Club. These courses all offer great value and if you were to play all four, midweek, then the total cost for ALL four courses would be around £100 per person, depending what time you tee off.

In addition to golf, there are many things to do and places to visit for all age groups in the region. There are hills to climb, country parks to walk around, canals and historic buildings to visit – you can even wander around some of the film location spots from the TV Series ‘Outlander’. I have listed a small handful of ‘what to do in West Lothian & surrounding area’ at the end of the blog plus I have added in some accommodation details.

Harburn Golf Club – West Lothian

www.harburngolfclub.co.uk

Location

Harburn Golf Club lies to the west of the Pentlands Hills and is located 2 miles south of West Calder in West Lothian. The course is 15 miles from Edinburgh and 30 miles from Glasgow, just off the A71. Click here to see our TRAVEL section

The club can date its origins back to 1925 when the original club was called Hardale Golf Club. Seven years later, Hardale Golf Club dissolved and the new Harburn Golf was officially launched in 1932.

The Course

It’s a parkland/heathland course, which is well protected by trees. Sitting on the western slopes of the Pentland Hills, it is 800-900 ft above sea level and has great views of the surrounding countryside.

At just over 6,000 yards, par 71 Harburn is not particularly long but it is a good test of golf. There are a good variety of holes, where you will find many elevation changes on this tree-lined course.

There are several tiered greens and a handful of blind shots to contend with. However, driving is key at Harburn, as the sloping terrain will roll your ball off the fairway, where trees will block your second shot to the green, on many holes.

Holes

Holes 1 to 4 and 11 to 18 run parallel with railway on one side and the Bog Burn on the other – these hazards plus the odd water feature, will keep you focused on most of these holes!

You have to cross the railway line to play holes 5 to 10 where you will head round and back in an L shape. The 10^th is my standout hole on this section of the course, where you have a blind drive to the top of the mound. A well placed drive will give you a good view of the green, where you’ll see that you have to hit over a pond that guards the sunken green below!

Hole 12 takes you to the furthest point on the course before returning home. You move away from the railway but water features and the Bog Burn take over in terms of predominant hazards.

The last six holes present a challenge right from the start – two good par 3s at the 13th and 15th sandwich the tough 457 yard par 4, 14th hole before you reach the closing holes. The final three holes are not long but the undulating fairways present their own challenge.

Opens

Harburn GC is a lovely track and was in great condition when I visited West Lothian two weeks ago. They have a number of Opens coming up where you have the opportunity to play the course and possibly win something back!

Seniors Texas Scramble – 9 August 2018
Junior Open – 14 August 2018
Ladies Senior Tri-Am Open – 17 August 2018
Gents Open – 18 August 2018
Gents Senior Open – 5 September 2018
Mixed Greensome Open – 30 September 2018

Greenburn Golf Club – West Lothian

www.greenburngolfclub.co.uk

Location

Greenburn Golf Club is equidistant from Edinburgh & Glasgow – roughly a 35 minute drive from both cities. It is located in Fauldhouse, West Lothian, 5-6 miles from the main M8 motorway.

The Home of Golf - West Lothian — Greenburn Golf Course © Google Maps

At Greenburn Golf Club, you’ll be welcomed by the Head Professional, David MacMullen and his team who will be happy to keep you right before teeing off.

Course

One of the key features of the course is the railway line that runs through the course and over a viaduct on the 5^th tee.

Greenburn is a parkland/moorland course and is relatively flat. At just over 6,000 yards (par 71) it’s not going to be a slog going round but with a good variety of holes and plenty of hazards, it is a challenging test.

What it gives away in length, it certainly makes up in other areas! By that I mean that it tempts you to go for shots, when the shot isn’t necessarily on. A classic example of this is at the very first hole where many are tempted to have a go at the green, 268 yards away. With 3 deep bunkers around the green and roll offs to the back and side of it, into thick rough, it is very much risk and reward!

Additionally, you will benefit from playing the course at least once and becoming familiar with all the hazards. There are bunkers, water and ditches that are tucked away and not obvious at first glance.

Holes

The 5^th tee brings you to the Viaduct, where you play along the railway track before heading underneath the railway line to a great view from the 6^th tee.

From this tee you get a view down to the 6^th green, the 13^th green and down the 14^th hole, which is a standout hole for me.

Heading for home, another good hole is the 15^th, a testing par 3 from an elevated tee.

As you reach the last, the 18^th can be a card wrecker if you’re on a score. Out of bounds lies on both sides of the fairway and the green appears to narrow as you get closer. The reason for this is because of the trees that edge their way slightly in front of the green, closing the entrance gap.

The course was in great condition when I visited and is well maintained by the green keeping team. I would recommend playing this course if you are in the area.

All in all, Greenburn GC in West Lothian is a scenic course that I do enjoy – it’s not too long but is enough of a challenge to leave you in no doubt that you have been fully tested.

Opens

The club has a number of opens coming up, so you may want to consider one of the following:

Junior Open – 9 Aug 2018
Gents Open – 11 Aug 2018
Texas Scramble (Mixed) – 19 Aug 2018
Greensome (Mixed) – 16 Sept 2018
Texas Scramble (Mixed) – 27 Sept 2018
Gents Open – 29 Sept 2018

Bathgate Golf Club – West Lothian

www.bathgategolfclub.com

Location

Bathgate Golf Club lies in the heart of West Lothian, two miles off the M8 Glasgow/Edinburgh motorway. It takes about 30-35 minutes drive from Edinburgh and about 45 minutes from Glasgow. The course is in the centre of Bathgate and is easily accessible by train, as it is only 5 mins from Bathgate train station.

The Home of Golf - Bathgate Golf Club - West Lothian — Bathgate Golf Club © Google Maps

Ryder Cup

You may wonder why I have a Ryder Cup section for Bathgate Golf Club! Well, it’s because the club is in the unique position of having produced two Ryder Cup captains and three Ryder Cup players –

Eric Brown
Player: 1953, 1955, 1957 & 1959
Captain: 1969 & 1971
Bernard Gallacher
Player: 1969, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1983 & 1991
Captain: 1991, 1993 & 1995
Stephen Gallacher
Player: 2014

Course

When I visited Bathgate GC two weeks ago, I can honestly say that it felt like a links course. A lot of the fairways are slightly undulating and together with the warm weather we’ve been having, they were browning up nicely. Needless to say, balls were running fast in these conditions and a driver off the tee wasn’t always necessary.

The course has five par 3s, nine par 4s and four par 5s. The bigger hitters will definitely want to take advantage of the par 5s, as the longest of them only measures 505 yards. However, two of the par 3s are over 215 yards and five of the par 4s are around the 400 yard mark or over.

No two holes are the same here and it’s a fairly flat walking course, with only a handful of holes in the front nine, where you’ll have a short inclines and declines. In terms of hazards, there are plenty of well placed bunkers but you’ll also have to watch out for water and out of bounds which appear on a number of holes.

Holes

The first real test is on the 2^nd hole, which is a 451 yard par 4 stroke index 1. This is followed by a great dogleg, par 4 3^rd hole, which is all about placement off the tee. The elevated tee at the tough par 3 4^th will give you good views of the surrounding area.

The 5^th hole takes you to the furthest point on the course before working your way back. The 7^th and 9^th are two more good holes on the front nine, where it’s not all about power.

The 9^th green and 10^th hole run along side the railway line – as does the 12^th, which also returns you to the clubhouse before you wind your way around it on the 13^th and 14^th.

Birdie opportunities will arise at the 15^th (par 5 from back tees) and the 16^th as long as you get a good drive away.

The 17^th is a great par 3 – it’s short but there is water right across the front of the green, which slopes from back to front. If you’re over cautious and take too much club, then there is bunker looming at the back. You don’t want to be playing out of that, onto a hard fast downhill green, with water at the front!

The 18^th is a good finishing hole where you will have to put a good drive up the left hand side to have chance of going for the green, guarded by five bunkers. Hit the green and you have a birdie putt, with the eyes in the clubhouse watching on!

Many inland/parkland courses in Scotland are at their best after a good dry spell and Bathgate golf course in West Lothian is no exception. I would certainly encourage you to book a round at Bathgate very soon and catch it in great condition. After all, if it’s good enough for 3 Ryder Cup players, its good enough for the likes of you and me!

Opens

The club still has couple of Open events coming up that you can get involved in:

Ladies Open – 1 Sept 2018
Gents Pairs Open – 22 Sept 2018

Deer Park Golf Club – West Lothian

www.deer-park.co.uk

The Home of Golf - Deer Park - West Lothian — Deer Park

Location

Deer Park Golf & Country Club is located in Livingston, 20 minutes from Edinburgh.

Course

The course sits in both a mature woodland and also a residential setting. It was established in 1978 and the golf architects involved were Dave Thomas, Peter Alliss and Peter Clark.

It measures 6,727 from the back tees, however, there are five teeing positions which means the course can be set up for any level of golfer.

The fairways are mainly tree-lined throughout and fairly generous. The front nine holes work their way around the more residential part of the course. These holes are on relatively flat terrain.

The back nine is certainly the more challenging nine over undulating ground. You will get great views over West Lothian from some of the higher points on this part of the course.

Water and out of bounds feature on the course and unless you are driving consistently straight then the trees will be a big factor as well.

This week you can play Deer Park GC in West Lothian for £20 per round before 930am, which is very reasonable. Prices vary depending on when you want to play and their online booking system is fairly comprehensive.

Opens

Deer Park has the following Opens coming up in the next few weeks:

Mixed Open Greensome – 11 August 2018
Senior Open – 11 Sept 2018

What to do in West Lothian & surrounding area

The Five Sisters Zoo, Polbeth/West Calder
Five Sisters Zoo Website

Bathgate Hills & Cairnpapple Hill (4,000 year old burial site)
Cairnpapple website info

Beecraigs Country Park
Beecraigs website info

The Scottish Owl Centre, Whitburn – Largest collection of owls in the world
Scottish Owl Centre website

For fans of the Outlander TV series, you’ll know there was a lot of filming done in West Lothian. Here are a couple of websites offering ‘Outlander’ tours around West Lothian.

Mary’s Meanders – www.marysmeanders.co.uk/
Mini Kilt Tours – www.onthetrailofoutlander.co.uk

Blackness Castle
Blackness Castle website

House of the Binns
House of the Binns website

Linlithgow Palace
Linlithgow Palace website

Craigie’s Farm Shop & Café
www.craigies.co.uk

Almond Valley Heritage Centre
www.almondvalley.co.uk

Almondell & Calderwood Country Park
Almondell & Calderwood Country Park website info

Linlithgow Canal Centre
www.lucs.org.uk

Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway
www.bkrailway.co.uk

Dalmeny House
www.roseberyestates.co.uk

Hopetoun House
www.hopetoun.co.uk

South Queensferry & the Forth Bridges
www.visitqueensferry.com

The Kelpies
www.thehelix.co.uk

The Falkirk Wheel
www.scottishcanals.co.uk/falkirk-wheel/

Accommodation in West Lothian and surrounding area

Macdonald Houston House Hotel
www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk

Double Tree by Hilton Hotel Edinburgh Airport
Hilton Airport Hotel website

Dalmahoy Hotel
www.dalmahoyhotelandcountryclub.co.uk

Dakota Hotel
www.edinburgh.dakotahotels.co.uk

Star and Gartar Hotel
www.starandgarterhotel.co.uk

Norton House Hotel
www.handpickedhotels.co.uk/nortonhouse

Champany Inn
www.champany.com

Livingston Hilcroft Hotel
www.bestwestern.co.uk/hotel

Golf in the Scottish Borders (4/4)

By Tom Kelly - TheHomeofGolf | July 23, 2018

Golf in the Scottish Borders – (Part 4 of 4)

This is the fourth and final blog on ‘Golf in the Scottish Borders’ and I am featuring Peebles Golf Club and also highlighting three other courses in the region – West Linton GC, MacDonald Cardrona GC, near Peebles & Torwoodlee GC just outside Galashiels.

The Home of Golf - Peebles Golf - www.thehomeofgolf.co.uk Scottish Borders — Peebles Golf Club – Scottish Borders

There is a huge amount to do in the Scottish Borders apart from golf and 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

Peebles Golf Club
www.peeblesgolfclub.com

the Home of golf - Scottish Borders

Accommodation

I found myself staying at the Tontine Hotel on the High Street in Peebles, the night before visiting Peebles Golf Club.

There were a number of visiting golfers staying in the hotel that night and we discussed where everyone was playing the next day – MacDonald Cardrona, West Linton and Peebles were all on the agenda the following day.

It was interesting to hear that these groups were regular visitors to the Borders. They keep coming back, they said, because of the quality of the golf courses, reasonable green fees and good accommodation in the area.

My hotel certainly fell into the ‘good accommodation’ category and I have no hesitation recommending it for your next golfing trip to the area – www.tontinehotel.com.

The course

On arrival at Peebles Golf Club, I had a warm welcome from the Head Professional, Steve Johnston, who is well known for his articles in ‘Bunkered’ Magazine.

The club was founded in 1892 but moved to its current location in 1908. It would be another 25 years before Harry Colt redesigned the course in 1933.

The course is a hillside, parkland course with great views over the town of Peebles, which sits in the Tweed Valley, surrounded by rolling Borders hills.

The hillside landscape ensures great views but also means you won’t have too many flat lies. This isn’t a course where you can ease your way into the round, as it’s a fairly tough start.

The first is a 196 yard par 3, followed by the stoke index 1, 440 yard, par 4 second hole. You gradually make your way up hill, before your first real birdie opportunity presents itself at the 4th hole.

There are a great variety of holes here, with opportunities for birdies at the 4^th, 7^th & 9^thon the front nine. On the 9th hole, you’ll have great views over Peebles from the tee.

The course will tempt you to go for shots throughout the round, where it’s all about risk and reward. No more so than at the par 4, 13^th which, at 319 yards, maybe in range for the big hitters. However, you’ll have to hit it down the left if you want to go for it but, needless to say, this is where all the trouble is.

The 14^th leads you back up hill again before a gentle descent over the closing holes. The par 5, 18^th is the longest hole on the course at 541 yards and a fitting end to this scenic course.

The views don’t end there, as the clubhouse has its own views from both inside and outside seating areas.

The club is totally geared up for visiting golfers and you may want to consider the following opens that they have coming up. Check full details on their website – www.peeblesgolfclub.com

Gents Senior Open – 2 Aug 2018
Junior Open – 12 Aug 2018
Ladies Senior Open Pairs – 13 Sept 2018

You can also check out Peebles Golf Club’s head pro Steve Johnston’s Bunkered Magazine articles here.

West Linton Golf Club
www.wlgc.co.uk

The Home of Golf - West Linton Golf Club www.thehomeofgolf.co.uk — West Linton Golf Course

Location

West Linton golf club is located 20 minutes drive south, from the outskirts of Edinburgh. The course lies just off the main A702 road, south of the Pentland Hills, on the Slipperfield Moor.

This moorland course sits above the conservation village of West Linton and has great views to the Pentlands, Mendick Hill and the surrounding area.

The clubhouse looks over the course, which works its way around a heather and bracken clad terrain.

As you look over the course, from the clubhouse, the impression you get is that it’s been there for years. In fact the club was formed in 1890 and 36 years later in 1926, James Braid advised on improvements that were made to the course the following year. However, it wasn’t until 1972 that the course was extended to the full 18 holes.

The Course

The course measures 6161 from the back tees but has a par of 69. Whilst on paper the course may look short, you have to take into account that there is little shelter from the prevailing westerly winds. Additionally, the well protected greens are not particularly large.

Whilst you may have a gentle start to your round on the first and second holes, the finishing three holes are, in contrast, anything but a gentle finish. The par 4 16^th measures 444 yards and the 17^th and 18^th, both tough par 3s, measure 196 yards and 230 yards respectively. I can only imagine the drama that these two finishing par 3s provide in match play events!

There are opportunities for birdies out there though, if you can avoid the penal rough and keep the ball on the fairways on the shorter par 4s.

Offers & Opens

West Linton Golf Club does offer special rates on Mondays and Thursdays for £20 per round per person (groups of 6) as well as excellent deals on twilight rounds over the next week or so.

You maybe want to take advantage of the above offers, before playing in one of their opens, coming up in the next few weeks. Check full details on their website – www.wlgc.co.uk

Junior Open – 3 Aug 2018
Gents Open – 5 Aug 2018
Ladies Greensome – 12 Aug 2018
Gents Senior Open (Texas Scramble) – 23 Aug 2018
Senior Open (Mixed Greensome) – 6 Sept 2018

The MacDonald Cardrona Hotel Golf Course
MacDonald Cardrona Golf Course website

The Home of Golf - Macdonald Cardrona Golf Scottish Borders - www.thehomeofgolf.co.uk — MacDonald Cardrona Hotel & putting green

The Hotel

The MacDonald Cardrona Hotel Championship course is only 8-10 minutes drive from Peebles. The hotel and golf course sit in a magnificent setting, surrounded by the Borders hills, with the River Tweed running along side part of the course.

The hotel is currently offering one night accommodation, full Scottish breakfast, plus two rounds of golf for a total of £59 per person, based on two people sharing a room. Seems like a good deal to me, if you can book the dates you want.

The hotel has 99 rooms, a swimming pool & spa, two bars and a restaurant and with the town of Peebles nearby, you will find plenty to do, when you’re off the course.

The course

MacDonald Cardrona golf course opened its doors in 2001 and is a newcomer to Scottish Borders golf. However, the championship course has hosted events for both the EuroPro tour and the Challenge Tour in its short history.

The length of the course can vary between 6,300 yards to around 7,000 yards, depending on what tees you play from. On a number of holes there is quite a bit of walking from green to next tee – so you may want to consider taking a buggy.

This is a Dave Thomas designed course where you will see generous fairways, with plenty of sizeable, contoured bunkers, accompanied by large greens. It has a feel of both a moorland course and parkland course.

The course is relatively flat, as part of it runs along side the River Tweed. There are four par 3s, four par 5s and of the remaining ten par 4s, six of them are over 400 yards – so this is a testing, lengthy track. Three consecutive holes stand out for me and they are the par 3 5th, the par 5 6th & the par 4 7th which all play on the other side of the River Tweed from the rest of the course.

The resort is offering some tee times this week starting at £17.50 per person for a four ball, which is great value for this course – prices rise to £50 per person in August.

Torwoodlee Golf Club
www.torwoodleegolfclub.co.uk

The Home of Golf - Torwoodlee Golf Scottish Borders - www.thehomeofgolf.co.uk — Torwoodlee Golf Club – Scottish Borders

Torwoodlee Golf Club is a parkland course that sits just outside Galashiels. A long driveway, off the A7, leads you down to the course where the main features are the trees and the sloping landscape. Additional features include the River Gala which runs along the final hole and the new Borders Railway which splits the course.

The first 3 holes are on the clubhouse side of the course before crossing the new Borders Railway line to the 4^th hole. You will play on this side of the railway track until 13th before crossing back to play the 14^th hole.

The course has a lot of variety and many sloping lies will test your skills on a lot of holes. There are five par 3s, two par 5s and five of the remaining eleven par 4s are over 400 yards.

This is a scenic course, in a tranquil setting, which was in great condition when I visited last month. They offer 2 for 1 voucher deals, as well as excellent twilight rates, which you can check on their website www.torwoodleegolfclub.co.uk.

There are several opportunities to play the course over the coming weeks, at one of their open events.

Junior Open – 29 Jul 2018
Gents Open – 4 Aug 2018
Ladies Greensome – 11 Aug 2018
Gents 4 Ball Better Ball – 8 Sep 2018

My Conclusion on ‘Golf in the Scottish Borders’

As I look back at my trip in the Scottish Borders, I think back to the discussion I had on my last night in Peebles with a group of golfers. They stated that they keep coming back to the region because of the quality of the golf courses, reasonable green fees and good accommodation in the area.

I can confirm that during my four days in the Scottish Borders, the accommodation has been great and, from the first course at Eyemouth, to the final course at West Linton, I have come across many quality golf courses, all offering excellent value for the visiting golfer.

I would just like to finally thank all the golf pros and club secretaries in the Scottish Borders who have been so courteous to me and generous with their time.

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:

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:

Previous three blogs on Golf in the Scottish Borders:

– Golf in the Scottish Borders Part 1
– Golf in the Scottish Borders Part 2
– Golf in the Scottish Borders Part 3

NEXT BLOG will be out in August and focusing on Edinburgh & the Lothians
– why not follow me on Instagram, Twitter &/or Facebook to keep up to date.

Golf in the Scottish Borders (3/4)

By Tom Kelly - TheHomeofGolf | July 16, 2018

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.

the home of golf - The Woll Golf Course - www.thehomeofgolf.com — The Woll Golf Course, Scottish Borders

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

www.wollgolf.co.uk

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 5^th 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 6^th 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 8^th plays flat along a tree-lined fairway and the 11^th is straight downhill with ‘out of bounds’ looming closely down the left.

Two back-to-back par 5s greet you at the 12^th & 13^th, bringing you down to a flatter part of the course. At 573 yards, the 12^th is a tough hole but the 510 yards 13^th 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 15^th & 17^th with a great par 4 16^th wedged in between.

The 16^th tee is the highest point on the course and gives you a great view down to the fairway and the green beyond.

The 17^th 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 15^th through to the 17^th.

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

www.hawickgolfclub.com

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 15^th 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 16^th 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

www.melrosegolfcourse.co.uk

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 4^th green/5^th tee you have great views down the course and out onto the Eildon Hills.

The 8^th 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 9^th 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

www.stboswellsgolfclub.co.uk

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.

the home of golf - St.Boswells Golf Club - www.thehomeofgolf.com — St Boswells GC

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 2^nd 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:

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:

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.

Angus Region – Winter Golf Deals

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

Arbroath Golf Links www.arbroathgolfcourse.co.uk

Carnoustie Golf Links www.carnoustiegolflinks.co.uk

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

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

Fife Region – Winter Golf Deals

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

St. Andrews www.standrews.com

Fairmont St. Andrews www.fairmont.com

Crail Golfing Society www.crailgolfingsociety.co.uk

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

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

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

Plenty Winter Green Fee Deals To Keep The Golf Clubs Out Over The Winter

Highlands – Winter Green Fee Deals

Reay GC www.reaygolfclub.co.uk

Wick Golf Club www.wickgolfclub.org.uk

Golspie GC www.golspiegolfclub.co.uk

Royal Dornoch GC www.royaldornoch.com

Tain GC www.tain-golfclub.co.uk

Fortrose & Rosemarkie GC www.fortrosegolfclub.co.uk

Nairn GC www.nairngolfclub.co.uk

Nairn Dunbar GC www.nairndunbar.com

North East – Winter Green Fee Deals

Hopeman GC www.hopemangolf.club

Moray GC – Old & New www.moraygolf.co.uk

Buckpool GC www.buckpoolgolf.com

Strathlene GC www.strathlenegolfclub.co.uk

Cullen Links www.cullenlinksgolf.co.uk

Inverallochy GC www.inverallochygolfclub.com

Peterhead GC www.peterheadgolfclub.co.uk

Cruden Bay GC www.crudenbaygolfclub.co.uk

Newburgh on Ythan GC www.newburghgolfclub.co.uk

Trump International www.trumpgolfscotland.com

Murcar Links www.murcarlinks.com

Royal Aberdeen GC www.royalaberdeengolf.com

Stonehaven GC www.stonehavengolfclub.com

17 Things To Consider Before Golfing In The Winter In Scotland

The Home of Golf’s WINTER CHECKLIST

The Course

Times / When to Play

The Clubhouse

Other Stuff When Golfing in the Winter

Newbattle Golf Club, Midlothian www.newbattlegolfclub.com

Location

The Course

Holes

Opens

Broomieknowe Golf Club, Midlothian www.broomieknowe.com

Location

The Club/Course

Holes

Opens

Glencorse Golf Club, Midlothian www.glencorsegolfclub.com

Location

The Course

Holes

Opens

Kings Acre Golf Club, Midlothian www.kings-acregolf.com

Location

The Course

The Academy

The Course

Holes

Accommodation

What to do in Midlothian & surrounding area

Accommodation in Midlothian and surrounding area

Golf in West Lothian

Pumpherston Golf Club

Location

The Course

Holes

Opens

Uphall Golf Club

Location

The Course

Holes

West Lothian Golf Club

Location

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

Arbroath Golf Links
www.arbroathgolfcourse.co.uk

Carnoustie Golf Links
www.carnoustiegolflinks.co.uk

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

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

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

St. Andrews
www.standrews.com

Fairmont St. Andrews
www.fairmont.com

Crail Golfing Society
www.crailgolfingsociety.co.uk

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

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

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

Plenty Winter Green Fee
Deals To Keep The Golf
Clubs Out Over The Winter

Reay GC
www.reaygolfclub.co.uk

Wick Golf Club
www.wickgolfclub.org.uk

Golspie GC
www.golspiegolfclub.co.uk

Royal Dornoch GC
www.royaldornoch.com

Tain GC
www.tain-golfclub.co.uk

Fortrose & Rosemarkie GC
www.fortrosegolfclub.co.uk

Nairn GC
www.nairngolfclub.co.uk

Nairn Dunbar GC
www.nairndunbar.com

Hopeman GC
www.hopemangolf.club

Moray GC – Old & New
www.moraygolf.co.uk

Buckpool GC
www.buckpoolgolf.com

Strathlene GC
www.strathlenegolfclub.co.uk

Cullen Links
www.cullenlinksgolf.co.uk

Inverallochy GC
www.inverallochygolfclub.com

Peterhead GC
www.peterheadgolfclub.co.uk

Cruden Bay GC
www.crudenbaygolfclub.co.uk

Newburgh on Ythan GC
www.newburghgolfclub.co.uk

Trump International
www.trumpgolfscotland.com

Murcar Links
www.murcarlinks.com

Royal Aberdeen GC
www.royalaberdeengolf.com

Stonehaven GC
www.stonehavengolfclub.com

17 Things To Consider Before
Golfing In The Winter In Scotland

The Home of Golf’s
WINTER CHECKLIST

Newbattle Golf Club, Midlothian
www.newbattlegolfclub.com

Broomieknowe Golf Club, Midlothian
www.broomieknowe.com

Glencorse Golf Club, Midlothian
www.glencorsegolfclub.com

Kings Acre Golf Club, Midlothian
www.kings-acregolf.com

Peebles Golf Club
www.peeblesgolfclub.com

West Linton Golf Club
www.wlgc.co.uk

The MacDonald Cardrona Hotel Golf Course
MacDonald Cardrona Golf Course website

Torwoodlee Golf Club
www.torwoodleegolfclub.co.uk