Course: Machrihanish Golf Club – Machrihanish

For most golfers the western coast of Scotland translates into great courses like Prestwick, royal Troon and Turnberry. The dogged golfer however, takes off the beaten track and gets to the Machrihanish Golf Club on the Kintyre Peninsula for a course carved out of land described by Old Tom Morris as being “specially designed The Almighty for playing golf”.

Located in its namesake village of Machrihanish, the original architect of this course is widely believed to be Mother Nature. However, Old Tom Morris in 1879 and subsequently J.H. Taylor and Sir Guy Campbell made considerable contributions to the layout giving it it’s present form. Set amid majestic sand dunes, Machrihanish is a links course and a delight for the purists. Although it takes a bit of work getting to Machrihanish; it is 140 miles from Glasgow; this classic layout is quite popular.

At 6,225 - par 70, Machrihanish is not a long course yet is renowned for its naturally undulating fairways and well contoured greens. The initial hole, “Battery”, is considered one of the best opening holes in golf and offers a stunning view of the sea from its elevated tee. A nine out nine back layout; Machrihanish’s outward set is hemmed to the beach and winds its way through sand hills and hollows demanding accuracy in shots. The greens are exceptionally vivid, firm and undulating.

The back nine set against the Kintyre Hills as a backdrop is just as imaginative. There is a lot of variety in holes and you would need to use as many clubs as you can carry. The tough part on the course starts from the 15th till the end with the Machrihanish Burn posing a hazard on the final two holes.

When the course began life it took a steamboat and a carriage ride to get you there. It isn’t any easier than a 3-hour road trip today, but Machrihanish still pulls golfers like a magnet.

Course: Loch Lomond Golf Course, Luss
 
Just a stone’s throw from Glasgow lies the Loch Lomond and hemmed to its western banks lies the most exclusive golf club in Scotland – The Loch Lomond. Tom Weiskopf almost lost his life in the bogs that appear on the land while creating what he calls his “lasting memorial to golf”. You need take one look at the potent combination of a fantastic Weiskopf and Jay Morrish layout and the surrounding scenery and you know what he means.

Loch Lomond opened in 1993 amid fanfare and has rapidly scaled the ladder of the world’s best courses. The variables contributing to its ‘classic’ status range from the ingenuity of its design to its accompanying environment. Built on 600 acres of what was Colquhoun Clan’s ancestral land, Loch Lomond is set between the mountains and the historic lake. The course itself is home to two Sites of Special Scientific Interest and has been awarded the full Audubon status.

As a regular host to the Scottish Open, Loch Lomond is a skilled player’s heaven because it demands accuracy, strategy and dedication. A round needs more of patience and stamina to traverse the 7,100 yards than plain brute force. Although there are no tricks like hidden hazards, Loch Lomond will need every club a player has to complete a round with some degree of satisfaction.

Loch Lomond is a collection of some superb holes and most would test even a skilled player, if he manages to get an invitation from a member to play.  Notable are the 625 yards sixth – the longest in Scottish golf, the 10th and the 14th. Playing for a par of 71, Loch Lomond offers a wide variety of holes and a thoroughly memorable round of golf, so if you ever get an invitation to play here, be miserly in refusing it.

Course: Kingsbarns Golf Links, St. Andrews

Kingsbarns Golf Links located just off the coast of the North Sea and a mere six kilometers from St. Andrews is one of the most captivating links courses in Scotland. Although the course opened for play only in July 200, there is evidence of the game having been played here as far back as 1793 and even before the Second World War. The links remained remarkably golf – less till the end of the 20th century when Kyle Phillips was commissioned to create one of the best looking courses in the country. 

A lot of earth moving, landscaping and research ended in the Kingsbarns links in 2000 and the course was lapped up by enthusiasts just as soon. Interestingly, all the earth hauling revealed not only a visually impactful course but also a surprise burn on the links – The Cambo – which comes into play on a round.

One of the biggest delights of playing golf on this modern links course is the availability of stunning vistas of the North Sea on most holes. Adding to the experience are the immaculately maintained greens, lush, undulating fairways and all the bumps and hollows that the terrain naturally affords the track. However, don’t go to Kingsbarns expecting an easy game. The course hosts the Dunhill Links Championship and is a tough track meant to test a golfer’s best skills.

The layout runs to 7,126 yards from the championship tees requiring stamina and the accompanying scenic beauty demands concentration. Playing for a par of 72, Kingsbarns poses an easy, soothing yet challenging game for players of all levels. The rolling dunes, ridges and hollows leave little room for big shooters and reward the thinking player. Although not too easy on the pocket, Kingsbarns is a must play for its beauty and the promise of greater things to come in future.