Top 100 Golf Courses in Scotland
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<strong>Top</strong> <strong>100</strong> scoTland 2015<br />
MY SECRETS OF SCOTLAND<br />
By Andrew Coltart<br />
The 1999 Ryder Cup player grew up play<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> elite amateur events around the country. He<br />
selects 10 of his favourite lower-profile courses - with an emphasis on fun, short-ish tracks.<br />
Kilsp<strong>in</strong>die<br />
A brilliant, fun little gem with outstand<strong>in</strong>g<br />
holes and fantastic views of the Firth of Forth.<br />
Just leave your slice at home!<br />
Ladybank<br />
A strong course with a big emphasis on<br />
accuracy and strategy. I played there <strong>in</strong> the<br />
British youths <strong>in</strong> 1988 and absolutely loved it.<br />
L u f n e s s<br />
not overly long but has recently been<br />
extended; it’s a clever design us<strong>in</strong>g bunkers<br />
and dead ground to confuse the golfer. Very<br />
exposed to the elements. I qualified for the<br />
Muirfield Open of 2002 there, by shoot<strong>in</strong>g 61 –<br />
a new course record.<br />
Archerfield Dirleton<br />
It’s true that I’m a member here but I like and<br />
admire DJ Russell as an architect. A clever,<br />
exposed golf course, it is well bunkered of the<br />
tee but fair around the green which means it’s<br />
playable <strong>in</strong> all conditions.<br />
Thornhill<br />
This is where I grew up as a kid, so obviously<br />
I am a bit biased. It’s limited by available land,<br />
but is a short fun course to play, where each<br />
n<strong>in</strong>e returns to the clubhouse so you don’t<br />
have to be out all day to enjoy your game.<br />
Cawder<br />
I remember lov<strong>in</strong>g this course when I was a<br />
young lad. played it several times but that was<br />
over 20 years ago so it just shows you how<br />
impressed I was by it.<br />
Powfoot<br />
Another course from my native South of<br />
<strong>Scotland</strong>; it was always a strong stern test for<br />
any golfer. From the threat of out of bounds<br />
right at the 1st, the pressure was always on to<br />
score well. Love it (as well as its better-known<br />
neighbour Southerness).<br />
Golspie<br />
played it only once, and it was 14 years ago,<br />
but I can remember how good it was to this<br />
day. I recall th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g it’s a shame it’s so far<br />
north so isn’t more widely recognised. A<br />
lovely old design, it was great fun to learn<br />
and play.<br />
Blairgowrie (Lansdowne)<br />
Another long time ago amateur event, it was<br />
‘keyhole tight’ <strong>in</strong> places. I loved how the<br />
slashers had no chance around here. Had to<br />
keep it <strong>in</strong> play.<br />
Dunbar<br />
On <strong>Scotland</strong>’s <strong>Golf</strong> Coast, this is a strong<br />
course always exposed to the w<strong>in</strong>ds whipp<strong>in</strong>g<br />
East Lothian. Important to control the ball<br />
flight and distances, I have fond memories<br />
of it because I won the Scottish Boys title<br />
here <strong>in</strong> ’86.<br />
n Andrew Coltart is a European Tour w<strong>in</strong>ner<br />
who played <strong>in</strong> the 199 Ryder Cup, won the<br />
Dunhill Cup and is now a commentator for<br />
Sky Sports and a director of bespoke<br />
coach<strong>in</strong>g experts TPEGS (TPEGS.com).<br />
Blairgowrie’s<br />
Lansdowne<br />
course, where<br />
accuracy is key.<br />
20 <strong>Golf</strong> World TOp <strong>100</strong> SCOTLAnD 2015