Top 100 Golf Courses in Scotland
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2019?<br />
many will be realised?<br />
In September 2014 plann<strong>in</strong>g<br />
permission was approved for<br />
the construction of a five-star<br />
hotel with leisure and spa<br />
facilities and an 18-hole<br />
championship golf course.<br />
URY EsTaTE<br />
Where – Stonehaven<br />
Designer – Jack nicklaus<br />
Developers – FM Group<br />
A plann<strong>in</strong>g application was<br />
lodged <strong>in</strong> February 2015 for an<br />
18-hole championship course<br />
with enabl<strong>in</strong>g hous<strong>in</strong>g<br />
development. Current plann<strong>in</strong>g<br />
policy does not cater for<br />
hous<strong>in</strong>g but the homes are<br />
crucial to fund the course.<br />
BlaIRs collEGE<br />
Where – Aberdeen<br />
Designers – paul Lawrie/<br />
European <strong>Golf</strong> Design<br />
Developers – Muir Group<br />
plann<strong>in</strong>g permission is sought<br />
for private hous<strong>in</strong>g to fund<br />
<strong>in</strong>frastructure, afordable<br />
hous<strong>in</strong>g and leisure facilities<br />
<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g a championship golf<br />
course to act as an enabl<strong>in</strong>g<br />
development – over a 10-year<br />
period – for the re-use of listed<br />
Blairs College as a hotel.<br />
37 Boat of Garten (▼ 2)<br />
Boat of Garten, Inverness-shire. Par 70,<br />
5,876 yards. Designer: James Braid.<br />
IM A beautiful course set among heather and<br />
birch trees, it is not overly demand<strong>in</strong>g but still<br />
requires precision to stay out of the trees.<br />
NS An improved 1st helps as you no longer<br />
question what all the fuss was about when you<br />
first play the course. Simply beautiful.<br />
MSt Almost as good as Braid’s Gleneagles duo.<br />
GW VERDICT: Fun, tranquil and beautiful.<br />
36 Monifieth (▼ 5)<br />
Monifieth, Angus. Par 71, 6,655 yards.<br />
Designers: Allan Robertson/Alan Pirie.<br />
IM Old fashioned l<strong>in</strong>ks with gently undulat<strong>in</strong>g<br />
fairways bordered by clusters of tall p<strong>in</strong>e trees.<br />
NS A classic l<strong>in</strong>ks which produced <strong>in</strong> Ian<br />
Hutcheon one of the great Scottish amateurs.<br />
GW VERDICT A drop for Monifieth is not<br />
<strong>in</strong>dicative of our view of it, it is purely due to<br />
others leapfrogg<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to the late 20s. This is a<br />
dreamy l<strong>in</strong>ks and a brilliant, value day out.<br />
34 Moray Old ( ▲ 3 )<br />
Lossiemouth, Inverness-shire. Par 71, 6,995<br />
yards. Designer: Old Tom Morris.<br />
IM An absolute gem (and the new is not too<br />
far beh<strong>in</strong>d). Gorse l<strong>in</strong>ed fairways and deep<br />
revetted bunkers that are truly punish<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
AM Superbly sited by the sea, a hugely<br />
underrated course with some great holes.<br />
NS A very f<strong>in</strong>e l<strong>in</strong>ks with possibly the best 18th<br />
<strong>in</strong> <strong>Scotland</strong>, played to long elevated green.<br />
GW VERDICT Unanimous afection for Moray.<br />
33 Dunbar ( ▲ 3 )<br />
Dunbar, East Lothian. Par 71, 6,597 yards.<br />
Designer: Old Tom Morris.<br />
BB Underrated and absolutely charm<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
Stunn<strong>in</strong>g for five holes around the 9th.<br />
JC Weak start and f<strong>in</strong>ish, otherwise exceptional.<br />
AM Really strong design, good scenery.<br />
NS Another great l<strong>in</strong>ks after a modest start.<br />
BS A proper l<strong>in</strong>ks with holes right by the sea.<br />
GW VERDICT After Brora and Moray, this is<br />
another l<strong>in</strong>ks the panel widely adored.<br />
35 The Duke’s (▼ 6)<br />
St Andrews, Fife. Par 71, 7,002 yards.<br />
Designers: Peter Thomson/Tim Liddy.<br />
IM A well presented heathland which seems<br />
a strange phrase to use about a St Andrews<br />
course but it is a change to constant l<strong>in</strong>ks golf.<br />
IJ A superb test <strong>in</strong> amongst the gorse, heather<br />
and p<strong>in</strong>e.<br />
GW VERDICT The Duke’s gets better... but so<br />
does the competition. A first-rate heathland<br />
that should be on your St Andrews it<strong>in</strong>erary.<br />
32 Blairgowrie Lansdowne ( ▲ 9 )<br />
Blairgowrie, Perthshire. Par 72, 6,689 yards.<br />
Designer: James Braid.<br />
AM Almost as good as its sister, Rosemount.<br />
NS I actually believe this is a harder test than<br />
Rosemount particularly the holes where you<br />
have to play between the trees.<br />
AF Good course with great front n<strong>in</strong>e.<br />
GW VERDICT We’re happy the Lansdowne now<br />
sits close to the Rosemount <strong>in</strong> our list. There<br />
really isn’t much between these <strong>in</strong>land stars.<br />
TOp <strong>100</strong> TOp SCOTLAnD <strong>100</strong> EnGLAnD 2015 <strong>Golf</strong> World 525