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GOLSPIE
GOLF CLUB
Golspie
Sutherland
Scotland |
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FOUNDED: |
1889 |
DESIGNER: |
James Braid |
CHAMPIONSHIP
LENGTH: |
5,890 yards |
PAR: |
68 |
SSS
(Course Rating): |
68 |
TYPE: |
Links
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Golspie Golf Club, though not a world-renowned golf course,
is certainly more than worth a visit when playing golf in the Highlands
of Scotland. Situated approximately 20 minutes from Royal Dornoch and
Brora and about an hour from Nairn, Golspie is certainly worth including
in your itinerary.
Little different than other Scottish links courses, the history of Golspie
is long and colourful. The fact that golf was played on this links course
prior to the foundation of the club, is again no great surprise. Golspie
Golf Club grew from the activities of the local Sutherland Golfing Society
and was founded in 1889. The published description of the course in The
Golfer's Guide for the United Kingdom in 1895 perfectly reflects the subsequent
course of history at the links - "There is an excellent course of nine
holes and with a little time, care and money, will be made still more
worthy of its charming Highland location".
Development of the links has been constant over the years and an 18-hole
layout was opened in 1905. Following further extensions, the club sought
the advice of the renowned architect and golfer James Braid. The development
work, proposed by Braid was agreed upon and by 1927, the most significant
ever alterations to Golspie Golf Links had been completed.
Golspie
shot to prominence in 1985, when the links played host to the 36 holes
qualifying event for the British Amateur Championship at Royal Dornoch.
Given less than ten players returned sub-par rounds and the excellent
condition of the course, Golspie Links finally commanded the recognition
it richly deserved.
Though classified as a links course, Golspie is somewhat unique as far
as what one expects from a traditional links. Offering a mixture of links,
heath and parkland combined with stunning views, golf at Golspie Links
is truly a unique experience. The course layout is such that shot-making
skills are tested to the limit, while the par of 68 is not often matched.
Some of the finest holes at Golspie include the par four, 14th, back-to-back
par three's at 16 and 17 and of course, as with many great courses, the
18th, a testing 445-yard par four.
RECOMMENDED NEARBY ACCOMMODATION:
Skibo Castle (25 minutes), Morangie
House Hotel (35 minutes), Culloden
House (80 minutes), Swallow
Kingsmills Hotel (80 minutes)
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