lobthewedge
Challenge Tour Pro
Just returned from a weeks holiday on the beautiful Hebridean island of South Uist, and was lucky enough to play a couple of rounds on Askernish, the best Scottish links you have probably never heard of!
A course was originally set out by Old Tom Morris in 1891 among the huge rolling dunes at Askernish, some of the finest golfing terrain he had ever seen apparently. Over the years the course was lost and almost forgotten about until it was resurrected and expanded a few years ago.
The course is as raw as it gets, sheep and cows roam the fairways in the winter months and it cant exactly be described as manicured, but it lacks nor loses anything in its quality. Nothing, or at least very little is artificial, with hardly any bunkers and no water hazards (except the sea) the course is defended by its natural landscape, huge sweeping dunes, punishing rough, heavily contoured greens and the ever present wind. Much of what you play today is unchanged from over 100 years ago, probably the way golf started and was meant to be played.
The first 5 holes break you in gently, set among the softer rolling dunes and more sheltered from the wind, but a challenge all the same with tight fairways and large undulating greens.
The 6th is when the course turns on you, a first glimpse of the sea and the wind picks up and blows into your face, looking straight up a 580 yard par 5 - just keep hitting!
The 7th is a great hole, a long par 4 snaking up a valley of dunes to a green that nestles in a bowl at the far end - a hole that would not be out of place on any Open Championship course.
The 8th to 11th hug the coastline and all play into the wind, great holes, quite quirky that reminded me of the front 9 at Machrihanish, that good.
You turn for home at 12 and 13th, maybe the tamest holes on the course that let you get a breath.
The 14th to 17th are a return to Machrihanish style holes, quirky, great fun and highlighted by massive undulating greens like the 16th where you can be putting from 12ft above or below the hole!
The 18th is a gentle par 5 doglegging round an old sheep compound and serves well to take you back to the Askernish clubhouse where a well earned pint awaits.
All in all, its a fantastic course and in my opinion can hold its own against any links course in Britain. Its rough and ready, but charming, challenging and great fun to play. The staff/members I met and played with were extremely proud of their course, its quality and history. They know what they have on thier doorstep and are keen to spread the word that Askernish exists and that the world is welcome to experience it too.
A course was originally set out by Old Tom Morris in 1891 among the huge rolling dunes at Askernish, some of the finest golfing terrain he had ever seen apparently. Over the years the course was lost and almost forgotten about until it was resurrected and expanded a few years ago.
The course is as raw as it gets, sheep and cows roam the fairways in the winter months and it cant exactly be described as manicured, but it lacks nor loses anything in its quality. Nothing, or at least very little is artificial, with hardly any bunkers and no water hazards (except the sea) the course is defended by its natural landscape, huge sweeping dunes, punishing rough, heavily contoured greens and the ever present wind. Much of what you play today is unchanged from over 100 years ago, probably the way golf started and was meant to be played.
The first 5 holes break you in gently, set among the softer rolling dunes and more sheltered from the wind, but a challenge all the same with tight fairways and large undulating greens.
The 6th is when the course turns on you, a first glimpse of the sea and the wind picks up and blows into your face, looking straight up a 580 yard par 5 - just keep hitting!
The 7th is a great hole, a long par 4 snaking up a valley of dunes to a green that nestles in a bowl at the far end - a hole that would not be out of place on any Open Championship course.
The 8th to 11th hug the coastline and all play into the wind, great holes, quite quirky that reminded me of the front 9 at Machrihanish, that good.
You turn for home at 12 and 13th, maybe the tamest holes on the course that let you get a breath.
The 14th to 17th are a return to Machrihanish style holes, quirky, great fun and highlighted by massive undulating greens like the 16th where you can be putting from 12ft above or below the hole!
The 18th is a gentle par 5 doglegging round an old sheep compound and serves well to take you back to the Askernish clubhouse where a well earned pint awaits.
All in all, its a fantastic course and in my opinion can hold its own against any links course in Britain. Its rough and ready, but charming, challenging and great fun to play. The staff/members I met and played with were extremely proud of their course, its quality and history. They know what they have on thier doorstep and are keen to spread the word that Askernish exists and that the world is welcome to experience it too.
