DCB
Well-known member
Just back from a three day golf break with my wife at the end of last week, down in the South West of Scotland. We stayed at one of the McMillan hotels, The North West Castle in Stranraer. Our Golf Break deal was based on a weekday golf deal (Wed-Fri).
We first played the hotel groups own course at Calley Palace at Gatehouse of Fleet. A nice enough course with plenty of trees and some rather large water hazards. As a resort type course it is certainly not the most taxing of courses, but fun to play none the less. On most holes a good drive and a good mid iron suffice, but there are some longer beasties just to keep you on your toes.
Our second round was played at Portpatrick Dunskey. I really love this course. Played it several times now and it's always different. It's set on the cliff tops just to the North of the village of Portpatrick. Beautiful views out over the North Sound to N Ireland. A good mix of holes and a good test of anyones golfing ability. The course was in excellent condition, good true, pacey greens and some tough gnarly rough if you missed the faiway. We had a day with hardly any wind and bright sunshine. (24 hours before it had been blowing a hoolie) On top of that, the clubhouse serves the best sticky toffee pudding this side of Cullen !
Our last round, which was an additional round at a reduced greenfee booked through the hotel, was at Wigtownshire County, a links course at the head of Luce Bay. I'd never played there before and will need to go back, 'cause this time it gave me a real doing ! A traditional Scottish links feel, the sea rolling up the shore just yards from some of the holes. Good true fast greens, and bunkers with proper sand in them
what more can you ask for.
So if you're looking for somewhere that's a good base for a weekend or short break, I can recommend this place. We've used it quite a lot over the past 10 years and have played most of the courses down in that area now. The hotel is more than adequate for this type of jaunt and a sauna and jacuzzi at the end of the day are ideal for helping those aching limbs. Our deal was £68 per person per night, dinner, B&B and golf ! Granted, we played an additional round, but the hotel booked that at a considerable discount.
Well worth a look if you're looking for a venue in that part of the country.
We first played the hotel groups own course at Calley Palace at Gatehouse of Fleet. A nice enough course with plenty of trees and some rather large water hazards. As a resort type course it is certainly not the most taxing of courses, but fun to play none the less. On most holes a good drive and a good mid iron suffice, but there are some longer beasties just to keep you on your toes.
Our second round was played at Portpatrick Dunskey. I really love this course. Played it several times now and it's always different. It's set on the cliff tops just to the North of the village of Portpatrick. Beautiful views out over the North Sound to N Ireland. A good mix of holes and a good test of anyones golfing ability. The course was in excellent condition, good true, pacey greens and some tough gnarly rough if you missed the faiway. We had a day with hardly any wind and bright sunshine. (24 hours before it had been blowing a hoolie) On top of that, the clubhouse serves the best sticky toffee pudding this side of Cullen !
Our last round, which was an additional round at a reduced greenfee booked through the hotel, was at Wigtownshire County, a links course at the head of Luce Bay. I'd never played there before and will need to go back, 'cause this time it gave me a real doing ! A traditional Scottish links feel, the sea rolling up the shore just yards from some of the holes. Good true fast greens, and bunkers with proper sand in them
what more can you ask for.So if you're looking for somewhere that's a good base for a weekend or short break, I can recommend this place. We've used it quite a lot over the past 10 years and have played most of the courses down in that area now. The hotel is more than adequate for this type of jaunt and a sauna and jacuzzi at the end of the day are ideal for helping those aching limbs. Our deal was £68 per person per night, dinner, B&B and golf !
Granted, we played an additional round, but the hotel booked that at a considerable discount.Well worth a look if you're looking for a venue in that part of the country.
