Backache
Assistant Pro
I was recently on holiday on the Isle of Harris and thought I would stick in a quick review.
For those who don't know where Harris is it is part of the Northern most island in the outer Hebrides, Harris and Lewis although talked of as two separate Islands are part of the same land mass, though the two parts have a very different feel. Lewis is the more northerly and the more densely populated (a relative concept, it's not exactly the home counties). It is a place of Moorland and peat bogs with a stunning coast line.
Harris itself divides into two with a very hilly northern half and a slightly more gentle southern half, a rocky coast line faces east and over to Skye whereas a Sandy coastline faces West to the Atlantic.
Scarista is a hamlet on the Western side of the southern part of Harris, the golf course is a nine- holer on a sloping sandy hill overlooking the beach. The views are absolutely sensational with white sands on the beach, turquoise waters and the backdrop of the North Harris hills with the ocean flanked by Tarensay Island and the Toe of Harris. I don't think I have ever been in a more stunning setting for golf.
In order to play you stick your money in to an honest box £15 for nine holes or £25 for the day envelopes to put your money in and score cards are provided for in the club house (Two roof turfed converted shipping containers) Trolleys are also available for hire on the same honesty system. Clubs are advertised as available but a couple of visitors who I met and who wanted to play struggled to find them I'm not sure what the system is.
The course is 2417 for nine holes and 4834 for eighteen, it has apparently been changed recently some of the tee signs are marked for the older yardages, I think the scorecard is accurate. the course was not recognised by my skycaddy Aire2. It is on one side of a hill with quite a few sloping lies and changes of gradient. the turf is machair soil which is from sand blown in form the beaches and grassland established on top it is very quick drying and a delight to play from, the flowers in the rough are lovely but make ball hunting difficult (yellow balls would probably help).
The length of the course gives an indication that it is not the most challenging course and the fairways are reasonably generous once you have worked out the best lines which took me a couple of rounds and the odd lost ball, the second hole in particular which was incorrectly yardaged on the tee was difficult to judge where to hit the tee shot for myself who is a short hitter. If you do find the rough though finding the ball is not easy.
The greens were generally in good condition with one that had suffered a little , considering the length of the course most of the greens were very large other than the 6th which is about the smallest I have played. This would give the impression that scoring is very easy however though not a tough course I suspect many will be surprised at how difficult accessing the hole can be from off the green, most of the greens slope significantly and on my visit most of the holes wer at the edges of the greens well guarded by bunkers or slopes or both, trying to get close to the hole even a short distance form the green was very much a risk reward challenge and at my level of golf (17 h/cap) not straightforward plently of pars to be had but I couldn't get a birdie in 33 holes.
All in all a fabulous experience of jawdroppingly beautiful scenery with golf to put a smile on your face , highly recommended if you ever get the chance.
For those who don't know where Harris is it is part of the Northern most island in the outer Hebrides, Harris and Lewis although talked of as two separate Islands are part of the same land mass, though the two parts have a very different feel. Lewis is the more northerly and the more densely populated (a relative concept, it's not exactly the home counties). It is a place of Moorland and peat bogs with a stunning coast line.
Harris itself divides into two with a very hilly northern half and a slightly more gentle southern half, a rocky coast line faces east and over to Skye whereas a Sandy coastline faces West to the Atlantic.
Scarista is a hamlet on the Western side of the southern part of Harris, the golf course is a nine- holer on a sloping sandy hill overlooking the beach. The views are absolutely sensational with white sands on the beach, turquoise waters and the backdrop of the North Harris hills with the ocean flanked by Tarensay Island and the Toe of Harris. I don't think I have ever been in a more stunning setting for golf.
In order to play you stick your money in to an honest box £15 for nine holes or £25 for the day envelopes to put your money in and score cards are provided for in the club house (Two roof turfed converted shipping containers) Trolleys are also available for hire on the same honesty system. Clubs are advertised as available but a couple of visitors who I met and who wanted to play struggled to find them I'm not sure what the system is.
The course is 2417 for nine holes and 4834 for eighteen, it has apparently been changed recently some of the tee signs are marked for the older yardages, I think the scorecard is accurate. the course was not recognised by my skycaddy Aire2. It is on one side of a hill with quite a few sloping lies and changes of gradient. the turf is machair soil which is from sand blown in form the beaches and grassland established on top it is very quick drying and a delight to play from, the flowers in the rough are lovely but make ball hunting difficult (yellow balls would probably help).
The length of the course gives an indication that it is not the most challenging course and the fairways are reasonably generous once you have worked out the best lines which took me a couple of rounds and the odd lost ball, the second hole in particular which was incorrectly yardaged on the tee was difficult to judge where to hit the tee shot for myself who is a short hitter. If you do find the rough though finding the ball is not easy.
The greens were generally in good condition with one that had suffered a little , considering the length of the course most of the greens were very large other than the 6th which is about the smallest I have played. This would give the impression that scoring is very easy however though not a tough course I suspect many will be surprised at how difficult accessing the hole can be from off the green, most of the greens slope significantly and on my visit most of the holes wer at the edges of the greens well guarded by bunkers or slopes or both, trying to get close to the hole even a short distance form the green was very much a risk reward challenge and at my level of golf (17 h/cap) not straightforward plently of pars to be had but I couldn't get a birdie in 33 holes.
All in all a fabulous experience of jawdroppingly beautiful scenery with golf to put a smile on your face , highly recommended if you ever get the chance.
