Scottish contingent

[Tiger]

A little while back I said that we were looking at a family holiday in Portugal. I lost that battle. However, the reason is the missus is keen to run the London Marathon next year (2011) and wants to get a good for age place by posting a decent time in another marathon.

We've always loved Scotland (got engaged in Edinburgh) but have never visited the Highlands. Plan is for her to run the Loch Ness Marathon in October. Obviously, I was straight on Google to look at what golf clubs were nearby. Nearest seems to be Inverness. Anyone play there? Anyone recommend any other courses in the Inverness area? Its a long way off but anyone fancy a game?

Cheers

T

 

[USER1999]

The Loch Ness marathon is a good one to do. My wife is running it again this year, along with some of our friends. She did a 3 hour 20 last time out, but won't get near it this time.

Pity I won't get time to even look at a golf club.

Worst bit is, being Scotland, and a Sunday, the pubs in Inverness don't open til about 2, so you can't even sit in the pub during the race. It is like the dark ages up there.

 

[Tommo21]

The Loch Ness marathon is a good one to do. My wife is running it again this year, along with some of our friends. She did a 3 hour 20 last time out, but won't get near it this time.

Pity I won't get time to even look at a golf club.

Worst bit is, being Scotland, and a Sunday, the pubs in Inverness don't open til about 2, so you can't even sit in the pub during the race. It is like the dark ages up there.

Thats because the pubs shut at 5 in the saturday morning.

 

[bobmac]

It wasn't that long ago when all the pubs in Scotland were closed all day on Sundays.
The only place you could get a drink on a Sunday was in a hotel.

 

[birdieman]

In the Inverness area, Inverness is not bad but towny, Torvean (municipal) is ok, lots of folk knock it but I quite enjoyed it. Better out of the town a little - Fortrose is great fun links about 20 minutes away, both Nairn courses are good especially the West course. Nairn is about 20 minutes as well. Castle Stuart is very expensive but brilliant by all accounts and the closest to Inverness not in Inverness itself, maybe 10 to 15 minutes from Inverness. Up the road Strathpeffer is meant to be fun, (never played it).
Only a half hour down the A9 close to Aviemore are the great Spey Valley and Boat of Garten courses - both fabulous golfing experiences, can't get enough of those 2 courses.
Spoilt for choice really.
Can't commit to a game but if you were prepared to travel the hour and a half to Ballater from Inverness I could get you on there for a game.
However seeing as its October you may be better near the coast for better weather.

 

[Scott1505]

Loads of decent courses in and around that area and generally speaking they are great value. Depends how far from Inverness you want to go but Boat of Garten which is south of Inverness near Aviemore is a stunning course. If you are in that area you also have Spey Valley which is a relatively new championship course which hosts a euro challenge tour event but get a buggy as it is very long! Along with that you have two good courses in Nairn one is also championship course.

A bit further North you have Tain which is also a really nice links course.

These are ones i have played recently but as i say there are so many good ones in the area but my fav is boat.

 

[John_Findlay]

Can echo Birdieman's sentiments about Spey Valley & Boat of Garten. Granton on Spey and Kingussie are good too. If you want links then Fortrose & Rosemarkie and Nairn are great. You're spoilt for choice.

 

[Tiger]

Thanks for all the info gents, please keep the recommendations coming. I'll start to look at them online and narrow my choices.

Also, thanks for the heads up re the Loch Ness Marathon Murph. Does it get well supported?

T

 

[WhoGivesA]

I agree, there are plenty of great courses in the area, my top choice would be Boat of Garten once voted as Scotlands hidden gem by another well known golf mag.My second choice would be Strathpeffer. Unfortunately both are in opposite directions from Inverness. But as with everything in the highlands nothing is ever nearby.
So have some great golf.
Cheers

 

[USER1999]

Not hugely, because most of the race is in open country, miles from anywhere. It is a one way trip, not a circular route, so it isn't like London. That said, because of this, and the smaller entry, it is made for a fast time. The finish has plenty of people though.

 

[bigbiffa]

got to agree with scott. every year we play, boat of garten, spey valley, and others including grantown on spey and kingussie. these are all 30-40 mins drive south but definitely worth the journey! any course that is close to the cairngorm mountains is always on a winner!

 

[Tiger]

Not hugely, because most of the race is in open country, miles from anywhere. It is a one way trip, not a circular route, so it isn't like London. That said, because of this, and the smaller entry, it is made for a fast time. The finish has plenty of people though.

Thanks Murph, that's really helpful. Knowing how beautiful the highlands are the spectacular scenery should more than make up for the lack of crowds and the main aim is for her to get a fast time so it bodes well.

got to agree with scott. every year we play, boat of garten, spey valley, and others including grantown on spey and kingussie. these are all 30-40 mins drive south but definitely worth the journey! any course that is close to the cairngorm mountains is always on a winner!

Well to be fair the Boat of Garten seems to have the popular vote. Doubt I'd get away with more than two golfing jaunts and one would need to be close to Inverness, so a warm up game on the Muni a couple of days before could well be a plan.

Hope a couple of you would be up for a game when I firm up the details.

Thanks for all your advice

 

[Taggart]

Have to agree with those who say Boat O Garten, such a good course. Spey Valley is also good but May last year it still did not have a clubhouse so worth bearing in mind.

Not so long a drive is Fortrose which was also mentioned a challenging links course particularly when the wind is up but is not too long and the memebers/ staff are very hospitable.

Enjoy where ever you go

 

[heronsghyll]

I am amazed o-one has mentioned Nairn or Royal Dornoch. Both easily accessible from Inverness and awesome courses.

I would forget Tain, short and a series of very poor finishing holes.

Nairn of Dunbar is also another great course as is Old Moray.

I have played them all while staying in Inverness, it was a great week!!

 

[Taggart]

Aye, Royal Dornoch is supberb but is costly compared to what you can play in that area

 

[John_Findlay]

I am amazed o-one has mentioned Nairn or Royal Dornoch.

A few did suggest Nairn but I think we were mainly suggesting the less expensive courses. In the area the best three are Castle Stuart, Royal Dornoch & Nairn but they're all in the £90+ range. The rest you'll play for £35-£50.

 

[patricks148]

Hi there, I live in Inverness, just around the corner from the finish of the Lochness marathon.
I would be more that happy to have a game while you’re up. I’m a member at Torvean, which again is just across the road from the finish line. I am also a member at Tain which is about 45 mins away. Tain is a superb old Tom Morris links course and could get you a game there too (£8).

Fortrose is nearby and again a great course (£35) Quirky links.

Boat of Garten, excellent course about half hour /40 mins away (£35/40) Quirky parkland in a birch forest.

Nairn superb (£75) Links.
Nairn Dunbar Links/Parkland.

Lots more beside

 

[Tiger]

Hi there, I live in Inverness, just around the corner from the finish of the Lochness marathon.
I would be more that happy to have a game while you’re up. I’m a member at Torvean, which again is just across the road from the finish line. I am also a member at Tain which is about 45 mins away. Tain is a superb old Tom Morris links course and could get you a game there too (£8).

Fortrose is nearby and again a great course (£35) Quirky links.

Boat of Garten, excellent course about half hour /40 mins away (£35/40) Quirky parkland in a birch forest.

Nairn superb (£75) Links.
Nairn Dunbar Links/Parkland.

Lots more beside

thanks patrick I'll let you know the details when we book. T

 

[backwoodsman]

In order; Boat, Fortrose, Tain.

Forget Strathpeffer - a ridiculous course. Up down up down up down - you get the drift. Although it does have an impressive first hole - the drop down to hell is shorter than the drop to the green...

 

[patricks148]

Not sure when in Oct the LNM is, as there's usually a few walk on opens about that time of year.Links courses are sometimes at there best at the end of the season in this part of the world.

Boat is a lovely course but the greens can be very slow on occasion. Also Snow is not out of the question in the Cairngorms in Oct.