Spey Valley Golf Course - info please

[John_Findlay]

Has anyone played at Spey Valley (not Speybay) Golf Course near Aviemore? If so, could you recommend it?

Planning our pub's annual golf trip in May and we have Fortrose and Rosemarkie GC and Nairn GC on the list for Friday and Sunday but struggling to get suitable tee times on the Saturday at Moray Old or other courses even six months before the event (medals/competitions).

We like to sample different courses and thought an inland course would make a nice change.

Spey Valley looks like it has spectacular scenery and some lovely holes from the website but I'm looking for further info from someone who has played there.

Cheers

J_F

 

[DCB]

A Forum member was there last month around the time we went to Craigielaw. Dodger possibly ?

 

[DCB]

Are you moving about or are you based in one place ?

What about Brora for the Saturday, a bit further north than Fortrose but a great course.

 

[John_Findlay]

Thanks Dave.

Found Dodger's post looking for someone to play there but apart from thecraw saying it's a great track there's not much more info. I'll talk to him but any further info greatly appreciated.

We're gonna be based on Nairn as usual. Great caravans. Works out at just over £60 for 3 nights and they're right beside the practice ground at my old home course of Nairn Dunbar, which we all played the year before last.

My plan was maybe to play Spey Valley on the Friday afternoon on the road up from Edinburgh, stay in Nairn on Friday night and shoot up to Fortrose on the Saturday now.

Yes, Brora is a cracking course. Played in earlier this year but it's a little further than the boys want to go this year after doing Dornoch the last couple of years. The beers are beginning to take their toll at our age!

 

[Dodger]

JF I don't need to say anything more than GO!
Superb track and they may do you a good deal,we paid 40 I think and worth every penny.
The only thing I would say is it is bloody tough,the 1st 5 holes make you think it is pretty tame but then the fun begins,very tight driving holes,the fairways seem big enough to look at from the tee but semi was only maybe 6-8 yards wide then it was into knee high heather,dead city!
Nevertheless I really enjoyed it,we played it on a good day and it was breezy but not too bad and I think 32 pts was best so that tells you a story espec as that was a 1 hcp lad who managed that!

 

[John_Findlay]

Excellent dodger. That's just the kind of recommendation I'm looking for. I'll make enquiries. Dave Thomas design, too (the Belfry) Looks long.

Their website says they should have the new clubhouse open by Spring next year, too, which is good for 19th hole activities for the non drivers.

 

[Dodger]

Yep typical Thomas design with big greens but not so much of the big bunkers fairway wise but again typical Thomas big greenside bunkers present on many holes.I would say tho that out of the Thomas designs I have played it is one of his best ones.
At the moment the 19th hole is near the Golf reception (which is a 5 min walk from 1st tee and 18th green but you get ferried there by car by staff)and it is a good cosy bar area,not sure where the clubhouse is going to be but I didn't spot anything near the course being constucted in fact I didn't see anything being built but I do tend to walk around with my eyes shut outwith a golf course!

 

[John_Findlay]

Bingo bango bongo!

Found a good YouTube video of the course! We're going!

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=cTCaS8cwY2E

Cheers dodger.

 

[IM01]

Well worth a visit.
Good layout but some tough tee shots in the middle of the round..
Big USGA spec greens with the odd elephant buried underneath...should suit you!

 

[OldWindy]

Bingo bango bongo!

Found a good YouTube video of the course! We're going!

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=cTCaS8cwY2E

If they really do serve beer in the woods I'm in!

 

[John_Findlay]

Secured a good deal of £59 pp which includes coffee/rolls on arrival, a round of golf and a 2 course meal afterwards. Sweet!

 

[golfcitydweller]

a mate of mine played it during the summer john ,he was well pleased with it, course layout and condition and said the views u get are fantastic! he walked it but wish he`d takin a buggie ..big walks between tee`s .enjoy ..euan

 

[thecraw]

Mark my words JF, this course will be a Scottish must play in a few years. I played it once and fell in love. Guarenteed that I will be back. If I lived in the area I would join as its only 500 brick, my course will be £750 this year.

Opening hole makes you think its a doddle but as dodger says it soon shows its teeth and boy it will bite. Par 3's are beautiful but very tough. I think its the 16th, over the water we played it into the wind and only one of us made the front of the green and was still left with a putt up a slope about 15 ft high. 17 is also a stunningly good par 5.

Just go and dont miss out on an awesome golf course.

 

[John_Findlay]

Looking forward to it already....and buggies it is, then!

 

[Dodger]

We were advised to take buggies but all walked and it aint that bad a walk really,no worse than the Roxburgh or Gleneagles PGA.I would walk it for 2 reasons,more time to enjoy the vistas and I think it was £30 a pop for wheels.
Great deal you have,good stuff!