Scottish Golf Courses For £50 and Under
5 MIN READ
Affordable golf is the Holy Grail of the average golfer. Balancing precious time away from home with relaxation amongst friends can sometimes fall at the first hurdle when your expectation of a simple weekend’s golf of perhaps three rounds and accommodation suddenly becomes the family’s budget for a week’s summer holiday.
Of course, there are options and, in a land gifted with golfing history and so many fairways that it is the envy of the world, it can be easier than you think to pull together a really rewarding trip without a call to your bank. Price points for golf can vary in Scotland like anywhere else, and a three-course golfing menu can range from the equivalent of a gastropub to a Michelin star. But what are you looking for? Fun, predominantly. Far-away, so that you discover new places. Friendly, so that you and your friends feel welcome. And fantastic golf. Scotland has it all to offer, and for £50 a round or less there are some challenging and historical courses waiting for you to come and play them.
Abernethy GC
If the notion took you, a longer drive between games could lead you to all the compass points of Scotland by visiting courses like James Braid’s Reay GC in the north at Thurso, the gloriously scenic Isle of Skye Golf Club in Portree or Dunaverty Golf Club at the very southern tip of Kintyre. However, there are three areas which offer highly affordable golf, and convenient accommodation, yet require only short journeys between the courses.
The town of Muir of Ord lies just a few miles west of Inverness, its heathland/moorland Braid-designed course offering spectacular views of the misty mountains to the north. Braid’s characteristic bunkering and doglegs can be found in abundance across its varying levels. On the road south, and just off the A9, lie another two very scenic courses: Carrbridge, and a few miles further into the Cairngorms National Park, Abernethy. Carrbridge’s challenging pine forest-sheltered 9 holes presents natural hazards on every wonderful fairway - streams, hillocks and heather - and you’ll often meet the local wildlife even when keeping your ball on its fairways. The facilities at Carrbridge also give you the option to “nine-and-dine” in their picturesque red tin-roofed clubhouse before heading on to Abernethy. Built on natural moorland and both defined, and surrounded, by majestic pine trees, this naturally beautiful, traditional 9-hole Highland course is the perfect way to end this three-course choice off the ‘light’ menu.
Carrbridge GC
You could opt instead for the Northeast of Scotland to play five courses, each for under £50 a round. Start at Banchory Golf Club on Royal Deeside, whose tree-lined course runs parallel with the River Dee and features distractions and demanding golf in equal measure. In summer, its own Amen Corner boasts as much colour as Augusta. From here it’s only a short journey by car to four quality courses: the Kings Links near the mouth of the River Don, a classic east coast links with tight fairways, tricky bunkering and fast greens; Hazlehead’s MacKenzie Championship, a challenging tree-lined parkland course created by the early hand of Augusta’s Dr Alister MacKenzie; its neighbouring Hazlehead Pines Course, designed by Ryder Cup players, Brian Hugget, Neil Coles and Roger Dyer, and Balnagask, a Braid/Simpson design offering a naturally rolling coastal landscape with hidden fairways, elevated tees and gorse-walled ravines, surrounded by the sea on three sides.
Crieff GC
Alternatively, a shorter drive from the central belt will take you to another four excellent locations where value and quality are not compromised. The Strathmore Golf Centre near Blairgowrie was recently voted ‘Scotland’s Best’ in its category, providing abundant practice facilities and both 18-hole and 9-hole courses. Hundreds of mature trees frame the undulating greens and rolling parkland, making the par-72 a tough test at the best of times. Nearby, along the A85, lie the courses of Comrie, Crieff’s Ferntower and St Fillans, each set amongst the picturesque pine-clad hills and heather and maintained to a high standard. This 9-18-9 hole package would in itself make for a memorable trip when adding an overnight stay locally but, with these many options, perhaps you might choose to stay and play golf around there just a little longer.
RATES WERE CORRECT AT THE TIME OF PUBLISHING - OCTOBER 2022