Public Golf
BY MURRAY BOTHWELL
6 MINS READ
Often overlooked and underestimated, the portfolio of Scotland’s public courses found within a short drive of some of the country’s box-tickers is substantial. Municipal courses make up around 10% of all Scotland’s golf courses, with some of their fairways echoing to the sound of frustrated and joyous golfers from as far back as the 1600s. Home to many long-established artisan Clubs who play alongside season ticket holders and nomadic visitors, some are notorious for their difficulty; some for their history; some for both. Two of South Ayrshire’s eight courses, Belleisle and Lochgreen, are the only two public courses to have been used as Open qualifiers: Jack Nicklaus reached his first Open at Royal Troon by playing the Lochgreen course in 1962.
For less than the price of a sleeve of Pro V1s you can gain access to most public courses, which helps when balancing a mix of experiences for a tour and staying within a tight budget, and booking is easily accessible online. Yet price is not an arbiter of quality and value: I used to play the Braid Hills courses years ago in Edinburgh, unable to access any member club due to the prohibitive waiting lists, and although incredibly quirky in places their greens were some of the best I have ever played on.
Two golfing destinations in Scotland worth investigating offer a large number of public courses in a very small geographical location. A sparkling city at the sea’s edge, with leafy lawns and cobbled streets, Aberdeen is surrounded by some of the world’s most famous golfing courses, from its dune-clad coast to the mountains of Royal Deeside. However, the history and provenance of the courses managed by Sport Aberdeen, an award-winning registered charity where all profits are reinvested back into the communities they serve, present a challenge to any golfer and demand to be tested. Within 10 square miles the city has the enviable position of being able to offer five courses that can count Braid, MacKenzie and Park amongst their designers.
The most southerly course, Balnagask, sits on a broad hill at the mouth of Aberdeen Harbour and is surrounded by water, and occasionally dolphins, on three sides. Uninterrupted views across the North Sea contrast with the brightly-coloured commotion of oil-supply vessels in the busy harbour. Playing in all directions and elevations around the hill, the wind is a constant companion and this feature was used in its design by James Braid and later designers who are widely acknowledged as having created one of the best municipal 18-hole courses in Scotland.
Further north towards the mouth of the River Don lies Kings Links. With a combination of holes along the dune tops, as well as below on the low machair behind, the Kings is a classic links course that’s typical of Scotland’s east coast. At almost 6,300 yards and a par-71, the course will play even longer when the wind tests you. It’s full of golfing history: just south of the course on the original Queens Links Aberdeen Golf Club (later becoming Royal Aberdeen GC) set a “proper” course in August 1780. It was the first record of a golf course being laid out, and only the second place known of where there was a defined course layout. Royal Aberdeen played here until it moved to the Balgownie Links due to overcrowding on the Kings.
Turning inland, away from the dunes and the salt air, a 20-minute drive brings you to the expansive parklands of Hazlehead where a 45-hole golf complex plays through a dense assortment of pines, birch and broadleaf trees. Dr Alister MacKenzie created his championship course here in 1927, six years before Augusta, with tight fairways cut through the forest and featuring many of his signature undulations, long and narrow angled greens and large bunkers. My grandfather was a member here, playing a game of hickory and haskell. At around 6,200 yards and par-70, it is a perfect course for an outing. Nearby, beside the 9-hole course, is the shorter and more open Hazlehead Pines although the numerous bunkers make accuracy essential. From the 12th and the 17th there are breath-taking views down over the city and out to sea.
It’s another charity which manages perhaps the greatest-known stretch of publicly-owned golfing estate in the world. A couple of hours’ drive south of Aberdeen lies St Andrews, where golf has been played since the 1400s. With over 230,000 rounds now played annually across its seven public courses the St Andrews Links Trust also manages a number of additional facilities which are useful for visiting golfers, including a golf academy, three clubhouses and four shops. Their profits are reinvested to help protect and maintain the world-famous courses at the Home of Golf.
The fairways are active every day, apart from the Old Course which is rested on a Sunday. But it’s not all about the Old Course. Yes, it’s the most popular but the other six courses offer a true test. In fact, packages to play at St Andrews are priced to include a game on another course as well as the Old Course to ensure continued investment. Should you choose not to play, you’ll be missing out on a fantastic experience on another great links but the courses still benefit.
The Castle Course sits east of the town and high above the shore on parkland that looks like a links but is too far away from the beach to be called such. Large, undulating greens are balanced by wide fairways, punctured by voluminous bunkers, with infinity greens that hang in the air at the cliff’s edge. Back in the town the New Course, designed by Old Tom in 1895, boasts rolling fairways and tight greens, providing a classic test of links golf over its 6,600-plus yards. Alternatively, try the Jubilee, the third championship course there. At 6,742 yards and par-72 it’s considered by many to be the most challenging course in St Andrews.
Still not enough choice? There’s the Eden Course, built in 1914 by Harry S. Colt whose use of natural boundaries and severe bunkers created a course full of character. The Strathtyrum Course, designed to complement the tougher championship layouts and although having only 15 bunkers, their cunning placement demands accurate iron play. Finally, the nine-hole Balgove course, ideal for families, children and beginners. Everyone can be accommodated for an outing, from a family group to a mini-tour of golfing friends.
Public links and parkland courses have been quietly growing the game for years, the passion of their season ticket holders driving improved standards for daily golf over challenging, playable courses. Discovering some of these historical hidden gems puts you on a path shared by thousands before you, playing courses designed by the best of the best and all within easy access of your destination.