A Pictorial: Golspie!!!

[Kyle Henderson]

Golspie is a quaint little seaside course that gets very little press. My gracious host, David Tepper, has authored a few threads preaching the virtues of this charming track, but (according to my searches) little of the course’s features have been described on the discussion board. To remedy this oversight, I submit the following testimony:

FYI: My other pictorial threads from this trip can be viewed at the following links:
Royal Dornoch http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,40107.0/
Brora http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,40120.0/
Golspie http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,40126.0/
The Castle Course http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,40204.0/
Murcar http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,40281.0/
Crail: Craigshead & Balcombie http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,40325.0/
Lundin Links http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,40387.0/
Muirfield http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,40439.0/
Cruden Bay http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,40565.0/
Gleneagles - Kings Course http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,40675.0/
St. Andrews - Old Course http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,40696.0/
Gullane #1 & #2 http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,41085.0/
Panmure http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,41122.0/
Gleneagles - Queens Course http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,41152.0/
Kingsbarns http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,41184.0/
Royal Aberdeen - Balgownie Links http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,41498.0/
Carnoustie – Championship Course http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,41834.0/
North Berwick - West Links http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,42104.0/

*not featured: Nairn, Eden, New, Castle Stuart (tour)


Taken from the right side of the 1st fairway, this image shows the 175-yard 2nd hole, the green of which occupies a patch of rumpled ground near the site of the original clubhouse (no longer exists)

[Kyle Henderson]

Viewing the 2nd green from the right, it is possible to discern the numerous bunkers and hollows that challenge rear pin locations. A colossal statue of the Duke of Sutherland stands on the distant hill top.

[Kyle Henderson]

The 3rd hole is a rather benign par 4 of 367 yards from the medal tees, a testament to its former role as the opening hole in the original routing.

[Kyle Henderson]

This image depicts the 527-yard 4th hole from about 200 yards short of the green. The fairway is interrupted by uneven hillocks (such as the one in the foreground) every 100 yards or so from tee to green. A hidden valley cuts in from the beach in front of green beyond the distant patch of broken ground from 120 to 95 yards from the green. A long second shot that clears this valley might run on. Otherwise, the player has the option of laying up short or long of said dell.

[Kyle Henderson]

Looking back at the 5th fairway and tees, one can ascertain the value of careful placement with the tee shot on this 292-yard par 4.

[Kyle Henderson]

Panning right,  it becomes clear that the approach plays up and over  a diminutive ridge that obscures the green.

[Kyle Henderson]

The 156-yard 6th hole turns the course inland and provides a splendid parcel for recreating dogs that inhabit the adjacent, requisite caravan park (nearly every links course has one near by). The dune on the right conceals  part of the green along with a triumvirate of bunkers that guard that side of the putting surface. Another veiled bunker guards the rear.

[Kyle Henderson]

After doubling back to the shoreline (note our golf bags up ahead, adjacent to the 6th green) the player is faced with an uphill tee shot at the 284-yard 7th. The caravan park sits just left of the frame on prime links land.

[Kyle Henderson]

At the top of the hill, the brown patches hint at the sizeable (but hard to photograph) undulations that lead up to the 7th green

[Kyle Henderson]

The 8th tee shot turns the routing southwards again and into the heath land. At 408 yards in length, this is the first robust par 4 since the opening hole. A ridgeline in the fairway runs from short right to long left and can be used to provide a healthy boost to one’s tee shot if played correctly. Conversely, the ridge complicates poorly played drives that fail to reach the crest.

[Kyle Henderson]

From the top of ridge, one sees the flattish 8th green surrounded by heather-laden hillocks.

[Kyle Henderson]

The 422-yard 9th hole doglegs slightly to the left while climbing steadily uphill. The fairway generally tilts from left to right, making the hole play very long and difficult after a weakly struck drive. This view from the left of the fairway reveals the left/front hollow, hidden from the landing zone,  that swallows feeble approach shots.

[Kyle Henderson]

The 10th hole plays downhill from 148 yards. My venerable host is getting down to the business of making par while I futz around taking pictures behind him. The pond at left is one of very few water hazards I witnessed during my weeks in Scotland.

[Kyle Henderson]

Viewing the 10th green from left side, it is clear that the front portion of the green feeds towards the rear.

[Kyle Henderson]

The 11th hole, at 335 yards, is the first of three consecutive, short par 4s that are each fine holes in their own right, but a bit disruptive to the flow of the course as a result of their proximity.

[Kyle Henderson]

At the landing zone, there is more room to the right than was apparent from the tee.

[Kyle Henderson]

The green itself is not heavily defended for such a short hole, but subtle breaks may sabotage birdie efforts.

[Kyle Henderson]

The 12th tee plays slightly uphill from 338 yards away with the fairway feeding from right to left. The sentinel tree on the left has regrettably perished.

[Kyle Henderson]

This bunker challenges approach shots that attempt to harness the slope of the land.

[Kyle Henderson]

The 13th is slightly shorter than its predecessor at 329 yards from the medal tees and plays much flatter, though the fairway again feeds to the left. The 7th green boarders the hole to starboard.

[Kyle Henderson]

I managed to coax my drive to this position on the 13th green from 311 yards away and two-putt for a birdie. The 17th green lies in front of the right hand trees in the distance(past the 15th fairway).

[Kyle Henderson]

At 177 yards, and with a back tier raised significantly above the front part of the green, the 16th is a testing par 3 in even moderate winds.

[Kyle Henderson]

The penultimate hole plays to 217 yards over choppy ground to a green that slants predominantly from left to right. Another tough par at a hole crucial to most match outcomes.

[Kyle Henderson]

The 445-yard 18th hole plays over a small hill (300 yards to clear it from the medal tees, mortals will be playing a long, blind approach). This view from the directional marker atop the hill reveals the final 150 yards of the challenging closer. Golspie has the teeth for testing low-handicappers on quite a few holes for a course of such modest overall length.

Certainly, Golspie is never going to be the principle draw for visiting golfers. But anyone spending a few days in the highlands should consider this course as a supplement to some of the bigger names in the area. The level of conditioning found around the course is surprisingly good, given the minuscule maintenance budget and staff, allowing for an authentically fast and firm links experience over a charming mix of links, heath land, and park land holes.

[Emil Weber]

WOW!!!

I love your Pictorials..... Thanks for sharing. I really regret I didn't play Brora and Golspie.

I love the flow of the course from dunes to gorse to heather to dunes.