Between Prestwick and Machrihanish there is more than just The Firth of Clyde

[Melvyn Morrow]

 
The Isle of Arran,  that large island which can be found out to sea in the Forth of Clyde between Prestwick and Machrihanish Golf clubs can offer a welcome break from the madness of life as well as enjoyable golf.

Jim Henderson The Secretary of Lamlash Golf Club (http://www.lamlashgolfclub.co.uk/) has a very enjoyable course that will help de stress both mind and body and well worth a round should you decide to venture onto yet another Scottish Island. There are of course other course on the island i.e. Brodick (http://www.brodickgolf.com/), Whiting Bay (http://www.whitingbaygolfclub.org.uk/), Shiskine (http://www.shiskinegolf.com/), Mackrie Bay (http://www.machriebay.com/golfclub.html), Lochranza (http://www.lochranzagolf.com/ ) and Corrie (http://corriegolf.com/).

They are all well serviced by The Arran Golf Pass (http://www.arran.uk.com/golfing/Golfpass.html) which is now £105 approx. 30% off Green Fees) for one round per person on all seven Arran courses which with my computer mind works out at £15 per round. Those who use carts (*~~*    ) Lamlash certainly has quite a few, but if you can walk, you will fully embrace the scenery at a far more leisurely pace. Regret I have not played or walked the walk perhaps one day when fee of my back problem I may resume the joys of golf.

I attach for anyone interested some info on Lamlash starting with a copy of the original course map (courtesy of our Niall Carlton) and will include a current scorecard, course map and plan of the island. I also include a few general photos, but please check out the club sites as they may have more info on their individual courses.
   
The following newspaper report is from the 31st March 1892 showing the Lamlash course. When we passed this map to Jim at Lamlash the Club Members were very surprised as they had grown to believe that the first few holes where the only original ones left. To learn that they too are new as the course played in another direction was a shock but they are well pleased to now know the true history of their course - see current course plan with scorecard for more details.



The current Scorecard with map of both the island and the current course map.



Selection of a few standard photos (sorry for the poor selection) – for more please see each clubs web site.







I trust that the information on Arran may be of interest and those who like the history of the game will be able to compare both maps - would be even more enjoyable if armed with a pint looking out over the course – perhaps next year.

Melvyn

[Phil McDade]

Melvyn:

Thanks for highlighting this oft-bypassed corner of Scottish golf. I enjoyed my time on Arran, and the courses -- while all of the sporting type -- offer great variety and some very good golf. Shiskine is probably the best known of the bunch, but others look interesting as well. One of my most enjoyable rounds was a late-evening summer round on Corrie, where the clubhouse was closed and even the courtesy fee box was locked up. But the gate was open, so I went around and thoroughly enjoyed it. The tee shot on the 2nd, with Goat Fell in the distance, is a really memorable shot.

[Brent Hutto]

So what's the scale of distance and travel time here? If you were to play seven courses in seven days how many times would you need to move your lodging? Any way to do with commutes of an hour or so to the various courses from some single location?

It would be a pity to go to a laid-back place like Arran and spend the whole week driving madly from one place to another...

[David_Tepper]

Brent -

If I recall correctly (I was there 33 years ago!), Arran is rather small. I am guessing the circumference of the island is no more than 60-70 miles.

DT

[Melvyn Morrow]

Brent

Wow do you sound very stressed, calm down, take it easy go enjoy a round of golf perhaps even on Arran

Attached is a map of Arran o/a its approx. 20 miles long x 11 miles wide and you may be able to read the distances marked on the road map below.



Melvyn

[Brent Hutto]

Well I probably am stressed out if I'm thinking that getting away to an island in the Forth of Clyde for a week would be a good idea. But it does!

Looks like if you had a car with you, staying in Brodick and to any of the golf courses and back is an easy day trip. That would be a pretty cool adventure. I wonder if they have any nice coffee shops to hang out in when you're not off playing golf...

[Phil McDade]

So what's the scale of distance and travel time here? If you were to play seven courses in seven days how many times would you need to move your lodging? Any way to do with commutes of an hour or so to the various courses from some single location?

It would be a pity to go to a laid-back place like Arran and spend the whole week driving madly from one place to another...

Brent:

Arran is quite manageable -- it's not a very big island, and you could stay in one of the coastal towns (Brodick, where the Cal-Mac ferries arrive and deport); Lamlash, Whiting Bay, Blackwaterfoot on the west side) and simply drive to one or more courses in a day. You could easily get in a couple of courses a day, and have some time for sight-seeting (the Brodick castle is pretty neat), without over-doing it in any way. The drive on the lone road in the interior of the island -- from Brodick to Blackwaterfoot (where Shiskine GC is found) is pretty, and the drive along the western coast from Blackwaterfoot to Lochranza is really impressive and scenic. Arran is often called "Scotland in minature," because the southern half is flattish and filled with small farms and villages, while the northern half is quite rugged and somewhat desolate (albiet with some great hiking). It's a really neat corner of Scotland.

I wouldn't say the golf there is first-rate; Shiskine is close to it, and unusual in that it's a very quirky links with 12 holes. The other courses are more of the sporting/holiday variety -- short, quirky, but fun to play. I wish I'd spent more time there.

[Melvyn Morrow]

Brent

You ask and I will try and answer

http://www.visitarran.com/site/arranactivities.aspx
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attractions-g186555-Activities-Isle_of_Arran_Scotland.html

Just think that could be you Brent sitting resting wondering where the hell the ball went
http://www.glenartney-arran.co.uk/things-to-do.html
http://www.ayrshire-arran.com/ttsad/
http://www.holidayarran.co.uk/category/things_to_do/
http://www.arran-hideaways.co.uk/about_arran/visitor_info/things_to_do.asp

Trust the above will help

From your obedient servant

Melvyn

[Marty Bonnar]

We mustn't forget one of the Island's other delights:

http://www.arranwhisky.com/

yummmmmmmmmmmmmm

FBD.

[Niall C]

Melvyn

Thanks for posting and thanks for the mention. I've still got it on my list to go visit, hopefully next year.

Niall