Askernish Golf Club, South Uist, Photo Tour

[Malcolm Mckinnon]

DSC00531 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


I love this clubhouse! Super Scones, Corncrake Ale and Gallic spoken!


DSC00428 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


The practice putting green as well as the natural greens out on the course play like the Himilayas Ladies Putting club in St. Andrews!


DSC00423 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


A few Highlights!


3rd green looking up into it!


DSC00441 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


4th green....DSC00445 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


6th tee...


DSC00455 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


View of Barra from 6th tee.


DSC00454 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


6th Green!


DSC00458 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr




7th tee! WOW!!!


DSC00461 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


7th tee again...


DSC00463 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


7th Fairway!...


DSC00465 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


7th approach...


DSC00467 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


7th green looking back!


DSC00469 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


8th tee...


DSC00470 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


8th again!


DSC00471 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


and again


DSC00471 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


8th approach...


DSC00472 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


8th green!!!


DSC00474 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


8th green again!


DSC00475 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


9th tee..


DSC00477 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


View to 9th Green!!!! I'm thinking that an Ogre might be living in that hole to the left!!!


DSC00479 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


9th Green side view from right. Falls off dramatically both front and back!!!


DSC00480 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


More to come tomorrow!!!

[Thomas Dai]

Splendid Malcolm.


Terrific photos including angles I don't recall seeing before.


The more I see the more of Askernish the keener I am on a visit.


I do like lay of the land greens with features like the wee bumps in the middle of the green, as highlighted very nicely in your photo of the 6th.



BTW, how did you get to Askernish? Plane, ferry?


atb

[Malcolm Mckinnon]

Thomas,


Had rental car from Edinburgh. Drove to Glasgow, north past Loch Lomand through Glencoe to the Great Glen, north through Fort William and then west to the Skye Bridge at Kylakin (Site of the old Mackinnon keep at Caisteal Maol)



Calmac Ferry (Two hours) from Uig on Skye to Lochmaddy on North Uist, then a one hour drive through North Uist and Benbecula to South Uist.


Return was from Lochboisdale to Oban (5 hours) then back to Glasgow and Edinburgh.


Flybe has service to Barra from Glasgow (the only beach airfield in the world) and then you can take a Calmac ferry to Eriskay which is 10 minutes to the golf club by car.


There is also an airfield on Benbecula. Not sure what commercial service it has.


In summary, it is a trek to get to, but well worth it!!

[Peter Pallotta]

Thank you, Malcolm - that was an excellent tour, and the best look I've had yet at wonderful Askernish.


Alas, sad to say, I think I've just realized that it is too much course for me, too real as it were.


Perhaps by temperament and skill level, I am more suited to a faux-Askernish, or perhaps an Askernish-lite.


Peter

[Malcolm Mckinnon]

Peter,


There is still more photography to come but I am not quite ready yet to post the balance.

The most amazing thing about Askernish is all they did was mow grass, et voila!

This is god's golf architecture with a little helping hand by man. Why the preference for a replica/lite version?

[Malcolm Mckinnon]

Perhaps, in a way, Askernish is the most Scottish/Presbyterian of golf courses, as God's creation is revealed and interpreted, but not ultimately changed by the hand of mankind.


And, like life, it is a stern test of man's character!

[Rob Collins]

Thanks for posting these! Been dying to get there...one day...

[jeffwarne]

The 8th green is the coolest I've ever seen.
that alone should give pause to those need greens to stimp at 12+


Another Mucci brainteaser
Would an uphill putt on that green (that reached the hole) roll faster or slower than a downhill putt ?(that was lagged close)

[Peter Pallotta]

Malcolm - the course appears to be an absolute corker (as Sean might say), and a true gem. The fault lies entirely with me: seeing the ruggedness of it all and those challenging greens, it struck me suddenly that it would indeed be too stern a test. In other words, and as you intuited, though I am Roman Catholic, I had always assumed I had a touch of Scottish Presbyterian in me, but after looking at those photos I have to conclude that I'm more Church of England, or perhaps High Anglican...Thanks again
Peter

[Marty Bonnar]

Fellas, the only religion out there is likely to be the 'Wee Free' (look it up) and, trust me, you want no part of that!
Looks like a marvellous product of geology, climate and many years of complete indifference. I love it! Need to get there soon...

F.

[Jon Wiggett]

Malcolm,

excellent photos that really shows the micro movement on the greens. Is there a better place to play on a fine, sunny day?

Jon

[Adam Lawrence]

Fellas, the only religion out there is likely to be the 'Wee Free' (look it up) and, trust me, you want no part of that!
Looks like a marvellous product of geology, climate and many years of complete indifference. I love it! Need to get there soon...

F.

Ah no. South Uist is Catholic

[Jon Wiggett]

Adam,

and here I was thinking it was all Edward Woodward and Christopher Lee 

[Malcolm Mckinnon]

Ok, it is true! South Uist is mostly Catholic! Used to be Pagan back in the neolithic days.


However, Golf is a metaphor/game where man struggles versus himself and god's obstacles.


Usually, God wins whether or not your religeon!



Can I go into confession after a round at Askernish??

[Malcolm Mckinnon]

Ok, Let's get the rest of my photos posted while my Uk friends may still be awake.


10th Tee..


DSC00481 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


10th Approach..


DSC00483 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


10th Green..


DSC00484 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


11th tee, par 3!! Hello Barra again in the distance!


DSC00485 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


11th green from right side bail out.


DSC00486 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


12th Tee!


DSC00488 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


Last view towards Barra from 12th tee!


DSC00487 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


Another view from 12th tee..


DSC00489 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


12th approach.


DSC00490 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


12 getting closer in..


DSC00491 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


12th, closer still..


DSC00492 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


14th, par 3


DSC00496 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


14th green..


DSC00498 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


15th tee..


DSC00499 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


[size=78%]06/]Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr[/size]


15th approach


DSC00500 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


15th punchbowl green..


DSC00501 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


15th punchbowl green from low right side..


DSC00504 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


16th tee!


DSC00505 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


16th again..


DSC00506 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


16th Approach, Yikes!


DSC00507 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


16th approach!!!  Aiming stake to left, flag to right. It is a Redan!!!


DSC00508 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


Sorry but I accidentally changed my camera to "Illustration Mode" and these last few pictures are impressionistic.


16th green from behind..


DSC00509 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


16th Green from above and behind!!


DSC00510 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


17th Tee...


DSC00511 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


17th tee from behind!


DSC00512 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr



Slainte!

[Malcolm Mckinnon]

And, also a few bonus pictures...


Arriving in North Uist...


DSC00381 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


This place is surreal!!


DSC00388 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


And beautiful..


DSC00402 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr


Calmac Ferry at Eriskay!


DSC00566 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr

[Marty Bonnar]

Fellas, the only religion out there is likely to be the 'Wee Free' (look it up) and, trust me, you want no part of that!
Looks like a marvellous product of geology, climate and many years of complete indifference. I love it! Need to get there soon...

F.

Ah no. South Uist is Catholic

Adam, whasteves. Any kind of religionism confuses me.
Maybe one day the twentieth century will arrive there. Who knows, maybe they even have the interweb.

F.

[Malcolm Mckinnon]

Hello!... this is all about a golf course, not religion.


Not that I can't relate. Here is my religious photo of a path through Askernish Golf Club to either salvation or to the beach!


Answer: the beach, or if you are a golf ball more than a double bogie!


DSC00517 by Malcolm Mckinnon, on Flickr

[Adam Lawrence]

There is also an airfield on Benbecula. Not sure what commercial service it has.

In summary, it is a trek to get to, but well worth it!!

Benbecula is by far the easiest route. Flybe serves it from Glasgow several times a day, then it's twenty minutes to the course. You can rent a car there too.

[Adam Lawrence]

Deleted

[John Crowley]

Malcolm,
You have captured the essence of Askernish in your photos.
I was there in June and thoroughly enjoyed the "19th century golf" experience.


When I was there, daisies covered some fairways. Lost a ball in a fairway.


The welcome, the food and attentive service at the clubhouse is a 21st century treat.


My wife and I hiked the Outer Hebrides for ten days and marveled at the beauty of the rugged terrain throughout.


John
 

[Mike Hendren]

Perhaps, in a way, Askernish is the most Scottish/Presbyterian of golf courses, as God's creation is revealed and interpreted, but not ultimately changed by the hand of mankind.


And, like life, it is a stern test of man's character!

Post of the year.

[Niall C]

Bogey


The sentiment might be correct but being a pedant let me suggest that there are plenty more lay of the land type courses in Scotland to discover.


Cheers


Niall

[Thomas Dai]

Fabulous photo tour Malcolm. Nice to see some general photos of the locality as well. Well done.

There are a couple of excellent drone flyovers of Askernish on Youtube -


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0GMeumiQQA - Front-9
&
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4WoHzgXxUw - Back -9


atb

[jkinney]

Thank you, Thomas, for posting the flyovers. My wife & I play in the Askernish Open every year in late August, and now I can watch the drones's work all winter !!  Perfect.


For those who've not yet gone to the Western Isles....you shouldn't miss doing so. Getting there is not difficult - Newark to Glasgow on United, then a proper Scottish breakfast in the airport, followed by a 45 minute flight to Benebecula and a 35 minute drive to the course. Askernish is a bucket list course for sure. The Polochar Inn is our preferred lodging.