Photo Tour: Shiskine Golf and Tennis Club, Isle of Arran

[Marty Bonnar]

Shiskine has been mentioned a few times here,  but I'm not sure there's ever been a photo Tour.  Even if there has, I think it's okay to spin around again! Sited on the west coast of the lovely island of Arran in the firth of clyde, it's a wee charmer. 12 holes of brilliant holiday fun golf, in a great location, only a few hours from Glasgow.


Hole 1 What at first appears a bland straightaway, certainly tests your driving ability on the first shot (usually into a howling gale).

[Marty Bonnar]

The blind approach over a small dune brings this view. Simple green site with a glimpse in the background of the thrills to come!

[Marty Bonnar]

View from second tee. OB right, doglegging fairway to the left. Slight advantage to be gained carrying the left mounds.





Need to carry the burn in two (or layup for us fat bellies)


 

[Jon Wiggett]

Nice tour so far Marty. Looks like a bit of rain in the one photo, hope it did not last too long. Looking forward to seeing the rest of the course.


Jon

[Marty Bonnar]

More good stuff to follow, Jon!
Yes, it 'persisted' down on us for two holes. Absolutely soaked, but so windy we were dried out by about the eighth...
Cheers,
M.

[Marty Bonnar]

So, this is where the fun REALLY begins. The mad, blind uphill par three third hole.





The yellow flag isn't the flag. It's the safety device. The green is over there behind the black and white stake. I bailed/failed right both days.

[Marty Bonnar]

The fourth. Back downhill from a tee adjacent to the third green. Nice hole again, if a little simple. Sometimes, simple is good.





But, when the green is situated in a spot like this, why even try to compete with mother nature?

[Marty Bonnar]

Onto the fifth.  200yd par 3 out to the farthest point of the course.  Also the windiest point! Nice hole over some gently broken ground.





That's Kintyre in the distance which can be reached by ferry most of the year.

[Marty Bonnar]

View back from 5th green.  Not sure what that strange vehicle is in the picture.

[Marty Bonnar]

The sixth turns back towards the distant clubhouse running over some of the best terrain of the course to a great punchbowl green. You can just see the marker post and top of the flag right centre.





Closer in on green. Seventh tee is over there on the right beside those bushes with the line directly over that gorse on the dune. The par three seventh is shown as a dogleg on the scorecard!

[Marty Bonnar]

View of seventh green from back of eighth tee.

[Marty Bonnar]

Eighth hole plays back out to far corner. Great driving hole downwind. Even fat me nearly drove the green. Okay, it's a 220yd par 4! There's actually a pretty deep quarry just in front of the tee.





With this location, dear Willie Park, Jr simply had to keep going back!

[Marty Bonnar]

The main interest and excitement on the par 5 ninth comes on the second shot, which must be teased up a narrow little hanging valley of sorts over the burn to a high Green.

Oh, and straight into the teeth of the prevailing wind!

[Marty Bonnar]

Now comes the closing triumvirate of par threes.
I thought 10 was a corker. 150yds straight upwind and about thirty yards of drop. Tricky club choice to say the least.

[Marty Bonnar]

And here's the 11th.
Blind tee shot into what could have been a punchbowl, but what is probably better described as a double punchbowl or a punchbowl 'plus'? Answers on a postcard, please!

[Marty Bonnar]

The quirk continues onto the final hole with another blind shot. At least we can see the top of the flag...





Green from behind with the glories of Shiskine beyond. Championship golf? No. Manicured luxury? No. Raw Scottish golf? Yes! Fun fun fun? Yes!
Make the trip.







Cheers,
F.

[David_Tepper]

Marty -

Being a former tennis player, I am curious as to how many tennis courts are at the Shiskine Golf & Tennis Club.

DT

[Marty Bonnar]

Marty -

Being a former tennis player, I am curious as to how many tennis courts are at the Shiskine Golf & Tennis Club.

DT

2 pretty new all-weather courts, David! Think they were renewed around the time the new clubhouse was built...


F.

[Rich Goodale]

I'm waiting for holes 13-18....

[Marty Bonnar]

I'm waiting for holes 13-18....

Apparently they don't allow visitor play on them...!
 

[Ally Mcintosh]

I'm waiting for holes 13-18....

Apparently they don't allow visitor play on them...!
 

Pity - it's the best finish in golf...

[Thomas Dai]

Thanks for sharing Marty. Looks great fun to play.
atb

[Rich Goodale]

I'm waiting for holes 13-18....

Apparently they don't allow visitor play on them...!
 

Pity - it's the best finish in golf...

When Josie and I played there on our 5th Anniversary, the tennis courts that Dave Tepper mentioned, were 6 putting holes of St. Andrean Himalyan proportions.


Sic transit gloria fundi

[Phil McDade]

Nice tour, Marty -- glad you enjoyed your time there. You captured the special place that is Shiskine.

[Andy Shulman]

Thanks for the tour.  I visited Shiskine last summer and it's a very appropriate answer to the question posed in the "Why Go To GB&I?" thread.  You certainly won't find anything quite like it in the US.