Niall’s original thoughts/comments:
I’m not sure of the origins of Covesea golf course (pronounced co-see). Local golfers that I know tell me there has been a course there for as long as they can remember. Originally a pay and play 12 hole par 3 course, the course latterly was more often closed than open and eventually it was taken over and redesigned into a 9 hole course.
Located next bay along from Moray Old and New at Lossiemouth, the course is hidden in a cove complete with sea stacks, links turf and small tight greens. Be warned, not a course to be playing with your best balls or indeed with a score card but don’t let that put you off.
1st – 197 yds as you see it, a rolling fairway and natural green without any bunkers. Probably the biggest green on the course.
2nd – 304 yds tighter than a gnats chuff with a gorse covered mound biting into the landing area. Driver not advised. Tight green with bunkers cutting into the green right and left.
3rd – 311 yds chance to open the shoulders hopefully leaving a short pitch to (very) small narrow slightly raised green.
4th – 403 yds – longest hole on the course ! As straight forward as they come on this course. Rumple plus fairway with an approach to un-bunkered green.
5th – 92 yds uphill blind shorty to a raised sloping green. Thank your lucky stars if you land on the green and say another thank you if you’re below the hole. Another bunkerless hole.
6th – 238 yds – what’s better than a long par 3 from an elevated tee. A chance to have a pop at the green with a wood, marvellous.
7th – 131 yds – shortish par 3 to a tiered green however the difficulty is that it’s a blind shot played over a sea stack.
8th – 241 yds – par 4 with a drive from an elevated tee, through a gap between a sea stack and a cliff to a hidden green.
9th Hole – 109 yds played to an extremely small saddle shaped green. Drop off in front and another drop off to the rear.
Not the greatest course you’ll ever play or even the best 9 hole course but certainly lots of fun. After 18 holes at Lossie, you could do worse than finishing the day with 9 holes at Covesea.