Portpatrick Dunskey GC

[Brian_Ewen]

Since its never had its own thread ...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKp5zxkiPHU

[jeffwarne]

another early Monday morning gone...
Wandering down the coast with Top 100 Golf website(soon to be upgraded) ...
I see Powfoot, Southerness, Kircudbright(9),Wigtonshire and Portpatrick(edit-St. Medan-9) warrant a look-perhaps tied into  a trip to Silloth, Seascale and Windermere..

[Niall C]

Thank you Brian. Haven't played Portpatrick in years. The first time I played it, it was known for having no bunkers. It's what I'd call good holiday golf and I mean no offence by that, just the opposite.

Jeff

I don't know Kircudbright but the others are all worth a hit with Southerness (MacKenzie Ross about the same time he redesigned Turnberry) being the pick of the bunch. If you are going down that way I suggest you play the nine hole St Medan course which is probably my favourite Scottish nine holer of the moment.

Niall

[jeffwarne]

Thank you Brian. Haven't played Portpatrick in years. The first time I played it, it was known for having no bunkers. It's what I'd call good holiday golf and I mean no offence by that, just the opposite.

Jeff

I don't know Kircudbright but the others are all worth a hit with Southerness (MacKenzie Ross about the same time he redesigned Turnberry) being the pick of the bunch. If you are going down that way I suggest you play the nine hole St Medan course which is probably my favourite Scottish nine holer of the moment.

Niall

Looks fantastic -added
Needs to be added to Top 100 website as well.
GCA remains an incredible resource-Thanks Niall

[Niall C]

Jeff

Forgot to mention Stranraer. Braids last course. Not a links but still well worth a play.

Niall

[Marty Bonnar]

Jeff

Forgot to mention Stranraer. Braids last course. Not a links but still well worth a play.

Niall

Oh, I haven't played Stranraer in over thirty years. My dear old Auntie Peggy was a member there. Summer holidays on their farm just outside the town are my favourite childhood memories.
F.

[Tommy Williamsen]

Thirty years ago I took the ferry from Larne and skipped all those courses because they didn't have the pedigree of the courses I wanted to play. My wife and I might have enjoyed these courses more. In the last 18 years on GCA I have learned more about golf and have expanded my appreciation of courses than I had in the previous 56 years.

[Clyde Johnson]

Put me in the Portpatrick fan club. There's some adventurous golf there, with plenty of variety.

another early Monday morning gone...
Wandering down the coast with Top 100 Golf website(soon to be upgraded) ...
I see Powfoot, Southerness, Kircudbright(9),Wigtonshire and Portpatrick(edit-St. Medan-9) warrant a look-perhaps tied into  a trip to Silloth, Seascale and Windermere..

I've not bothered with Wigtonshire County yet, it looked too flat to me.


The 12th at Southerness is a fine hole, there's some pretty good stuff there, even if the terrain is pretty quiet. Powfoot has some interesting holes, and is pretty compact between pockets of gorse.


St Medan is full of interesting half-par holes - the 4th is one of the most adventurously cool short-fours I've seen anywhere.


The nine-holes at Gatehouse and Galloway would be well-up your street too.


Beyond the dramatic 5th drive to the banks of Loch Ryan, Stranraer has it's highlights over more parkland ground.


It's a surprisingly remote part of Scotland, but one worthy of a more rounded getaway.

[Niall C]

Clyde

That is I think a pretty good summary of those courses. Southerness is definitely more than just the 12th and 17 other holes. It's a fairly interesting if unspectacular layout. Wigtonshire County is as you describe. I've only had one play when it was nicely burnt and the ground conditions provided most of the interest.

St Medan - yes the 4th is fantastic but I wonder if the 3rd is a better hole ?

Overall I tend to think the SW is a holiday destination in its own right rather than somewhere to be tagged on to a trip to Cumbria or Ayrshire.

Niall

[Niall C]

Jeff

Forgot to mention Stranraer. Braids last course. Not a links but still well worth a play.

Niall

Oh, I haven't played Stranraer in over thirty years. My dear old Auntie Peggy was a member there. Summer holidays on their farm just outside the town are my favourite childhood memories.
F.

Mr Bonnar

Can I just confirm, if you paid childhood visits to Stranraer, was that before Braid designed the new course in 1952, or was it after ? 

Niall

[Marty Bonnar]

Jeff

Forgot to mention Stranraer. Braids last course. Not a links but still well worth a play.

Niall

Oh, I haven't played Stranraer in over thirty years. My dear old Auntie Peggy was a member there. Summer holidays on their farm just outside the town are my favourite childhood memories.
F.

Mr Bonnar

Can I just confirm, if you paid childhood visits to Stranraer, was that before Braid designed the new course in 1952, or was it after ? 

Niall

As I recall, we would catch the new-fangled Charabanc from Whitburn to Lanark, where we would board the Glasgow and South Western Steam Train to Dumfries, changing there to the Stranraer line. Upon arrival there, we would be conveyed by Pony and Trap to the farm. Happy days, but try telling that to the kids today and they won’t believe you!
 
F.


PS I seem to remember on one these trips, meeting a nice chap. Name of Scott-Taylor as I recall.