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Winter Tour 2023-24: Galloping Round GATEHOUSE GC
Sean_A:
Dumfries & Galloway isn’t the first area one thinks of when Scottish golf is the subject. Yet there are some courses of quality to be found. One little known example is the nine-hole Gatehouse GC, nestled on high ground in the Fleet Valley. The initial plan for this trip didn’t include Gatehouse, but circumstances, strong recommendations from a few GCA brethren and the happy coincidence of seeing a sign for the town while driving on the A75 made the decision to stop an easy one. Sadly, I know very little about the history or the design of the course. Gatehouse was officially opened in 1922 and the land was purchased by the club in 1988 for £15,000. In the same year the 2nd green was moved to its present site, making the hole longer; a new green was built some 10 years later. Consequently, the 3rd tee was pushed back making that hole longer.
The unassuming arrival and clubhouse are typical of small town golf in Scotland.
The modest card too reflects the glories of 9 hole golf.
The opener comes as a shock. 200 plus yards straight uphill.
The green is a laughable size for the task at hand.
A photo of the 1st green and now 2nd tee from the 1920s. The green looks small, but perhaps a bit more natural. Trees are sparse!
A double blind hole, the 2nd is a roller coaster ride. This photo is from well beyond the tee ground.
The approach well beyond the driving zone for most.
Play is from the right. Trouble on three sides of the green!
More to follow.
Ciao
Niall C:
Sean
I made enquiries with the club about who designed the course having found at least one website credit Willie Fernie. They advised they didn't know and didn't have any records. There is a photo in the clubhouse with a photo of Willie's son Tom playing at the opening of the course. Tom designed a few courses in his own right so if I was a betting man I'd suggest that either him or his father did the initial layout.
Niall
Thomas Dai:
Looks pretty cool. Could be Mid-Wales.
atb
Sean_A:
Gatehouse Tour Cont
The blind theme continues for the 3rd, a short par 4. Big hitters can have a go at the green.
A bit of a roller coaster, the 4th is a fairly short two-shotter, but I would think in summer its easy for drives to slide left down the hill.
Both the drive and approach were blind for me. Looking toward the tee.
The drop-shot 5th is the only hole which is remotely lifeless. Onto the man-size 6th. Rumbling uphill over bouncing terrain, this three-shotter is the real deal. The hard sloping to the right green is tucked under the fairway and is a tough target even with wedge in hand.
More to follow.
Ciao
Tony_Muldoon:
Just waiting for your next post...bet you took the same option we did?
Despite it being cl
old, wet and windy "the triple threat", I had a ball. The terrain is wonderfully used and in the wettest winter in living memory it played beautifully. The really small greens were tiny targets, but then disappointingly flat considering where they'd been constructed. So it doesn't make my top 5 9 holers in Scotland, but it's in the next group. Nevertheless a fine detour and it added flavour to my recent trip.
The club boasts it offers fine views all the way to the Isle of Man, I hope to return on a day where you can see past the car park.
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