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David_Tepper

Re: Scotland’s “Best” Nine-Holers ?
« Reply #75 on: August 16, 2024, 12:23:43 PM »

Sean_A

Re: Scotland’s “Best” Nine-Holers ?
« Reply #76 on: February 03, 2025, 04:40:07 PM »
What do folks think of Tarbert?

Ciao
New plays planned for 2025: Machrihanish Dunes, Dunaverty and Carradale

Niall C

Re: Scotland’s “Best” Nine-Holers ?
« Reply #77 on: February 03, 2025, 05:32:26 PM »
Sean


I've never played it. I do recall I had an email exchange a few years ago with one of their members who was trying to research their history. The course that is there now is not the original course as its moved a few times (at least once and from memory maybe twice). Anyway, you can see a fair bit of it on google maps street view. It looks OK for a bit of a knock if you were passing and you wanted to stretch some muscles. Not sure it's worth much more than that but always happy to be proved wrong.


Niall

Sean_A

Re: Scotland’s “Best” Nine-Holers ?
« Reply #78 on: February 04, 2025, 03:41:32 AM »
Sean

I've never played it. I do recall I had an email exchange a few years ago with one of their members who was trying to research their history. The course that is there now is not the original course as it’s moved a few times (at least once and from memory maybe twice). Anyway, you can see a fair bit of it on google maps street view. It looks OK for a bit of a knock if you were passing and you wanted to stretch some muscles. Not sure it's worth much more than that but always happy to be proved wrong.

Niall

Yes, something is up. On the Scotland Golf Map Tarbert is pinned just off the A83. I think I can see vestiges of a course near the A83.

Ciao
« Last Edit: February 04, 2025, 03:46:53 AM by Sean_A »
New plays planned for 2025: Machrihanish Dunes, Dunaverty and Carradale

Marty Bonnar

Re: Scotland’s “Best” Nine-Holers ?
« Reply #79 on: February 04, 2025, 06:19:17 AM »
Sean

I've never played it. I do recall I had an email exchange a few years ago with one of their members who was trying to research their history. The course that is there now is not the original course as it’s moved a few times (at least once and from memory maybe twice). Anyway, you can see a fair bit of it on google maps street view. It looks OK for a bit of a knock if you were passing and you wanted to stretch some muscles. Not sure it's worth much more than that but always happy to be proved wrong.

Niall

Yes, something is up. On the Scotland Golf Map Tarbert is pinned just off the A83. I think I can see vestiges of a course near the A83.

Ciao


And, if you search for Tarbert Golf Club on Google Earth, there is a ‘Tarbert Golf Club’ Pin miles away at Kilberry adjacent to a few grass fields which defo look like there was a Course there at one time. According to Club website, they’ve been at present site since 1926.


https://maps.app.goo.gl/WtqzP5NjQ8vvYmWi6?g_st=ic

F.
« Last Edit: February 04, 2025, 06:21:50 AM by Marty Bonnar »
The White River runs dark through the heart of the Town,
Washed the people coal-black from the hole in the ground.

Niall C

Re: Scotland’s “Best” Nine-Holers ?
« Reply #80 on: February 04, 2025, 08:35:15 AM »
FBD/Sean


If you're looking at google maps follow the A83 going SW out of Tarbert and about 1.25km from the centre of Tarbert ie from the harbour, there is a road on the right (just after 5 Ferries Cycle Shop). Follow that road for just over half a kilometre to where it meets the B8024. There is a course on either side of the junction. I assume that's the Tarbert course.


From memory one of the earlier courses was located to the north of Tarbert near the Stonefield Hotel which is hard to imagine given how thick and established the trees are but then again it would have been over a hundred years ago when the course was there.


Niall

Sean_A

Re: Scotland’s “Best” Nine-Holers ?
« Reply #81 on: February 04, 2025, 08:50:40 AM »
FBD/Sean

If you're looking at google maps follow the A83 going SW out of Tarbert and about 1.25km from the centre of Tarbert ie from the harbour, there is a road on the right (just after 5 Ferries Cycle Shop). Follow that road for just over half a kilometre to where it meets the B8024. There is a course on either side of the junction. I assume that's the Tarbert course.

Yep, that is the location tagged on the golf map. According to the Tarbert website the courde is much further west, near Kilberry Sculptured Stones. Although the course looks a bit abandoned.

Ciao
New plays planned for 2025: Machrihanish Dunes, Dunaverty and Carradale

Niall C

Re: Scotland’s “Best” Nine-Holers ?
« Reply #82 on: February 05, 2025, 06:03:51 PM »
FBD/Sean

If you're looking at google maps follow the A83 going SW out of Tarbert and about 1.25km from the centre of Tarbert ie from the harbour, there is a road on the right (just after 5 Ferries Cycle Shop). Follow that road for just over half a kilometre to where it meets the B8024. There is a course on either side of the junction. I assume that's the Tarbert course.

Yep, that is the location tagged on the golf map. According to the Tarbert website the courde is much further west, near Kilberry Sculptured Stones. Although the course looks a bit abandoned.

Ciao


Sean


I'm not sure what golf map you are referring to, is it David Jones ? As for the directions I posted above, there are similar on the club website that are more or less the same so I'm a bit confused.


Niall

Simon Barrington

Re: Scotland’s “Best” Nine-Holers ?
« Reply #83 on: Yesterday at 06:28:48 PM »
FBD/Sean
If you're looking at google maps follow the A83 going SW out of Tarbert and about 1.25km from the centre of Tarbert ie from the harbour, there is a road on the right (just after 5 Ferries Cycle Shop). Follow that road for just over half a kilometre to where it meets the B8024. There is a course on either side of the junction. I assume that's the Tarbert course.
Yep, that is the location tagged on the golf map. According to the Tarbert website the courde is much further west, near Kilberry Sculptured Stones. Although the course looks a bit abandoned.
Ciao
Hi Sean

Done some digging

Tarbert's first (believed to be 9-hole) course by Willie Fernie c.1898 was on the Stoneyfield Estate owned by Mr. Campbell.
"Golf Illustrated" January 1908 reported it "was so popular that bunkers were to be constructed and greens improved"

In April 1908 they then reported the course would be re-opened by June and that the order of holes was changed with the old 7th being the new starting hole. Mr W Todd (from Lochgilphead) cited as architect.

Tarbert GC in its current guise was founded in 1924 (presumably previously a loosely connected informal local course)

The next thing we know is that the prolific, James Braid was paid £20-0-0 and £8-10-0 expenses in June 1931.
In 1932 the Tarbert GC had a new constitution and new 9-Hole course at Glenralloch, south west of Tarbert, at the head of the "Sound of Jura" and likely the work of James Braid.

The course from aerials looks fairly rustic, with no bunkers evident and lots of short cut grass, a winding burn on the diagonal influences the opening and closing hole, the 6th hole looks to have a heroic carry for the approach, and the short 3rd and short 8th both cross over the 7th hole. I hope to visit in 2026 (on an extended tour) I expect there to be more out of the topography given its position at the head of a sea inlet and knowing how Braid loved to use natural features creatively.

I do not know if there have been changes to the course since 1932.

It is also thought at that time (June 1931) that James Braid also visited Dunaverty (down at Southend at the tip of the Mull of Kintyre) and advised them on the location specifically of the blind punchbowl 4th green, this is referenced in Angus McVicar's books. I am trying to track that visit down with a second corroborating source.

Cheers
« Last Edit: Yesterday at 06:33:29 PM by Simon Barrington »

Marty Bonnar

Re: Scotland’s “Best” Nine-Holers ?
« Reply #84 on: Today at 06:36:38 AM »
Just for fun, the Dunaverty Punchbowl. It’s a wee doozie!


The White River runs dark through the heart of the Town,
Washed the people coal-black from the hole in the ground.

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