Golf Club Atlas
GolfClubAtlas.com => Golf Course Architecture Discussion Group => Topic started by: Marty Bonnar on September 06, 2016, 08:41:26 PM
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I'm currently lying in bed in our lovely house in Coylumbridge after a splendid day replaying the course at BofG.
On this only my second playing I'm more and more enamoured with this lovely venue.
It has more quirk, natural beauty, incredible views, fun golf holes and homespun charm than should be allowed for a simple golf course.
Please, please, please move away from the seashore when you come to Scotland. You'll appreciate the beauty of my homeland way more when you see the other things we have to offer.
F
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Marty:
Good timing, re: Sean Ogle's earlier post on where to play between Glasgow/Loch Lomond and Castle Stuart. I'd already recommended the Boat to him. I have to admit, I have not been back there in many years myself, but my memories of my last visit are still quite vivid.
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There are so many courses I want to play in Scotland. I'm really not too interested in the inland courses like Ladybank. The linksland courses are calling! Murcar, Forfar, and all the other little known links are just great.
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There are so many courses I want to play in Scotland. I'm really not too interested in the inland courses like Ladybank. The linksland courses are calling! Murcar, Forfar, and all the other little known links are just great.
Your missing something by not paying in the highlands. It is pretty special. It may not have the rankings of the great links courses but they are certainly worth the time.
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There are so many courses I want to play in Scotland. I'm really not too interested in the inland courses like Ladybank. The linksland courses are calling! Murcar, Forfar, and all the other little known links are just great.
Your missing something by not paying in the highlands. It is pretty special. It may not have the rankings of the great links courses but they are certainly worth the time.
I've been to Nairn, Dornoch, Struie, Golspie 😀, Brora. I'd love to get to the west coast.
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There are so many courses I want to play in Scotland. I'm really not too interested in the inland courses like Ladybank. The linksland courses are calling! Murcar, Forfar, and all the other little known links are just great.
Putting Boat of Garten and Ladybank in the same category is a horrible misstep. Boat of Garten is more like North Berwick, than it is like Ladybank.
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Tom,
Your memories would only be massively reinforced with a return visit.
I had more fun today than I've had on a golf course anywhere for ages.
BofG has a phenomenal set of par threes, beautifully subtle contoured greens, a brilliant mix of long and short par fours, a couple of long, challenging par fives over wildly undulating terrain all in fantastic condition with great presentation and impeccable attention to detail.
I honestly think it's a must see for the architectural aficionado.
M
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Marty:
Kudos for bringing some attention to this under-rated and often bypassed course. An original James Braid design (with some modifications over the years), it starts off with a modest par 3, then has 17 consecutive holes of great interest, variety and challenge. I've always thought the par 4s here were the stars -- a terrific set of holes. Those who make a trip to Scotland and don't find a way to this course are missing out on one of the country's best inland courses, and really one of its better overall courses.
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There are so many courses I want to play in Scotland. I'm really not too interested in the inland courses like Ladybank. The linksland courses are calling! Murcar, Forfar, and all the other little known links are just great.
Dearest uncle,
Please don't discount the inland courses. I know you would LOVE BofG.
Let me take your there the next time you're here.
Love,
Neffers.
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Marty:
Kudos for bringing some attention to this under-rated and often bypassed course. An original James Braid design (with some modifications over the years), it starts off with a modest par 3, then has 17 consecutive holes of great interest, variety and challenge. I've always thought the par 4s here were the stars -- a terrific set of holes. Those who make a trip to Scotland and don't find a way to this course are missing out on one of the country's best inland courses, and really one of its better overall courses.
Phil,
Well said.
I'm so happy you've seen the course and enjoyed it too. I can't wait to play it again. It's really properly special.
Cheers,
M.
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There are so many courses I want to play in Scotland. I'm really not too interested in the inland courses like Ladybank. The linksland courses are calling! Murcar, Forfar, and all the other little known links are just great.
Putting Boat of Garten and Ladybank in the same category is a horrible misstep. Boat of Garten is more like North Berwick, than it is like Ladybank.
Thanks, that makes it very appealing
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I was there Saturday, looked lovely and brought back memories from my previous round in 1973.
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One of my favorites in Scotland, amazing undulations in the fairways and some great views...
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Played Boat for the first time a year ago. It's a "top 50" Scottish course, but just barely. Great views? Yes. Quirk? Yes. Playable for all sizes and shapes of golfers? No. Enjoyability for GCA wing-nuts who don't care about card-and-pencil golf? Go for it!
Rich
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I first played it as a nipper on family holidays and have enjoyed going back on many occasions over the years. As Rich says, it's not the widest of courses but there is some good interesting fun golf in lovely surroundings.
If you are in that area (and by that I mean within 10/20 mins drive) check out the Granton-on-Spey course which has a mix of some fairly bland holes and some lovely cross country holes including one of the best driveable par 4's/long par 3's in Scotland. Another one which I've never played but have walked, and that Jon Wigget speaks highly of is the 9 holer at Nethy Bridge, complete with a par 3 that plays over a public road. Also another 9 holer at Ballindalloch Castle which unusually for up there is a modern design by Tom MacKenzie which has some challenging greens.
Niall
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N,
We played Granton today.
After the very hohum first six holes, it turned into a very fun next six.
The course is mad short but plays over some lovely terrain.
The final five holes must be one of the finest examples of routing I've ever seen. They're crammed into a tiny area of land which is luckily blessed with a terrific range of landscape features gifted by the glaciers.
Fun, but not even close to the joys of Boat of Garten.
F.
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N,
We played Granton today.
After the very hohum first six holes, it turned into a very fun next six.
The course is mad short but plays over some lovely terrain.
The final five holes must be one of the finest examples of routing I've ever seen. They're crammed into a tiny area of land which is luckily blessed with a terrific range of landscape features gifted by the glaciers.
Fun, but not even close to the joys of Boat of Garten.
F.
Marty,
I can see that the tee shots are pretty ho hum on the first 6 holes but they are a fantastic set of green complexes and a great example of how to get the most out of the terrain. The run of holes from 7 through 12 though short are simply outstanding followed by a fun finish. Yes, it is short but Granton is a very fine exmple of early 20th C GCA that is largely untouched. BofG is quite stunning though a Rihc has pointed out not a card and pencil course. The only negative is the very poor opener which I usually walk.
Jon
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You've convinced me. I'm coming next year!
Now Martin, have you played Fraserburgh yet?
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You guys have me sold, going to try and visit on my trip next month.
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Excellent Sean,
Trust me. You won't be disappointed.
Enjoy!
F.
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A nice review Mr. Boner! 😀🍸
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The Boat is a great course to play on the way to the Highlands. There are a few spots where it's a little tight, but it has some excellent short par-4s, most notably the 10th and 15th. It's also got a tough as nails closing hole that's comparable - in a number of ways - to the 18th at Lundin Links.
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so let me get this straight...I played Carnoustie, was miserable, and we could have played there!?!?! ;D
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Pat
Get a better caddy ;D
Niall
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Pat
Get a better caddy ;D
Niall
Ouch. Now that's a bit harsh. :-X
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Pat
Get a better caddy ;D
Niall
I believe the caddy needed a better player :)
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A nice review Mr. Boner! 😀🍸
Yeah. That was one of his most hilarious yet, wasn't it...
;D
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so let me get this straight...I played Carnoustie, was miserable, and we could have played there!?!?! ;D
Next time, maybe!!!
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So the third of the Highlands triumvirate was Spey Valley today.
A course which divided my opinion almost 50/50. I think today was only my second playing.
It's quite the big resort style course and quite out of context in its location, but actually very enjoyable and interesting given its near neighbours.
It's a wonderful setting and a pretty decent routing albeit seriously flawed with a couple of horrendous walks between greens and tees. That's only due to a pretty tight location at those points, so man up and enjoy the walk! I've been hyper critical of the cookie cutter bunkering before, but they seem to be allowing them to soften up which is great.
The conditioning was a major disappointment today with almost every green having been recently verticut. Horrible and no fun to putt on for any money!
Anyway, that rounded up our wee trip north. Great fun with good pals in lovely surroundings with great food and drink. Perfect.
F.
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Marty,
Spey Valley is a nice enough course though horrendously over priced so I hope you got a good deal. Having said that I would rather play any of the other courses in the area ahead of it. Kingussie and Newtonmore are both enjoyable courses and far better value for money.
Is Spey Valley still like concrete?
Jon