Auchnafree, Scotland

[Slag_Bandoon]

 At the risk of exploding on the scene a true hidden gem to be over-run with spirited Yanks with tortured souls.  Auchnafree, mythologized by Michael Bamberger in "To the Linksland". This six holer shows up nowhere in golf books (Except Conf. Guide as footnote) or search engines but have seen it mentioned in a mountain hiking report.  Anyway, has anybody ever seen or played this "Machu Piccu" playing ground located on the Almond River, northwest of Perth?  (Serious long shot.)    

    Happy St. Patrick's Day                      

[Richard_Goodale]

Slag

Auchnafree is at the end of a 3-5 mile dirt track which follows the River Almond after it crosses the A822 at Newton Bridge.  I've never been there, but good luck, Slag.

PS--there's probably a better mountain climbing/Golf daily double at Dalmunzie which is 2 miles up into the hills from Spittal of Glenshee.  Glenshee is one of Scotland's "premier" ski resports.  The scenery there is spectacular, and my golf guide says:  "Well maintained Highland course with difficult walking."

Enjoy!

[johnk]

Not that this is related to Auchnafree, but Rich's
mention of skiing in Scotland reminds me:

For the sensation of playing golf on a what would be a nice ski hill, I'd recommend Braids Hills #2 in Edinburgh.

johnk

[Richard_Goodale]

John

I've never played Braid Hills, but I do know that there is an artificial ski slope in its immediate vicinity which, when lit up at night, dominates the Lothian landscape as viewed from Fife, far overshadowing Edinburgh Castle.  Another golf course cum mountaineering assault course is Strathpeffer.

Slag

PS--I do not have a clue if there is a golf course at Auchnafree (my map is silent).  Please let us know what (if anything) you discover.

[Slag_Bandoon]

Thanks for directions.  Auchnafree is hi-lited on my travel map as an escape option,  sanity juggle,  pressure release valve.   I'm not taking all 14 clubs so maybe I can fit my skis in my bag without penalty.  
  I haven't decided on which mountains to bag;  just researching them to fit in with time and weather that is presented by the gods of fate.
 Auch' sounds like a dreamer's plot.  I really will try my best to make it there.
  

[Ed_Baker]

And here all these years I thought spital was a hospital.

Cool name though, kind of like a title, "Lads and Lassies may I present the Spital of Glenshee!" and all the little kids scatter with excitement exclaiming, "the Spital is coming,the spital is coming!" and then Hollywood would get a hold of the story and bastardize it in to a porn flick

I need my meds.

[Richard_Goodale]

Ed, Ed, Ed...

We are talking two "t" Spittals here.  Or, to paraphrase Ogden Nash:

A one "t" spital is a place
A two "t" spittal is a grace.

Yours faithfully

RF Goodale, etc. etc.