Blushing BENBECULA GC: 2023-24 Winter Tour

[Sean_A]

From Askernish we headed north to the Isle of Benbecula to play a modest nine holer adjacent to the airport and RRH Benbecula. I can imagine Benbecula is not dissimilar to the old course once adjacent to the airport at Askernish. Obviously very flat, the course runs along bi-secting runways. I suspect the course used to be a runway. The entry.
 

We happen to catch another cold day with harsh easterly wind. There was serious debate about skipping the course, but once the rain blew over we put on all the layers we had and paid the fee.   


The place feels abandoned.


The map of the course seems straightforward? We never did find the 7th, first time for me not finding a hole. The fencing seem to prohibit getting to the area indicated on the map. I wasn't going to look too hard given the long walk back to the 8th tee.
 

1...seriously short flag sticks!
 

5...more pasture golf.
 

9...shallow, but the bunkers are no joke.
 

Being truthful, Benbecula isn't worth stopping in for a game. In hindsight, our time would have been better spent exploring Harris. That said, the turf is of surprising good quality and there are a few clever moments.  NR  2024

Previous Stops on the 2023-24 Winter Tour

Cleeve Hill
https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,49796.0.html

Huntercombe
https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,32228.0.html

Minehead
https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,72699.0.html

Westward Ho!
https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,66480.0.html

Notts
https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,33988.0.html

Goswick
https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,64104.0.html

Kilspindie
https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,66109.msg1581740.html#msg1581740

North Berwick
https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,59363.0.html

Renaissance
https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,58937.0.html

Gatehouse
https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,72768.0.html

St Medan
https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,72782.0.html

Turnberry
https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,72818.0.html

Askernish
https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,72861.0.html

Planned 2023-24 Winter Tour Stops

IoH
Traigh
Aberdovey

Ciao 

[Niall C]

Excellent, proper no nonsense bunkers.


Is that another couple of golfers out on the course behind you ?


Niall

[Sean_A]

Excellent, proper no nonsense bunkers.


Is that another couple of golfers out on the course behind you ?


Niallc

Yes, a lady was playing her first game ever with her dad as caddie. Hardy soul to play in that weather.


Ciao

[Thomas Dai]

Benbecula has RAF connections. Many a forces base have or had some form of golf course often simple and rudimentary. I believe Benbecula was originally a Coastal Command base during WW2 and has since had other forces uses. There are likely other courses of a similar nature around the U.K. but which are within a current secure base fenced area that aren’t open or known about.

Atb

[Richard Fisher]

Agreed. At one time there was even a golf course adjacent to Scapa Flow, the Orcadian HQ of the Royal Navy for much of the early 20th century