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Andrew Mitchell

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Isle of Arran and Shiskine Golf Club
« on: March 09, 2007, 10:59:03 AM »
I'm currently planning a walking break on Arran with my daughter. Whilst browsing some information on the web I came across Shiskine GC which I recall having read something about on this site. I'm aware that it's a 12 hole course and it's very quirky.

Can anyone shed any more light on Shiskine? Would a game there be worth provoking the wrath of my daughter (who doesn't golf) by suggesting one of our walks should be round a golf course?

Any recommendations for B&Bs or other accommodation on Arran would also be gratefully received.
2014 to date: not actually played anywhere yet!
Still to come: Hollins Hall; Ripon City; Shipley; Perranporth; St Enodoc

jeffwarne

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Re:Isle of Arran and Shiskine Golf Club
« Reply #1 on: March 09, 2007, 11:28:58 AM »
Shiskine is a beautiful place-
It would be a perfect walk for a nongolfer-12 holes.
several b&b's adjascent to the course.
Highly recommended
"Let's slow the damned greens down a bit, not take the character out of them." Tom Doak
"Take their focus off the grass and put it squarely on interesting golf." Don Mahaffey

John Chilver-Stainer

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Isle of Arran and Shiskine Golf Club
« Reply #2 on: March 09, 2007, 01:43:09 PM »
Andrew,

If you’re on Arran you’ll have no shortage of fine walks and you can’t go far wrong if you play the 12 holes at Blackwaterfoot, Shiskine Golf Club. Not only is it quirky but the views across to the Mull of Kintyre are extravagant. I’m sure your daughter will love it.

The other courses worth visiting on the Isle of Arran are Brodick G.C, an 18-Hole sea side links course, short but fun. Afterwards go see Brodick Castle, well worth a visit.

Another course which is quirky and fun is Corrie GC at Sannox. A short 9-Hole course that has been virtually unaltered in over a century, with the original Gun Emplacement Greens, Crossed-Holes and some interesting shots from the Tee. You’ll be amazed at “the Punchbowl” a deliberatly blind par 3 with the Green tucked behind a large Oak and small hill.



I recall the thrill of watching the trajectory of a well struck ball and the long anticipatory wait until one reached the green to check how close the ball was to the pin. From the top of the course there are some great views up Sannox Glen and across the Firth of Clyde.

Corrie GC is particularly close to my heart as I learnt to play golf there with my great grandfather’s cut down hickories. In those days there was one greenkeeper and 200 sheep to maintain the course. At each green was a sweep so one could clear the putting line of “droppings”.
The second course I played was Fort Augustus, also a “sheep” course”, so you can imagine how my young uninformed mind judged what golf was all about.

The other courses are of less value, either featureless or steep hill climbing.

Mark_Rowlinson

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Isle of Arran and Shiskine Golf Club
« Reply #3 on: March 09, 2007, 02:10:04 PM »
John, Isn't that a wonderful picture of Corrie!  Forget all this golf architecture stuff - this is how golf was meant to be played!

John Chilver-Stainer

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Isle of Arran and Shiskine Golf Club
« Reply #4 on: March 09, 2007, 02:42:20 PM »
Yes Mark - this is golf at it originally was - natural. The only earthmoving here was when Sannox Burn eroded some of the first fairway.
My Uncle remembers playing the course in the 30’s and says it has hardly changed - just a few attempts at adding some more tees and the gorse and brambles have been cut back a bit.

The heather moors and bracken in the background encroach on to the golf course, the soil is gravelly and well draining. The colours change dramatically from spring to atutumn.

One learnt to play every shot in the book on this course - even the “between your legs facing backwards out of a ditch” shot. I think the only rule we knew as boys was “lost ball” is 3-off the tee.

I went back after 35 years a few years back and was dismayed to find that with my new Titanium Driver I could reach all the Par 4’s effortlessly - in the old days they were out of range - even with a loopy over-swing.!!

Darren_Kilfara

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Isle of Arran and Shiskine Golf Club
« Reply #5 on: March 09, 2007, 05:25:56 PM »
There are several neat courses on Arran, but Shiskine has to be the pick of the bunch - I wrote it up at length in my book, not least because I had an ace on one of the (very short) par 4s! :) The views are otherworldly, the architecture decidedly interesting, the blind shots many. Go, enjoy yourself, and play it twice either side of lunch...it's great fun by any GCAers definition.

Cheers,
Darren

Phil McDade

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Isle of Arran and Shiskine Golf Club
« Reply #6 on: March 09, 2007, 08:41:25 PM »
Andrew:

Shiskine is a wonderfully scenic part of the island, and a relatively easy walk with one very fun climb up and down a set of the course's unique par 3s -- the up-and-over, blind Crow's Nest, and, from on high, the drop-shot of the Shelf. If you're on the island, it's well-worth playing -- it's the best of the island's courses, very linksy, several blind shots, 12 holes, terrific scenery.

John, your comments on Corrie bring back great memories on my round there. I played late in the day on a summer evening, found the small clubhouse locked up, tried to pay the small greens fee in the honor box, found that locked up, and went to play my round, and had the course to myself. The picture posted does not do justice the majesty of walking that course, with Goat Fell (that's the big peak in the middle) looming over everything. Quirkier in some respects than Shiskine, I remember distinctly one green that was carved into the side of a hill, and I utilized the back side for a bank shot to get closer to the pin. I can't imagine anyone playing a round at either course and not enjoying themselves.

Andrew -- each of the small towns has a range of B&Bs and small hotels, and I believe the main port of Brodick (where the ferries come in) has a tourism office that could offer recommendations. There's a nice castle on the island, too, that's worth exploring, near Brodick.

Mike Hendren

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Isle of Arran and Shiskine Golf Club
« Reply #7 on: March 09, 2007, 09:47:55 PM »
I have long been intrigued by this golf course, having been introduced to it in Robert Kroeger's Complete Guide to the Golf Courses of Scotland .  Gotta love the logo for a twelve holer:



Mike
« Last Edit: March 09, 2007, 09:51:20 PM by Michael_Hendren »
Two Corinthians walk into a bar ....

Brian_Ewen

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Andrew Mitchell

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Isle of Arran and Shiskine Golf Club
« Reply #9 on: March 14, 2007, 08:46:59 AM »
Thanks to all who contributed.  I shall try and convince my daughter that we can't go hillwalking all day and a couple of hours spent walking a golf course will be equally rewarding ;D
2014 to date: not actually played anywhere yet!
Still to come: Hollins Hall; Ripon City; Shipley; Perranporth; St Enodoc

Darren_Kilfara

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Isle of Arran and Shiskine Golf Club
« Reply #10 on: March 14, 2007, 08:49:45 AM »
Thanks to all who contributed.  I shall try and convince my daughter that we can't go hillwalking all day and a couple of hours spent walking a golf course will be equally rewarding ;D

I think "hillwalking" is a pretty fair description of some of the holes at Shiskine, Andrew! :)

Andrew Mitchell

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Isle of Arran and Shiskine Golf Club
« Reply #11 on: March 14, 2007, 10:00:57 AM »
Thanks to all who contributed.  I shall try and convince my daughter that we can't go hillwalking all day and a couple of hours spent walking a golf course will be equally rewarding ;D

I think "hillwalking" is a pretty fair description of some of the holes at Shiskine, Andrew! :)

That could be a cunning plan Darren - tell her we're going hillwalking but just stop every so often to hit a little white ball!
2014 to date: not actually played anywhere yet!
Still to come: Hollins Hall; Ripon City; Shipley; Perranporth; St Enodoc

Tiger_Bernhardt

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Isle of Arran and Shiskine Golf Club
« Reply #12 on: March 14, 2007, 10:03:49 AM »
I am touched by this area as well. Too bad it is not in Sweden. lol

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