Yes Thomas, Helmsdale does have a nine-holer!
Helmsdale is the next village up the coast from Brora and a place I'm now very lucky to visit regularly as my parents have retired there. Its probably better known for its fishing, with the River Helmsdale or River Ullie (it seems to be called both depending on who you talk to) apparently a very famous spot for catching salmon, but it does have a small 9 hole golf course so I thought i would give it a go...
I'd checked the internet beforehand and had found out it was only 1,860 yards with a par of 30. On arriving I found another wee clubhouse and an honesty box.
The
first hole is a short par 4 of only 256 yards, but this is the view from the tee. With the road off to the left and the fairway pretty much blind behind a stone dyke, with what appeared endless gorse off to the right, I elected for a mid iron off the tee.
On reaching my ball I found that the fairway here was reasonable, but it narrowed considerably towards a small green. A brave tee shot here might find the green... might! When I got to the green, they weren't in bad condition. I later learnt from my dad that a few years back they were all replaced as they had reached a very poor state.
The
second is a short par 3 of only 82 yards, with another small green sitting up on a mound, with serious trouble beyond.
The
third is a uphill par 3 of 137 yards and then you cross a small driveway to a house to get to the
fourth tee. Here is the tee shot on the 301 yard par 4. Yet again a short but blind par 4 leave you wondering what is beyond the ridge, but temptation and perhaps the great setting in the valley may get the better of you and a driver comes out...
On reaching the ridge, you will breathe a sigh of relief to find a wide open fairway on the other side, with a small green in the distance and the Strath Ullie beyond this!
The
fifth is a par 3 of 179 yards, followed by the
sixth, a par 4 of 308 yards, but this time its all clear in front of you, apart from another stone dyke at about driving distance. The next few holes play over a large open flat area, crisscrossed with these stone dykes which form the main hazard. The tower in the distance is the clock tower which is also the war memorial and was designed as a marker for the villages fishing fleet.
There is next a bit of a climb back up the hill to the tee for the long par 3
seventh.
The
eight is another walk back and this time plays across the previous hole., for a par 3 of 167 yards.
The
ninth or last plays from a tee up above the previous green and downhill towards the clubhouse.
At 192 yards its no pushover!
A closer look at the green with the clubhouse off to the left
One last look back at the ninth green with the first off to the left if you fancy another nine holes...
Helmsdale is certainly a short course, but it's certainly no pushover as the small greens arent easy to hit. With Brora down the road it's going to be tricky to get too many more rounds under my belt here, but I love the small village feel to the place and its setting tucked under the side of the gorse and scree covered hill. And on reflection it took me less than an hour so you can easily squeeze a round in before breakfast!
Cheers,
James