Nairn or Cruden Bay

[Ken Moum]

Cruden Bay.... Although to be completely honest, I like Nairn Dunbar better than Nairn GC.

It might be me being perverse, but Nairn is WAY too "Americanized" for my taste. Given the price, I'd almost certainly play Fraserburgh over Cruden Bay as well.

K

[jeffwarne]

Eight of us are going to Scotland in September--we are playing Royal Dornoch, Castle Stuart and Trump.  We can either play another round at Nairn or Cruden Bay.  Several of the people booking the trip are insisting on playing Trump so we do not have the option of playing Nairn and Cruden Bay instead of Trump.  Thoughts on the better (and more enjoyable) course between Nairn and Cruden Bay? 

Maybe arrange a layover at JFK and squeeze in Liberty National and Ferry Point

[Niall C]

Ken

Talk me through that comment, how do you mean Nairn is Americanised ?

Niall

[Mark Pearce]

Niall,

Or a comment on the fact that of three "certain" courses two are newly built American style clubs?  I'm sure Castle Stuart and Trump are excellent courses and they may even be worth the eye-bleeding green fees but why fly all the way to Scotland for those two when there are so many great Scottish courses to play?

[Ed Brzezowski]

Ken

Talk me through that comment, how do you mean Nairn is Americanised ?

Niall
[/quot

Should be an interesting response?  Played it several times and I really wonder where the Americanization lives.

[Ken Moum]

Ken

Talk me through that comment, how do you mean Nairn is Americanised ?

Niall

It's mostly how it feels.  The first thing everyone says about the place is that the greens are the smoothest and fastest in Scotland--which is VERY American.

Add the fact that at least a couple of Americans I know who don't actually like links golf consider it their favorite Scottish course.

When I was there, the big, new clubhouse reminded me of too many of the country clubs here. I've been calling the obsession with clubhouses here "country club disease" for a decade or more.

It's not always fatal, but it has killed, or nearly killed courses I've been a member of.

K

[David Davis]

Played both. Nairn is solid but a trip filler and not a destination course. CB is amazing for a GCA fanatic. If you had to choose really it's a no brainer. I will return to play CB, not Nairn. Without going back to look at the course map I can't remember a single hole at Nairn. While I can remember every single hole at Cruden Bay.

Plus I'll never forget the wow factor of walking around the club house to see almost the entire course layer out before my eyes.

Just a great place. Though so is Royal Aberdeen for what it's worth. If I was going to play one I would definitely play the other.

[Jon Wiggett]

Ken,

I would not consider a course being proud about its greens as been exclusive to the US. It is renown around here for having the truest greens and that they are quick but we are still only talking about a 10ish on the stimp and not the insane speeds of the US. I agree on the clubhouse which is somewhat out of character.

David,

next time you are in the area try some of the so called second tier courses many of which are pound for pound superior to their more illustrious neighbours.

Jon

[David Davis]

Ken,

I would not consider a course being proud about its greens as been exclusive to the US. It is renown around here for having the truest greens and that they are quick but we are still only talking about a 10ish on the stimp and not the insane speeds of the US. I agree on the clubhouse which is somewhat out of character.

David,

next time you are in the area try some of the so called second tier courses many of which are pound for pound superior to their more illustrious neighbours.

Jon

Jon,

I have played some but long not all as Scotland is so full of great golf. In the area I've played, Brora and Fraserburgh for example, also Murcar.

Or would those not be considered in your statement. I'd imagine there can be far more under the radar courses as well for a non local.

[Ken Moum]

Jon,

I have played some but long not all as Scotland is so full of great golf. In the area I've played, Brora and Fraserburgh for example, also Murcar.

Or would those not be considered in your statement. I'd imagine there can be far more under the radar courses as well for a non local.

I'd put Golspie and Tain in that category, although they're pretty well-known around here.

Fortrose and Rosmarkie is OK, but it's on a really cool piece of ground, and where else can you get this shot?

[Alan Ritchie]

ken, could you tell me more about what qualities you see in Nairn Dunbar compared to Nairn? I see it as a very average course with a few bland holes particularly on the back 9, the conditioning not as good, and the clubhouse was designed to look just like the one at Nairn.

nobody I know would miss nairn to play at the Dunbar.

[Ken Moum]

ken, could you tell me more about what qualities you see in Nairn Dunbar compared to Nairn? I see it as a very average course with a few bland holes particularly on the back 9, the conditioning not as good, and the clubhouse was designed to look just like the one at Nairn.

nobody I know would miss nairn to play at the Dunbar.

Well, now you know one... actually two because my wife agrees.

I'll be honest,  I can play Dunbar twice for the price Nairn GC gets. Hell, I can join for a year as a country member for less thab three rounds.  I know that's a pedestrian reason, but the per diem cost of golf is no small consideration in my world.

Conditioning? Well, since I've only played Nairn once, I have to be a little cautious, but I think Nairn Dunbar is plenty well conditioned. And I've played several times.

The common accolade for "true" greens leaves my scratching my head. I am a VERY good putter and have always figured that fussing about true greens was the province of crappy putters.

I don't have an answer re. your comment about pedestrian holes, prettymuch everycourse has some of them, including Nairn GC.

To each his own.


K

[Jon Wiggett]

David,

yes they would count and there are a multitude of others to boot and as you hint at even the locals are not aware of all. Next time your in the area get in touch and I can point you in the direction of a few hidden gems.

Alan,

if you got to play without paying then Nairn is by far the better course in all aspects. However, it is horrendously over priced and on a value for money angle I would also say Nairn Dunbar has the edge. Nairn Dunbar has a bit more variety and is more enjoyable for those who are not links fans.

Ken,

I have never been so fussy about green condition but do like greens that demand the player's attention. The greens at my course do bobble a bit most of the season and yet they hold their line just fine. For me that is trueness of the surface where as the ball not bobbling is smoothness. I prefer a green to bobble but hold the line rather than roll without a bobble but not stay on line.

I agree with you on the value for money point. Many of the top courses do not make the top 100 when this is factored in. Fortrose is a really neat location and fun to play though quite hairy in the tourist season with all the walkers and cars crisscrossing the course.

Jon

[Sean_A]

Played both. Nairn is solid but a trip filler and not a destination course. CB is amazing for a GCA fanatic. If you had to choose really it's a no brainer. I will return to play CB, not Nairn. Without going back to look at the course map I can't remember a single hole at Nairn. While I can remember every single hole at Cruden Bay.

This sounds harsh, but is pretty accurate.  Although, Nairn does have a few outstanding holes (which should be remembered  ) and none which are duds.  Doak's 6 is spot for mine.  Put the green fee in the £45 range and I would consider going back...so Nairn is well outside my thinking of good value. 

Ciao

[Niall C]

Ken

I think most would agree about the clubhouse at Nairn, it certainly lacks charm compared to a lot of other older clubhouses you get in the UK. Still puzzled about the Americanized comment though. The club isn't run like a country club, just a normal members club in the UK at perhaps the higher end in terms of prestige which comes with having a great course and having hosted some top amateur tournaments, and of course the history as well.

As for your American pals who list it as their favourite Scottish course even though they don't like links courses, that's also a puzzler. The inference I take it is that Nairn isn't linksy presumably ? If that's the case then it kind of backs up my assertion that foreign visitors tend to think that all links are about is towering sand dunes. There's no question that with the possible exception of the long par 4 up the hill (13th ?) the turf at Nairn is as good a links turf as you will find anywhere.

Re the greens, when spoken about by the locals as being great greens that generally a comment on how good a roll you get and not the speed. In this country, folk generally only talk about speed when the greens are slow. It's very rare for greens to get too fast and only then because of drought conditions and they haven't been watered when they become glassy.

Niall

[Niall C]

Played both. Nairn is solid but a trip filler and not a destination course. CB is amazing for a GCA fanatic. If you had to choose really it's a no brainer. I will return to play CB, not Nairn. Without going back to look at the course map I can't remember a single hole at Nairn. While I can remember every single hole at Cruden Bay.

This sounds harsh, but is pretty accurate.  Although, Nairn does have a few outstanding holes (which should be remembered  ) and none which are duds.  Doak's 6 is spot for mine.  Put the green fee in the £45 range and I would consider going back...so Nairn is well outside my thinking of good value. 

Ciao

Incredibly harsh and NOT at all accurate in terms of relative quality. Perhaps Nairn should invest in putting in some faux dunes to make the holes more memorable.

Let me ask you (David and Sean) how do you compare Nairn to Formby which you've both played ?

Niall

[Niall C]

Re Nairn Dunbar, it's a game of three halves as a football pundit might say. The first half a dozen or so holes are terrific links holes, then you get the newer ones in the middle which are OK and then the last half dozen or so are a bit blah with the exception of the last hole. Overall uneven but still an enjoyable round. I've played a couple of times for about £20 and would be happy to go back but no question not in the same class as Nairn.

Niall

[Jim McCann]

Niall:

I’m delighted to see you challenge some of the ridiculous comments made on this forum about Nairn.

For some time now, it’s troubled me that a number of people on gca - largely non Scots, for some reason - seem to take a perverse delight in bashing this place.

For instance, in this latest thread, how can such a well-travelled golfer as David Davis say that he’s played the course but can’t remember a single hole?

Come on David, that to me is just frankly absurd – or are you just winding up people north of the border like me by spouting something as daft as that?

I know it’s all about opinions but Nairn is a well-established Scottish Top 20 track that deserves a little respect from those that appear (in my eyes at least) to do it a disservice.

Incidentally, there’s an awful lot more to Nairn that its famed putting surfaces for those who might think that’s its only claim to fame...

[Thomas Dai]

Just noticed that Nairn GC call themselves THE Nairn GC, which sounds a little bit, well um, toffee-nosed. Is this a recent naming adjustment or has it always been so?

Bye the way, NGC and Nairn Dunbar GC have a midweek arrangement where you can play both within a 4-day period for a reduced combined greenfee. And there are other 'deals' to be had as well, like the Moray Firth Golf pass etc.

No mentions on this thread yet of the likes of Moray-Lossiemouth....well, apart from this one.

Atb

[Sean_A]

Played both. Nairn is solid but a trip filler and not a destination course. CB is amazing for a GCA fanatic. If you had to choose really it's a no brainer. I will return to play CB, not Nairn. Without going back to look at the course map I can't remember a single hole at Nairn. While I can remember every single hole at Cruden Bay.

This sounds harsh, but is pretty accurate.  Although, Nairn does have a few outstanding holes (which should be remembered  ) and none which are duds.  Doak's 6 is spot for mine.  Put the green fee in the £45 range and I would consider going back...so Nairn is well outside my thinking of good value. 

Ciao

Incredibly harsh and NOT at all accurate in terms of relative quality. Perhaps Nairn should invest in putting in some faux dunes to make the holes more memorable.

Let me ask you (David and Sean) how do you compare Nairn to Formby which you've both played ?

Niall

Niall

Sorry, I don't buy that Nairn is cream of the crop Scottish or GB&I....second tier.  There are simply not enough very good holes. 

To me, Formby is clearly superior to Nairn...6 to 7 Doak....which I think is a big jump. 

Ciao

[ChipRoyce]

That's tough.... I played both on the same day (Nairn 8am, drive to Cruden Bay, 2pm or so afternoon time.)

Cruden Bay wins on GCA merits, but if you're actually there to *play* golf, I'd say its a toss-up.

I loved both courses equally. The wind was blowing and added another dimension to the course (which might have been less interesting otherwise). Cruden Bay, is wild but has a bit of quirk to it and a few weird holes that balances it out against Nairn.

[David Davis]

For instance, in this latest thread, how can such a well-travelled golfer as David Davis say that he’s played the course but can’t remember a single hole?

Come on David, that to me is just frankly absurd – or are you just winding up people north of the border like me by spouting something as daft as that?

Hey Jim, I think you are taking my comments far more harsh than they are intended.

I enjoyed my round there very much. I just don't feel it's a destination course to center a trip around, while I do feel that CB is definitely that course. Just my opinion.

The other part was not a jab either, just the truth for me. I played those courses a long time ago - 2009 I think and sure had I just recently played Nairn I would remember much of it. However, 6 years later the only thing I can remember without looking it up somewhere was that on I think the front 9 there was a quirky set up where the next tee had to play over the green on the preceding hole which I at the time had not ran into and found kind of cool how they did it.

In the end, my memory is usually pretty good but I find that as years go by only the courses and holes that had the biggest impact on me remain. Outside of what I mentioned I honestly can't recall too much but again I played it on a trip with Dornoch, Brora, Castle Stuart, Fraserburgh, Royal Aberdeen, Cruden Bay and Murcar.

For the record Jim, I can't remember anything about Murcar without looking it up either.

[Jim McCann]

David:

I'm sure your comment was made with the very best of intentions.

Some, like me, may have read it as Nairn having no holes worth remembering, which is far from the case.

Somebody else remarked that the club calls itself "The Nairn" and that certainly has overtones of pretension about it
but, in my experience, there are plenty of other places within Scotland (and beyond) that use all manner of means to
try and elevate their status above that of a golf club.         

It may just be an aspect of my fragile golfing sensibilities but I have a problem with throw away lines that can possibly
be misconstrued as damning indictments of any particular course.

[David_Tepper]

It should be noted Nairn has hosted the British Amateur, the Walker Cup and the Curtis Cup. Somebody must like it.

[Alan Ritchie]

good to see you're a fan jim.. I'll be back there this summer for my first games in a couple of years. I just find it interesting how it seems to divide so many opinions. I for one can't wait.