Another honesty box course.
Our island journey continued north via ferry to Leverburgh on the Isle of Harris. We had what may have been the best meal of the trip at the newly opened Isle of Harris Brewery in what passes for a town, Leverburgh. The next day we tackled Scarista. Neither of us was sure that a game of golf is what we needed as the conditions were less than ideal. It looked as though it may rain buckets at any minute. The 40-mph wind and 7C temperature didn’t help matters. After some thoughtful time sitting in the wind bashed car, we got out and soldiered on. Needless to say, we were the only golfers on the scene. There was a lone greenkeeper doing some work near the 2
nd tee and he graciously let us into the house.
A new comer by Scottish British standards, the course was originally designed around 1912. The club wasn’t established until 1930. In less than a decade the course was abandoned due to the war. It wasn’t until 1985 that this belter above Scarista Beach was re-opened. The reconstituted club started with 39 members. At this time lambing took precedence in May so the course was closed during this month!!! Eventually the land was purchased in 2000 which involved a complex land swap.
Don't visit on Sundays!
The opener must usually be a friendly handshake as it is short 250ish downhill yards. On this day, that was not the case.
I imagine often times golfers would take dead aim at the green tucked behind a mound. Today was a bit different given the brutish right to left 40+mph wind.
Perhaps Scarista's best hole, the sub 300 yarder legs left around (or over) a rocky section of the coast. The fairway is reminiscent of a banked NASCAR track feeding directly to the green. A small, blind bunker is set in the swale shy of the green.
I am not sure this half-pipe green is completely natural. The left side may be man-made.
A look at the green from near the 3rd tee.
Climbing directly toward the car park, the 3rd completes an admirable boozer loop. So long as the steeply uphill approach doesn't veer too far left or right, most shots will finish in similar locations.
Right of the green. The approach is from the left.
Behind the green.
More to follow.
Ciao