Owen On Gairloch Golf

Some of you may recall my images and positive comments about Inverness this summer and after seeing David Owen's review of Gairloch Golf Club, there's yet another reason to make this the base of a phenomenal links trip with stunning scenery thrown in.

Based on maps, this 9-holer looks like it's about ninety minutes from Inverness, where you can also easily access Royal Dornoch, Castle Stuart, Nairn, etc...

Comments

[Jock]

Another 9 holer close to Gairloch called Lochcarron is always well worth a look.

[digsouth]

I assume Mother Nature was the primary architect, and to have played it in the weather- just perfect!

[chico]

Scotland has some golf courses in wonderful places with amazing views but they are not always brilliant courses-I would cite Traigh in particular there(and Lochcarron!)-but they are great fun to hunt out and play.

[carnaptious and camsteerie]

chico ... Traigh is great fun. I'm proud to boast that on my first outing I made two par 3s at the first hole. Hoorah!

Didn't Gairloch have a severe coastal erosion problem (going back a while now)? Seem to have got it sorted out though.

[GinGHIN]

I played Gairloch one afternoon back on 1999 while my wife and kids were napping at a nearby lodge. Beautiful sunny day and I had the course all to myself. The experience of the holes along the coast was sublime. That's a great part of the country.

[KLG]

Gairloch, Pebble Beach? Gairloch, Trump Balmedie? Gairloch. Every time.

[GinGHIN]

I'd recommend staying at the Torridon Lodge and spending a leisurely afternoon at Inverewe Gardens near Ullapool. And doing some fly fishing. Man, I didn't realize how much I want to go back there until reading this.

[chico]

c and c-started with a 5 at Traigh-which is what you might expect on a double dog-leg par 3!! Got round in a couple under though and my wife loved it so a good time was had by all.Never played so many blind/quiirky holes in my life but it is heaven on earth and I'm glad I played it.
One of my favorite wee 9 holers is Tarbert on Loch Fyne-views to die for-almost in the same class as Corrie on Arran-the 7th hole wow!!!!!!!!! Ghiga is fun too if you don't mind putting on lichen!
I've played championship golf all over the world but one of my top hobbies is finding spectacular 9 holers for me and Mrs Chico to play on holiday-we are indeed blessed here aren't we?!

[digsouth]

A double dog leg par 3 is what American Golf, and the effing PGA is missing. These 237 yard par 3's are about as exciting as watching an oak tree grow.

Pete Dye et al can take their concept of ''how it's done'' and their railroad ties and realize that Sawgrass was/is as good as it gets nd just sit on the porch sipping those Arnold Palmers with a couple of shots of gin, and quit.

A par 3 should be under 160-200 yards and have FEAR as the obstacle, not some dumb yardage.

Get over yourself- 15000 bunkers is not a golf course-- it is an overgrown beach.

[chico]

Go Digs!

[carnaptious and camsteerie]

chico ... perhaps some enterprising travel agent ought to start marketing a tour of the best 9-holers in Scotland. Views guaranteed. Why bother beating yourself up on a Trump course. It would certainly be a holiday with a difference. Had forgotten that Johnny Salvesen lengthened Traigh. You'll doubtless remember he was the R&A official who made it fashionable to set sadistic pin positions at The Open.

"overgrown beach" ... love it digsouth!

[chico]

Knew J S well CandC- sold him a set of Mizunos! Lovely man.

[dgs]

@Jock

Wife and I stayed at the B&B next to the Lochcarron 9'er. Didn't have clubs with me, but did have a chat with a local who was playing, IIRC at the time you were teeing off from mats on that par three next the road.

Very beautiful part of the country.