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Portpatrick (Dunskey) – credit VisitScotland/Paul Tomkins
Irvine (Bogside)
James Braid’s name is once again prominent on the design sheet
of this charming, heather-laced course. Undulating terrain reveals
several intriguing surprises with deep hollows, ridges and cleverly
sited greens. Look to your left as you come over the railway
bridge and admire two fine holes (3 and 4) where high greens can
only be found by using intelligent shot-making. Irvine is not a
long course (two par threes and one par five) but the gorse and
heather which await the errant shot make it a gripping test of
golf. And then there are those small greens and pocket bunkers,
a few of which contain railway sleepers to ramp up the drama
further. And those wonderful and unexpected shapes promise no
end of variety, especially as Braid knew how to design a daunting
par four!
Powfoot
Tucked away in the south west of Scotland, Powfoot overlooks the
Solway Firth. It is a course which owes much of its design to James
Braid, combining links and parkland holes. Gorse cloaks the edges
of fairways inland and the rough proves mischievous, especially on
the links holes… so this is no place to go wild or Powfoot will gobble
you up. The land is relatively flat which can prove deceptive off the
tee, especially with careful bunkering, and the wind is guaranteed
to tease you all day long. The course begins with links holes and it
is not the easiest of starts as OB awaits on the right of the first four
holes. And mind the 9th – named Crater – where a German bomb
has created an interesting hazard.
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Portpatrick (Dunskey)
Combining rolling moorland and seaside heath, Portpatrick’s
Dunskey course splashes gorse across an open terrain. It has many
links-like attributes and an affinity with links skills will always prove
useful given the wind whipping in off the North Channel. Modest
greens can also prove difficult to find in the wind. Panoramic views
across the North Channel to Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Mull
of Kintyre prove especially attractive on the cliffside holes and from
the signature short par four 13th: the tee sits high above the green
with Sandeel Bay beyond. The course has just two par fives and
only one par four over 400 yards… which makes it accessible to all
golfers, and the excellent par threes show off the best shapes on the
course.
Preswick St Nicholas
This is a course which proudly boasts Old Tom Morris as a founding
member… so you can be sure of a traditional links experience.
Located next to the Firth of Clyde, the first three and last three
holes enjoy the most shapely terrain – certainly the 16th is a
rollercoaster and the dramatic short par four 3rd (280 yards) hits
from a high tee out towards the sea. A small road dissects the
course and when you cross to the 4th, the dunes roll at a gentler
pace… but don’t be surprised by a blind shot here or there, and the
greens are excellent. The course is on the short side but the 18th is a
220 yard par three!