enriched by the client on the one side and the project ’ s environmental consultants on the other . Indeed the iterative process has not stopped and will not stop until grass starts to germinate . Working closely with the environmental scientists the vision pivots on sensitive integration into this landscape .
The golf course follows a classic pattern of two out-and-back loops of nine holes . All 18 holes thread their way engagingly through the dunes , rising here to find views of the sea and coastline , plunging there into secluded valleys , offering a sequence of superlative topographies , landscapes , a lternating between spaciousness and enclosure , then panoramic view , and the whole time a rich texture of vegetation and wildlife habitats surrounding the golf holes . The golf course will lack for nothing . The landscape framework of the site comes close to an ideal . There is nothing missing and the layout as conceived would contain no weak holes . It will produce simply the most dramatic , stimulating , invigorating stretch of golf anywhere I have seen in my career ”. Dr . Martin Hawtree
As we weave our way though giant dunes on a network of green carpets , it ’ s impossible not to be in awe of the sheer scale and beauty of the Championship links , which opened for play in July 2012 . As the course designer rightly points out , there are no weak holes on the course . Quite the opposite in fact , as you think you ’ ve played a super golf hole , the next continues in the same fashion – and you ’ re simply blown away for 4hrs of golf . The outward nine holes play on a flatter terrain , but are equally well framed and guarded by water features and dunes . The back nine holes play into higher ground , which weave through giant sand dunes . It ’ s hard to pick feature holes , but the most talked about holes are probably 3rd , 14th , 18th owning to the dramatic elevated tee shots on 14th and 18th ( which are complete jaw-droppers ), and the heavily pictured par-3 3rd which kisses the coastline . After our game , we were getting with a “ wee dram ” of Scottish whisky .
NEW GOLF COURSE
Destination Golf was honoured to be one of the first members of the press to get an exclusive look at the second course that is being built , which broke ground in June 2023 . As we tour around in the golf course builders 4x4 jeep , we learn about the great work being done on the translocation and stabilisation of dunes , where nothing is wasted and everything is recycled with clever use of the natural fescue . It also offers glimpses of the ocean throughout , owing to the courses relationship to the ocean . And right from the start , hole 1 offers that “ boom ” as it offers an stunning view out to the ocean , almost giving a feel like the sea is coming straight at you .
The course offers a lot of movement , plenty of lefts and rights , with water features through pure dunescape and natural links shaping . It ’ s also got some unique characteristics , as you have some holes in “ dune-land ” and some holes in the “ wet-land ”, a secondary feature that brings water into play . This course will make you think . For example , the 2nd hole has a big sand area on the right and a huge dip in front of it so golfers might want to choose a bump & run style shot , authentic links golf .
Or the par-3 3rd which plays over
McLeod House
200 yards off the back tee to a
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