grantownonspey

Willie Park is credited with laying out Grantown-on-Spey back in 1890. A sterling job he made too, this being one of the most delightful courses in the Highlands. It is located in the beautiful Spey Valley and when not golfing, the visitor can explore the Malt Whisky Trail, view the Ospreys at nearby Loch Garten, fish in the River Spey or simply go walking in the hills or through the abundant pine forests. The Course is a mixture of parkland and woodland with many magnificent views towards the Carngorm range and the Cromdale hills. Walking is relatively easy and the course presents a fair challenge for every caliber of golfer.

There are a few demanding Par four's over 400 yards, two of them falling in succession at the 2nd and 3rd, although Grantown-on-Spey is more a test of accuracy and touch, rather than power and length.

Spectacular mountain scenery is all around you at the Grantown course, which is laid out through the Cromdale Hills with several elevated tees looking down fairways to the mountains behind. You'll find holes with some wonderful names like 'Poor House', 'Wee dunt', and 'Peezie's Nap'. Then theres 'Bobby Cruikshank' a real card wrecker of 379 yards with trouble on either side of the fairway, and a bundle more around the green for good measure, the hole is named after a native of Grantown, who emigrated to the USA in 1921.

Cruikshank is famed for his final round battle with the legendary Bobby Jones, in the 1923 US Open, with Jones capturing his first major Championship after a play-off with the man from Grantown. Grantown-on-Spey recently renovated its Clubhouse to help reinforce its standing as one of the Highland's most friendly and forward thinking Clubs.