Hole by Hole

The beauty of the course is such that it may be difficult for the golfer to concentrate on the matter in hand, but James Braid certainly made the very best of the natural features.. While the first hole looks straightforward, the hidden burn and the lonely pine make it tricky enough. The "dunny" (a deep depression), beside the second green, awaits the unwary, and the meandering Aldavaloch burn has to be shown a lot of respect as on negotiates three four and five.

With its sloping green the sixth is a difficult par four, but if one can keep the drive at the seventh on Ben Lawers, a relatively simple four should ensue. Eight and nine are two regulation fours as long as one can look at the trees to the right and left without being in them or playing from beneath them.

The inward half begins with a testing par three, which is followed by a long par four on the eleventh and another long par four in which ancient trees again become as serious as bunkers and one is glad of a draught of spring water from Beardie's well on the way to the twelfth green. While the last six holes (thirteen, fourteen, fifteen and sixteen) give the golfer the opportunity to redeem his score, there are dangers which have to be avoided; the two par threes are very well protected by bunkers and the out of bounds down the left at seventeen and eighteen punish those who let their concentration waver.

The finishing hole, however, brings the players back to the Castle and is of such magnificent prospect that a poor round is soon forgotten. Those with eyes to see and with spirits to appreciate know that they have been privileged to play the game in a place of natural beauty. The club house beckons.