Cathkin Braes - Glasgow - Scotland

3rd Glasgow - Best in Area
Cathkin Braes Golf Club,
Cathkin Road,
Rutherglen,
Glasgow,
G73 4SE,
Scotland

  • +44 (0) 141 634 0650

  • David Moir

  • James Braid

  • Stephen Bree

Established in 1888, Cathkin Braes Golf Club is the second oldest club in the Clyde Valley and its course is now the oldest that’s still in play in the Glasgow area. Modified by James Braid in 1921, this layout sits at an elevation of more than 200 metres above sea level in the hills to the south east of Glasgow.

The opening five holes and closing couple of holes are moorland in character, with gorse and rocky outcrops flanking the fairways as they pitch and roll across uneven terrain. The remainder of the course is more parkland in aspect, where tree-lined holes gently rise and fall across an undulating landscape.

Highlight holes on the front nine include the short par four 2nd, requiring an uphill approach from a rippled fairway to a plateau green, where an early birdie might just be on offer. It’s followed shortly after by a beautiful short par three at “Loch,” the 118-yard 5th, with tee shots having to carry a small pond to the green.

On the back nine, the 164-yard 11th is another terrific par three. This time, the green sits on top of a rocky crag, protected by three little bunkers to the front. “Laigh,” the downhill 419-yard 18th ends the round in fine style, with its fairway narrowing towards a home green that’s defended by a front bunker on either side.
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Description: Moorland in nature, Cathkin Braes Golf Club’s course sits more than 650 feet above Rutherglen, to the south east of the city of Glasgow, and it offers fantastic views across to the Campsie Hills. Rating: 4 out of 6 Reviews: 1

Cathkin Braes’ position in the new Glasgow top 10 may have raised a few eyebrows, sitting proudly as it does as the number 2 course in Glasgow area chart. This places it ahead of the likes of more celebrated tracks such as Killermont, which not so long ago was in the Scottish Top 100 and Haggs Castle, which in its heyday has hosted European Tour events. Having played most of the courses in the city Cathkin Braes’ inclusion has come as no surprise to me as I always found it to be a very decent track with terrific par 3’s, testing par 4’s Cathkin Braes Golf Course - Photo by reviewerand a really tough finish, the closing 5 holes are all potential card wreckers in their own right. Not content to stand still the club has invested heavily to improve two holes, the par 3 5th and the tough 14th, the former with the installation of an alternative tee box, which I believe, has been built in a similar location to one used in the past, which changes completely how the hole has to be played. The introduction two new bunkers on the 14th also alters the way you approach the hole by converting straightforward 3 shotter to a much tougher par 5. The traps may not be too great aesthetically but they certainly do their job. Other holes of note are the par 3 16th a really stout 205 yard tough cookie with out of bounds running up the right hand side. And the opening hole, no gentle ease into your round here with nerve and a good swing required to find the sanctuary of the opening fairway which lies over an area of scrub land. Other holes of note being 3,4,10,11.17 and the home hole which is a terrific driving hole. So congratulations to Cathkin Braes, a hidden gem now gaining the recognition I feel that it is due. Perhaps now that it is on the golfing radar it will receive more praise and accolades taking it to an even higher level in future Scottish and regional charts? MPPJ
4 / 6
Cathkin Braes
September 14, 2015


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