Dumfries & Galloway - Dumfries & Galloway - Scotland

We played this course as part of a trip into Scotland, and an open on the way up appealed immensely. Therefore we had a bargain in the bag, and the course was surprisingly good. The welcome was warm, and the pro very approachable and chatty. The course has a great selection of holes, doglegs, long and short holes, par 3s of varying lengths, a bit of water thrown in around the turn, and generally great fun.

What a wonderful course, in immaculate condition and a real surprise given the close proximity to the town how rural and woodland the feel is. Some really nice holes here, I especially enjoyed 11 through 18. A real example of how a members golf course should be set up, finally I have to call out how welcoming the new pro was and the secretary who had arranged the game for me. I would urge people to try and play this place whilst in the area.

I don’t know why I didn’t post for Dumfries & Galloway when I played here in 2014 as I wrote a review for nearby Dumfries & County, which I played the same day. When I found out D&G was still on my “outstanding” review list, I decided to go back in October and have another look to refresh my memory.

Holes are divided across two distinct parcels of land within a compact, 100-acre site: the 1st to 7th plus the 17th and 18th to the north of the A780 Castle Douglas Road, with the others on the south side of the highway, so I have to imagine these holes (8 to 16) comprise the newer nine that was added before World War II.

First impressions aren’t that great when leaving the clubhouse to find holes 1 and 18 sitting side by side on fairly flat terrain (and parallel fairways occur again at holes 2-3, 5-7, 9-10 and 11-12 though, in fairness, they’re pretty well separated on those other four occasions) but there’s lovely, rolling movement in the land from the 1st onward and there’s hardly a level piece of ground to be found (apart from on the tee boxes) until you arrive back at the last hole.

I thought the downhill par three 4th was the best hole on the front nine, but I didn’t get to play either the 9th or 10th as they’re taken out of play in the winter due to soggy underfoot conditions down by Cargen Water as it heads south towards the River Nith. On the back nine, I thought the uphill 12th was a mighty par four, played to a 2-tiered green located on top of a ridge.

Mention should also be made of the 358-yard 16th, with the fairway routed across some 19th century raised earth works that are said to be part of an old oval cycle track, making this one of the most unusual par four holes you’ll ever play.

If you prefer to play the game on good quality parkland layouts then Dumfries & Galloway will not disappoint in any way whatsoever. Better still, if you can secure a same-day tee time at Dumfries & County then you have an excellent 36-hole option at venues located less than a ten-minute drive from one another.

Jim McCann

The 'Galloway' is an excellent course and always in good condition. Some tough par 3s. Club motto is straight and true but if you can't do that then keeping to the left on most holes is the thing to do.