Grantown-on-Spey

Grantown-on-Spey is one of the most delightful parkland courses in the Scottish Highlands. It was set up as a 9-hole course in 1890 then Willie Park Junior extended the layout to 18 holes in 1911 before James Braid made further improvements ten years later which remain to this day.

The course was never constructed for championship play – it is more of a holiday golf destination – and, as such, it is the perfect foil to a round at nearby Boat of Garten, some ten miles to the south. Both venues share the same spectacular mountain scenery, of course!

The first six holes are laid out on flat, open parkland. Holes 7 to 12 are routed through hilly woodland then the final six holes are played out over undulating parkland. Each set of holes have some marvelous names – “Peesie’s Nap” at the 4th, “Poor Hoose” at the 11th and “Wee Dunt” at the 16th.

The 7th hole is named “Bobby Cruikshank” after a Grantown member who emigrated to the USA in 1921, turned professional in America then lost in the 1923 US Open play-off against Bobby Jones, who won his first major with a score of 76, two better than the man from Grantown. Bobby Cruikshank, or “Boback” as he was known in Grantown, came close again to winning the US Open in 1932 when Gene Sarazen narrowly beat him but he never did get to win a major.

The signature hole on the course is the 275-yard, short par four 9th called “Murdie’s View” which is played to a backdrop of pine trees and the Cromdale Hills. Short par fours are a feature, in fact, with no fewer than six out of the fourteen par fours on the card being less than 300 yards in length.

Five of the eight other par fours measure less than 400 yards so not-so-long hitters will have no problem getting up in two shots at most par fours – and at only 5,710 yards long with a standard scratch score two less than the par of 70, it can truly be said that Grantown-on Spey is a test of accuracy rather than power.