Grantown-on-Spey - North Scotland - Scotland

Played in the middle of August, 34 years after my last visit. I have treasured memoires from a two-week family holiday with my father and brother. Like the Boat of Garten the location is beautiful. The 1st breaks you in gently but the next two holes do require good shots, certainly hole 2. A short par 4 awaits on hole 4 but a solid hole follows on the next. Hole 6 is a fairly short par 5 but good shots needed all the same

The terrain starts to become more undulating over the next run of holes evident on hole 7, arguably one of the best holes on the course. Good tee shot required and with the ground running so fast hitting it on the right line is critical. The par 3 hole 8 uphill is a wonderful old fashioned design. Having played the hole and looking back down from behind the green you will understand what I mean.

Hole 9 is where I had a photo taken 34 years earlier, sadly my dad is no longer with us but I’ll encourage my brother to a return visit for old times sake. While the hole is short and downhill hitting it straight is important.

Next two holes are very good holes, off the tee at 10 it is best to drive it far enough to see the green or a blind shot will be waiting for you. Keep the second shot left to middle of the green due to the slope of the green. The next another uphill par 3 which will require a well struck shot. Hole 12 challenges the 7th for the best hole on the course. A long well place drive is required avoiding fairway bunkers followed by good iron shot which can be a slightly blind. Choose the right club and commit to the line. For me the sequence of holes from 7 to 12 are the best with less exciting holes to finish excluding hole 14 which like the 7th requires a well struck tee shot on the right line.

I really enjoyed playing again with treasured memories coming flooding back. The course did not disappoint, for my travelling party it was a gentle way to break our journey up from Cheshire before heading further North.

Looking at the mountains in the back ground, the purple heather in bloom along with some very good holes it really is an idyllic place to play, holiday golf at its best. I won’t leave it 34 years to visit again.

The fishing on the Spey wasn't good so I took myself off to Grantown on Spey GC for a quick round.WOW, what an absolute gem of a course, possibly the best manicured course I have played recently and I have played some scabby ones (Conwy) I guess the only reason it is not better ranked or rated is because of its length being only 5400-ish off the yellows. Very friendly staff on arrival and at £29 who could argue. The course breaks you in gently with a short par 4 followed by a few straight forward holes before it transports you to the 7th, 8th, 9th 10th, 11th and 12th, I say transports as you could be at Woburn or St Georges Hill as you travel through the tall pine trees. then releasing you on to a parkland to finish your round. Its not a hard course and I scored very well but it can be challenging in the middle and the downhill 7th & 9th are worth a photo down towards the green.If you are in this area its a must play, don't even get me started on how and true good the greens were. As I have said before I am not one for re-visiting courses but I WILL definitely be returning here.

I’ll bet a few eyebrows (other than mine) were raised in 2011 when one of the golf magazines included this course in its inaugural Top 100 chart of Scottish courses. The continued presence of Grantown-on-Spey in the magazine’s 2013 listings was all the impetus I needed to belatedly check out just how good the layout was and I have to say that I just loved playing here in the heart of the Highlands. In absolutely no way did I find it dull, boring or tedious, as might have been suggested by an earlier (somewhat curmudgeonly) review.

The middle section of the course between the 7th and 12th holes is by far the best part of the layout as the holes occupy the most undulating and naturally wooded part of the property. The driveable 9th is cited as the “signature hole” here but I think that either “Bobby Cruickshank” at the 8th or “Caper Cailzie” at the 10th are far superior par fours that could easily be classed as best on the scorecard.

Overall, course presentation was first class, with the clubhouse and its environs as spick and span as you could care to imagine. Grantown-on-Spey might well epitomize holiday golf in these parts but it’s certainly worth a play as it’s an engaging wee track that holds your interest all the way round. Whether it’s worth a position in the Top100 of Scottish golf is another matter, of course - though some might argue that if the likes of Auchterarder can make an appearance in the Tartan Ton then maybe there’s a spot available for Grantown-on-Spey too.

Jim McCann.

Grantown is the paradigm of holiday golf. It is pleasant, easy walking and has a nice atmosphere. Unfortunately, the course suffers from having too many poor holes. The opening and closing stretches are played in a flat area and lack character. There are some decent holes in the middle with elevation changes. It is a great challenge trying to drive green at the downhill 9th!Not a bad course, just a bit humdrum. There are far better courses in the area.

A wee cracker for a quick round off golf! played on sunday and the greens were lovely. the course plays in 3 sets of 6 holes which are parkland, through the trees then a hilly section.it may be short but it makes up for this with views, and quirky holes which are tricky!