Kilmacolm Golf Club

The Kilmacolm Golf Club has been called “the finest village golf club in the country” by a former club captain and “a very pleasant golfing place” by none other than Walter Hagen when he played an exhibition match here in 1937. Whatever the description that best applies to this “miniature Gleneagles,” Kilmacolm is, without doubt, a wonderful example of a traditional Scottish moorland course.

Willie Campbell, the greenkeeper and professional at nearby Ranfurly Castle, laid out the first 9-hole course in 1891 and this was very quickly extended to a full layout. The 18-hole routing over the hilly terrain was not to everyone’s liking (a mountain goat adorns the club crest) so when more land became available in 1908, Willie Fernie of Troon redesigned the course to eliminate the hill climbs.

James Braid recommended some further changes in 1924 and they were the last major modifications to be made to the layout. With only one par five on the scorecard, the course measures a modest 5961 yards from the back tees. Indeed, only three of the par four holes play longer than 400 yards so length off the tee is rarely an issue at Kilmacolm.

Situated adjacent to Glenmoss Nature Reserve, with stunning views across Gryffe Valley to the Duchal Moors and Knapps Loch, Kilmacolm is one of the hidden upland tracks in Scotland that deserves to be bracketed alongside other endearing courses such as Portpatrick and Pitlochry, which are well known for their golfing charm.