Traigh

Tucked away in the West Highlands of Scotland by Arisaig, just south of the fishing port of Mallaig at the end of the Road to the Isles, lies a real hidden golfing gem. Traigh Golf Course is that precious nugget, laid out over grassy hills with sensational views out over silver sands to the Hebridean islands of Skye, Rum, Eigg and Muck.

The site at Traigh (pronounced “try” – Gaelic for beach) has been used as a golf course for over a hundred years but it was always a rudimentary layout. That all changed in 1994 when landowner Jack Shaw Stewart and Club Captain Tommy McEachen involved another two golfing stalwarts in the enlargement and improvement of this charming 9-hole course.

Those other men were John Salvesen (former R&A Captain and designer of other new courses like Charleton and Strathmore) and Jimmy MacDonald (head greenkeeper at Royal Lytham & St Annes and native of Arisaig). They rerouted holes and advised on the positioning and upkeep of new greens.

The par three first hole is played up to a green perched on the hill – shades of Shiskine here, for sure. The 2nd is one of two lusty par fives on the card, played on the hill at the highest point on the course to a punchbowl green. Another par three follows, the first of three short holes played from an elevated tee to a green below with the stunning vista of the islands as a backdrop.

Hole four – “Jimmy’s Choice” – is a short par four back up the hill followed by a wonderful par three played downhill, across a tidal inlet, to a good sized green. The 6th hole, “McEuchen’s Leap” is another short par four which dog legs uphill left to a blind green and then comes the 479-yard, par five, 7th with out of bounds all the way down the left of the fairway.

Hole 8 rises back to the top of the hill with a blind second shot to the green before the round concludes with “Traigh Mhor” (Mighty Beach), the 180-yard, par three 9th which plunges down to beach level beside the white (“But ‘n’ Ben”) Highland cottage-style clubhouse.