COURSES BEST OF BRITAIN PERTHSHIRE the Best of Britain Perthshire is ’s heartbeat, the country hotel on the banks of the River golf at its best ‘Gateway to the Highlands’... and the Tay at Kinclaven close to Perth. In many 1. BLAIRGOWRIE (ROSEMOUNT) { } gateway to some of the best inland ways it’s the ideal base, specially for peace Par 70, 6,229 yards courses in the UK. and quiet, and is just down the road from Along with Gleneagles, Blairgowrie is While the likes of , East magical Blairgowrie GC. widely regarded as Scotland’s finest Lothian, Aberdeenshire and Ayrshire Ballathie House manager, Arnaud inland venue. battle it out for links supremacy within Merrouche, said: “Perthshire is the heart of The course was created firstly by Dr the Home of Golf, perfect Perthshire Scotland and golf is at the heart of Scottish Alister MacKenzie and later improved HEAVENLY HIGHLANDS by – the Rosemount, and quietly goes about its inland golfing – and world – sport and our golf packages Blairgowrie as a whole, is truly a magical Perthshire’s world-class inland courses are pretty close to perfection... business when it should be shouting (see page 138) give guests the opportunity place to play. from the rooftops! to savour top class accommodation, service But, to be honest, with this landscape words Kevin brown For starters, you’ll struggle to find a and food as well as testing their golfing – you play through generous avenues of better inland track than Blairgowrie skills on some of the country’s most firs, pines and silver birches lined by which boasts two superb 18-hole layouts beautiful inland courses.” thick, heather – they couldn’t really fail. and a lovely nine-holer. Ballathie House is also convenient for You’ll particularly love the short par 4s (the 9th and 12th) and the climax, which You’ll pay a good price to tee it up but the ancient, picturesque town of Dunkeld includes a pair of magical par 3s and a there are plenty of cheaper gems too, where Scotland’s first king, Kenneth sweeping demanding par 4 with the among them Pitlochry and Auchterarder. MacAlpin, built a stone church early in Black Loch on the left. Another plus is that all the courses are the ninth century. It was once the centre Make a day of it and tackle the longer, within close proximity and a relatively of Christianity throughout Scotland tighter on-site Lansdowne layout. short drive from Perth itself, which though Dunkeld’s cathedral was built ◗ Vital statistics happens to be the home of the unique much later (14th century) only to be Location: 15 miles north of Perth off A93. King James VI GC which sits on plundered by raiding Vikings. Green fees: All week: £70. Moncreiffe island and is Scotland’s only Dunkeld is well worth whiling away a Contact: 01250 872622 or visit self-contained river island course. few hours... if you can manage to prise www.theblairgowriegolfclub.co.uk TG’s Perthshire base was the award- yourselves away from the many nearby Green fees: £70 a round or £90 to play winning Ballathie House, a splendid golfing attractions available that is. Rosemount and Lansdowne.

course planner The town of Perth is SEE 1000s at the heart of the of course county. All the PICTURES & featured courses are short drives away SCORECARDS though Pitlochry GC, on the tg en-route to Highland WEBSITE country, is a tad further afield. COURSES BEST OF BRITAIN PERTHSHIRE the

Best of Pitlochry is Britain considered a data UK hidden gem. bank ◗ Perthshire attractions… ● The Famous Grouse Experience at Glenturret Distillery, Crieff – sample Scotland’s favourite whisky at Scotland’s oldest distillery. Open all year. Visit www. thefamougrouse.com ● Highland Safaris, Aberfeldy, offers a unique range of Safari products combining breathtaking scenery, Scottish heritage and adventure. Visit www. highlandsafaris.net ● Scone Palace, Scone, Perth. Once the crowning place of the Kings of Scots, it has a unique position in Scottish history. Visit www.scone- Crieff offers palace.co.uk Strathearn ● Blair Castle, Blair valley views. Atholl, Pitlochry. The 13th century Blair Castle is the ancient seat of the Dukes and Earls of Atholl. The castle enjoys one of Scotland’s finest settings in the heart of Highland Perthshire and its history King James VI extends over some is on an island 740 years. Visit www. surrounded by blair-castle.co.uk the river Tay.

◗ DID YOU KNOW… ● Perthshire-based, 2. PITLOCHRY 3. CRIEFF 4. KING JAMES VI John Dewar Distillers Par 69, 5,414 yards Par 71, 6,091 yards Par 70, 6,038 yards were the first to sell their whisky in bottles. ● Comrie in There can be no denying Pitlochry’s Crieff is just 10 minutes from King James VI is a unique place to Perthshire has the charm and pedigree. Named by Gleneagles but more than £100 play. It’s the pride of Perth. nickname ‘Shakey sister magazine Golf World as one cheaper to play! Not only is it steeped in history, it Town’ due to it lying of the UK’s ‘hidden gems’, this year Wonderfully positioned at the is located in one of the most unique on the Highland also marks the 102nd anniversary of Gateway to the Highlands and settings in Scottish golf – Boundary Fault and the classy Willie Fernie parkland. surrounded by breathtaking breathtakingly plotted on an island experiencing earth Plotted on the grounds of ancient countryside, the main Crieff and surrounded by the river Tay. As a tremors for many Pictish forts, Pitlochy is one of attraction is the Ferntower layout, result, a hook on several holes is centuries. ● The interior of the Scotland’s best kept golfing secrets originally the handiwork of Old Tom guaranteed to get wet. Dome Restaurant, and best inland layouts. Morris and improved by James Braid. Designed by at the Blairgowrie, was With sweeping views down the The gently undulating Ferntower end of the 19th century, the club was modelled on St Peter’s Tummel Valley and in the shadow of gives exquisite Strathearn valley so named in tribute to the King’s in Rome. It was the Ben Y Vrackie, the course has views and starts with a par 3. Equally encouragement of “gowf” after his originally owned by been entertaining and thrilling unusually you’ll find the only three predecessors had banned it. an Italian family. golfers, including legendary names par 5s on the course on the front The course itself is a fast-draining ● Auchterarder not , and Max nine, including the back-to-back 5th parkland layout with trees which line only has a lengthy name but boasts the Faulkner, for more than a century. and 6th which are preceded by the most fairways and shield golfers from longest main street in Not only does it provide a great shortest hole – a 115-yarder known the never far away Tay… and that Scotland thoroughly variety of holes and undulating as ‘Wee Knock’. includes tight on the left of the short deserving the name greens, you’ll also find Pitlochry in Crieff is also the home of the nine- but tricky par-4 opening hole. ‘The Lang Toon’ or tip-top condition and blessed by hole Dornock course, a testing warm- Long Town. stunning views virtually throughout. up for the Ferntower. ◗Vital statistics ● Perth Racecourse Location: Moncreiffe island, Perth. is the most northerly ◗Vital statistics ◗Vital statistics Contact: 01738 632460 or visit in Britain. The racecourse, in the Location: 28 miles NW of Perth. Location: 17 miles west of Perth. www.kingjamesvi.co.uk grounds of Scone Contact: 01796 472792 or visit Contact: 01764 652909 or visit Green fees: Mon-Fri: £25 (Tues Palace, hosts six www.pitlochrygolf.co.uk www.crieffgolf.co.uk special: £15, includes coffee & meetings per year. Green fees: Mon-Fri: £35. Green fees: Mon-Thurs: £37. bacon roll). Sat-Sun: £28. Sat-Sun: £40. Fri-Sun: £43. 2-FORE!-1: All week.

Todaysgolfer.co.uk ❘ issue 285 COURSES BEST OF BRITAIN PERTHSHIRE

‘ALYTH IS LITTLE-KNOWN DESPITE BEING A QUALITY HEATHLAND COURSE SEE 1000s CREATED IN 1894’ of course REVIEWS on the TG WEBSITE

Murrayshall’s Lynedoch course requires accuracy.

5. ALYTH MORE MUST-PLAYS 6. MURRAYSHALL Par 70, 5,990 yards ● Auchterarder Par 71, 5,868 yards PICK A PERTH DEAL A worthy neighbour Three great offers to consider of Gleneagles. Something of a hidden gem, Alyth is Factfile Par 69, 5,347 Murrayshall is a fine stay-and-play little known outside the area even yards. Green fees: venue boasting two contrasting though it’s a quality heathland Mon-Thurs: £35. Fri- Hamilton J Stutt-designed 18-hole course created in 1894. Sun: £40. Tel: 01764 courses (Murrayshall championship That’s when the original nine holes 662804. and Lynedoch) which are plotted on were created by Old Tom Morris – 350 acres of rolling countryside. ● Strathmore though it wasn’t until 1934 that Modern golf centre Most Murrayshall visitors James Braid, ‘completed’ the job and with 27 holes and top understandably tee it up on the PEACE AND PERFECT GOLF turned Alyth into an 18-holer. practice facilities. longer Championship layout with its At Ballathie House near Perth you can Severe winds at the start of 2011 Factfile Par 70, 5,848 tree-flanked gently undulating enjoy a peaceful stay-and-play break felled more than 40 trees, causing yards. Green fees: fairways, white sand bunkers and taking in the impressive course at Mon-Fri: £32. Sat-Sun: damage to tees and greens, but it’s meandering burns, but its Blairgowrie Golf Club. The following £38. Tel: 01828 back in fine form now and should be 633322. considerably shorter neighbour packages are available: treated with plenty of respect despite presents a serious all-round ◗ One night bed and breakfast plus one being relatively short. You certainly ● Dunkeld & Birnam challenge itself being much tighter round of golf – £136 per person. can’t afford to be distracted by the Scenic parkland layout and densely tree-lined. ◗ One night B&B plus two rounds of golf – setting overlooking Perthshire hills. overlooking historic We can guarantee you’ll be £169pp. Narrow fairways – they’re well Dunkeld. Factfile cursing the tall stands of Scots pines ◗ Two nights’ B&B plus three rounds of tree-lined – and undulating terrain Par 69, 5,249 yards. on at least one occasion! Good value golf – £299 per person. Green fees: Mon-Fri: ◗ Three nights’ B&B plus four rounds of put the emphasis on good course £25. Sat-Sun: £30. at it’s normal price but even better management and accurate shots. with a 2-FORE!-1 voucher. golf – £399 per person. Tel: 01350 727524. Prices are based on two sharing a twin room. To book call 01250 883268, ◗Vital statistics ● Whitemoss ◗Vital statistics Opened in 1994 but e-mail: [email protected] Location: 16 miles NW of Dundee Location: Scone, Perth. or visit www ballathiehouse hotel.com/ on the A91. is maturing well and Contact: 01738 554804 or visit offers good value. short-breaks/golf-offer Contact: 01828 632268 or visit Factfile Par 69, 5,639 www.murrayshall.co.uk Accommodation and golf are subject to www.alythgolfclub.co.uk yards. Green fees: All Green fees: Mon-Fri: £42. availability (golf not available on Green fees: Mon-Fri: £30. week: £25. Tel: 01738 Sat-Sun: £48. Wednesdays or until 2pm at weekends). Sat-Sun: £35. 720300. 2-FORE!-1: All week.

issue 285 ❘ Todaysgolfer.co.uk