After warming up on the very large practice ground and beautiful short game area I head to the first tee, as you pass by the ultra large undulating putting green you soon realise that no expense has been spared on constructing the perfect practice facilities.
But it’s only when I met the starter on the tee and stare down the first fairway it’s at that point you know you are about to play a special course. Very large dunes surround you and the fairway just nestles in the middle of them. The opening hole is a par 5 and gives you a really good chance at starting with a birdie. The fairways are very generous but you really need to stay clear of the bunkers they are deep with very steep faces and rightly so they will cost you a shot.
The shape and sculpture of the holes are very well done and Martin Hawtree has done a wonderful job, but it’s the views from each hole, you really will be taking out your phone on every hole and the good news for golfers is there are no hidden surprises, no blind shots, every challenge of each hole is laid out before you and played from an elevated tee.
Top: Looking back across the green at the par 3, 3rd hole. Above LtoR: 4th, 6th and 13th holes
Now there are elevated tees and then there is the 14th and 18th elevated tees. I have to say from the back tee on the 14th this hole is up there with some of the best golf holes on the planet, it is truly spectacular. With waves from the North Sea crashing on the beautiful sandy beach to your right and the emerald green fairway winding though the tall dunes some 100 or so feet below you, it is an awesome sight and one that is worth the green fee itself and even if you don’t play from the back tees – which is one of six options – you need to go and take a look.
The finishing three holes offer a tough test with the par 3 16th up first, again played from a high tee, the green is not only protected by seven bunkers, but like many of the greens here the penalty for missing a green is watching your ball disappearing down the run off areas leaving you a tricky wedge shot back up to the green and possibly needing to fly over one of those pot bunkers.
The 18th is a fitting finale to a great course and again make sure you go and have a look at the views from the back tee, with its 225-yard
carry just to reach the fairway!
Sitting in the bar after the round there is a general agreement that the course is a truly great design and the way you can see the hole laid out before you from the elevated tees. Of course, everyone commented on the 14th hole and I know you will do too. It may be the highlight of the round, but believe me the other 17 holes don’t just make up the numbers, they all add up to make a course that will go on to become one of the must play courses in Scotland.
Above: The spectacular 14th hole from the back tees
