Moray Delights
Duration: 4 days
Pennan by Cullen on the North East coast
was where the film "Local Hero" was filmed. It is a beautiful area
with small fishing villages and views across the Moray Firth. Find
a bit of Scotland’s golfing heaven here.
It is an area accessible either from Inverness or
Aberdeen (about an hour's drive from each) along the A96/98.
Start with a round at Spey Bay Golf
Course. The Spey Bay golf course was one of the few
courses designed by the legendary Ben Sayers. It was opened in 1907
at a ceremony attended by thousands. The facility comprises an
eighteen hole, natural links, championship golf course and a
sixteen bay floodlit covered driving range.
The words "hidden gem" are often overused but
this course is a classic. It's not overly long but the "out-and-in"
layout with a St Andrews Old Course style loop around the turn will
test the best, and will take you back in history to enjoy what was
surely Ben Sayers' best design.
From here travel to the town of Elgin. Elgin has
a splendid cathedral that you can visit as well as Johnston’s
Cashmere Woollen Mill where you can pick up some real bargains.
Elgin Golf Course offers you a warm welcome. It
is a testing heathland golf course which is rightly known as one of
the best inland golf courses in northern Scotland. The course
itself is kept in immaculate condition and the added benefit to
your round there are the views across to Elgin and south right down
to the Cairngorm mountains.
Return to the coast and Hopeman Golf
Course should be your next round. It is a typcial links
golf course with spectacular views over the Moray Firth. The 12th
hole "Prieschach" is its best known hole with a 100 foot drop from
tee to green with no fairway in between.
Finally visit Forres Golf Course
which is another fine parkland course but which retains views
across the Moray Firth down to the Cairngorm mountains.
The 800 year old Royal Burgh of Forres is
renowned for its magnificent floral displays and sculptures
centered in Grant Park. Forres Golf Club
celebrated its centenary year in 1989.
The original 9 holes were designed by James Braid
and in 1912 Willie Park was enlisted to construct the new layout to
18 holes.
The course, which has hosted the Scottish
Professional Championship, is remembered mostly for its spectacular
views of surrounding countryside, its tree lined fairways and the
infamous 16th hole, aptly named The Pond, provides a watery grave
for many stray golf balls.
