Boat of Garten, played on 10 September 2020
Our goal was to play at the Boat of Garten golf course, but as you may have read, we stopped some miles before to take a look at the nine hole course at Carrbridge Golf Club. But now – here we are.
Boat of Garten Golf Club was founded in 1898 and the celebrated Scottish architect, James Braid, converted the original 9-hole layout to an 18-hole course in 1930.
Make no mistake – this is fun golf, that is, if you accept both bogies and double bogies. The course winds its way, up and down, through heather, gorse, pine and birch. Loads of blind shots and ravines to get in or over.
As you can see from the pictures, a fantastic nature far away from any man made sound.
“The Boat” as the members are calling their course is set alongside the River Spey in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, only 10 minutes’ drive from the village of Aviemore. As they write on their web site:
“The course is not only renowned as a demanding test of sporting skill but also as a magnificent setting for the game. Braid’s design features 18 completely individual holes, cleverly and sensitively shaped fairways lined by birch trees, heather and broom, maximising the natural landscape and producing a beautiful and challenging course.”
then this is the place to be. If not, you are in for a big learning process
On the web site you will find this brief history of the club:
“1898 – Original layout of 6 holes. 1910 – Two extra holes added. 1921 – Tennis courts opened. 1930 – Extra land became available for rent – James Braid designs the 18 hole golf course. 1931 – Committee agreed to go ahead with the extra rent and to use James Braid’s design. 1932 – New 18 hole course is in play.”
I can only add that the course gives you a very nice walk in a spectacular nature. Trees are framing the fairways and rough are mostly gorse and heather. The course is a bit hilly with some blind shots. Sure you are not burning this course neither on your first or second round.
I think that the pictures talks for themselves.
The course is ranked as the 7th best of the courses in the north of Scotland and number 38 in the whole of Scotland. Don’t know if I agree in that – I haven’t played all courses in either north or the whole of Scotland.
But if for the nature and the service I will give them 4½ out of 5 stars.
Facts about the course
My round
It was a nice round, but also a slow round with a 4 -ball in front of us. One of the very few times in this golf country where we haven’t been waved through.
But then, on hole 4, we got company from a player from Edinburgh. He and 2 of his golfing friends had a competition going on about whom of them first had played the 100 highest ranked courses in Scotland. Boat of Garden was his course number 54.
And as said before, most courses deserve to be played twice in order for one to evaluate and appreciate the course and also achieve a better score. That we will try to do on the rest of our trip.
Anyway; here is my score.
I calculated my playing handicap to 7 strokes from the slope of 134. Though my handicap might be a bit higher while only a few of the 17 rounds now played in Scotland have been played to the handicap I started with.
I know: Just excuses.
Evaluation of Boat of Garten
Your comments, questions and recommendations are welcome.
It looks very Wild. You had me Google James Braid, 200 golf courses around Great Britain and 1 inThe US. It must make him the greatest. Enjoy. We have Summer, 25 degrees.