Reay Golf Course played on 28 August 2020
Citations from Reay’s web site: “Founded in 1893, Reay Golf Club has seen many changes over the years and remains to this day a true links course run by the community, for the community.”
That is: established by golfers, run by golfers, for golfers playing golf and socialize.
On their website the renowned golf course architect Donald Steele is quoted as saying of Reay Golf Club,
“In a different location, it would enjoy worldwide acclaim.”
But, as the locals say “it is precisely the location that gives the course at Reay its great distinction, as the most northernly 18 hole links course on the British mainland.” I will not argue against that.
Before Reay we played Muirfield, North Berwick, Royal Musselburgh and the old Musselburgh Links (plus I have played a lot of other links courses in Scotland) with that experience I could not agree more.
It was a great pleasure to play the course.
Playing Reay golf course, feeling the ambience, experiencing the enthusiastic atmosphere, the friendly welcome and the curious openness and understated pride over their golf course is an experience very different from what you get at the more well-known courses. It’s all about authenticity.
Just think about this; just about 100 members. All the management, green keeping etc. is done by the members. The maintenance is great and the layout of the course is just enjoyable to walk and play. And then it doesn’t cost a fortune
The course is designed by the famous James Braid.
James Braid was a club maker, professional golfer and course designer who was born in Fife in 1870 and died in London in 1950.
He retired from competitive golf in 1912 and became a renowned golf course architect and regarded as one of the finest ever in his field. He was responsible for designing over 250 golf courses throughout the British Isles including 101 in Scotland.
He is responsible for the design in all or in part of the courses at Boat of Garten, Inverness, Muir of Ord, Fortrose and Rosemarkie, Golspie, Brora and Reay.
We played Brora yesterday and are going to play some of the others in the coming days.
It’s like his concept of golf architecture (in my view) was:
Make it simple, make it a walk of flow, give the players a challenge regardless of skills, build in small surprises and something beautiful for the eyes. And, first and foremost: find the landscape suited for a golf course and not vice versa.
And Reay golf course is a simple and straight forward golf course, with some semi-blind shots, over hills and hollows, firm fairways and interesting contoured greens.
And then, besides of promoting the golf course, on the website they are also promoting the local history.
You will find an indication when you see the name of hole 15: “Vikings Grave”.
Why I haven’t figured out. But from this drone-photo it is easy to imagine the green set at the top of a Viking grave.
If you have just a bit of Viking genes in your DNA you will find this area interesting.
“A huge Broch site sitting on a hill west of Thurso. This broch was reused then by the Vikings, as their parliament, hence the name. It is also situated near Ravenshill, which could well have viking significance also. The Thurso gallows were also situated near to this site, so it’s an area steeped in local history. The walk to this site is from a layby on the main road, then up a signed track for around 0.8 of a mile.”
Brough (/brʌf, brɒx/) may mean or refer to an area, enclosure, round tower or outer wall of a feudal castle.
Check the name Thurso on the Internet and you will get references to the Danish town of Thorsø.
In the very north of Scotland, they do not know the letter ø.
remains from the Viking age, which historically lasted from around year 500 to the end of the 11th century
with remains from the Viking age
Facts about the golf course
Established in 1893.
Architect James Braid.
18 holes. Length from back to front tee: 5854, 5628 and 5090 Yards. Par: White and yellow 69, red 70. SSS from 69 to 71.
Course record
Sorry, have not found the information.
My game
I mean, as you can deduct from what I have written, the score is not the most important to focus on, playing a links course like Reay. We really enjoyed the walk, which only took us 3 hours. For the record I made it in 9 over par and 30 points.
Evaluation of Reay golf course
