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Golf in the Scottish Borders The Perfect Break |
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When people think of Scotland, images of unspoilt
countryside, peaceful villages, romantic castles and turbulent history come
to mind – the Borders has all of this and more! The Scottish Borders has a
special magic and timeless quality which can’t be adequately described in
words, hence I found myself returning for a second visit in twelve months to
take in more of the area. Steeped in history it still keeps its feet very much in the present with much to offer the après-golfer. The flavour of the area can be found in shops and cafes, restaurants and pubs where the infectious enthusiasm of the locals is evident that it cannot fail to inspire you to see more. If like me you enjoy gardens then this is the area to be for it has attracted the highest professional praise, helping to win for their towns national floral awards such as ‘Beautiful Britain in Bloom’ |
| Peebles Clubhouse |
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Walking is high on the agenda of visitors as there are over
1500 miles of dedicated routes offering something for everyone or if you
prefer to cycle the area is well populated with trails and tracks or along
the network of cycle-friendly quiet roads and lanes. Chance encounters with
deer, birds and other wildlife make all your efforts worthwhile.
If on the other hand fishing is your thing, 100 miles of some of the world’s best fishing along the River Tweed will soon have you hooked! Although the main purpose of my visit was to play golf my hosts ‘Visit Scotland’ invited me to a day at Kelso Races, voted "Britain’s Friendliest Racecourse" in a Sunday Times Survey. I also enjoyed the last game of the season from the Celtic Rugby League that of Borders v Dragons at the Netherdale ground, Galashiels. I don’t profess that I am a follower of either of these pastimes but I have to say both events proved most enjoyable and each with a very local flavour and it struck me that for a group of men on a golfing trip it would be great to combine both these sports in a visit for an all round male sport break – just a thought. The invitation was for May a lovely time of year to visit and commenced with checking into the Burts Hotel, Melrose set in a picturesque 18th century Market Square. Melrose lies at the very heart of the Scottish Borders and is one of Scotland’s most ancient burghs. The hotel was awarded the AA Pub of the Year 2004/5 for Scotland for its successfully combination of excellent foods, comfortable accommodation, a great pub atmosphere, and a warm welcome. It was from here that I visited the races |
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To round off our first day we (group of golf journalists)
were taken to dinner at Woll Golf Course, Ashkirk Selkirkshire, which
promotes itself as a golfing retreat and this I would agree with. For not
only can you play golf here on the excellent 18 hole par 70 parkland course
but you can make a complete golf break of your visit by staying in one the
five exceptional 4*self-catering properties all of which have beautiful
views over the course and the historic Ale Valley and are set in attractive
private grounds with a back drop of surrounding woodland. It also has access
to the Abbey Way, a popular walking route, covering a large area of the
borders. The Restaurant and Bar offers a panoramic view over the course in a modern, relaxing setting. Meals are available throughout the day and in the evening the restaurant provides what I can support is a fine dining experience.
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| Woll Golf Course |
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Although we did not have time to play the course we rode
round on buggies and were all struck by the peaceful atmosphere and natural
environment of the Estate. The course follows the gentle contours of the Ale
valley with mature trees and water features and the Woll burn comes into
play on a number of holes.
I really feel I have found something special here having enjoyed the wonderful hospitality of the staff who all take pride in their involvement, and will probably go back with friends to enjoy one the various golf breaks on offer which include Unlimited FREE GOLF! |
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Using Woll Golf Club as your base you could take advantage of
discounts with ‘Freedom of the Fairways’ at other courses, this is
Scotland’s top-selling golf pass and is well over ten years old. These Adult
and Senior golf passports are available for 3 and 5 days and both offer
unbelievable value. For example, if you play 36 holes a day for a week it
will cost you under £10 per round! The second day of our visit saw us up early to be on the tee at 9.00 am at what turned out to be the little gem of the visit – St Boswells Golf Club. This along with Duns, Melrose and Minto was voted by golfers who purchased the Fairways passport as the most visitor friendly course in the Borders for 2005. This idyllic setting along with the club’s friendliness makes it a memorable round of golf. I am not usually taken with 9 hole courses but this is an exception as it must be one of the most picturesque in Scotland, designed in 1899 by Willie Park Junior, using a strip of land next to the River Tweed. Although relatively flat this course is greatly enhanced by beautiful surrounding scenery. |
| Woll Clubhouse and Restaurant |
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Our next visit found us at Peebles Golf Club and following a
hearty lunch in the modern clubhouse we set out to test a course I had only
seen on my previous visit and left with a hankering to return to play some
time and I was not to be disappointed. The course is considered one of the finest in the Borders for the quality of its turf, greens and the stunning views and it proved a prime example of a challenging Scottish upland golf course. Designed by Harry Colt the course, on undulating parkland is well laid out with panoramic views of the surrounding area. The tough opening holes are balanced by a more generous stretch. The back 9 are fairly mild until the 14th culminating in an enjoyable round with a testing finish. |
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From here we were transferred to the Macdonald Cardrona
Hotel, Golf and Country Club, Peebles, again a return visit for me as they
are one of the sponsors for the golf days run by WGTB Golf Competitions of
which I am a partner. As in my previous visit I soon felt settled into this
luxurious accommodation, set in one of the most relaxing areas of Scotland,
in one of the most picturesque border valleys, and yet only a 30 minute
journey by car to Edinburgh, where you could spend half a day visiting The
Royal Yacht Britannia.
The hotel offers all you’d expect of a place where warm Scottish hospitality is a hallmark including the Renwick’s restaurant which offers a delicious array of food served in relaxing surroundings.
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Cardronna Hotel Golf & Country Club |
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Luckily I had played the challenging 18-hole golf course on
my previous visit as the next morning we were met with very unfriendly rain.
However I do remember a beautiful yet challenging par 72 woodland and
parkland course set along the banks of the River Tweed. It is one course
where a buggy is worth considering as it is quite long. Following yet another waist expanding lunch we moved on to our final night’s accommodation which was situated on the High Street of Peebles, The Tontine Hotel (a member of ‘Scotland’s Personal Hotels’. The hotel is the only building on the High Street to have its own courtyard complete with early 19th century cobblestone. The Adam Room Restaurant is a magnificent specimen of a Georgian Assembly Room, with a minstrel’s gallery and a working Adam fireplace. This is a local family run hotel and their friendly staff guarantee many guests returning year on year. |
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Experience the wonderful scenes as you enjoy your golf in the Scottish Borders |
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At last some free time to explore and in this case the town
of Peebles which was recently voted "Top independent retailing town in
Scotland" for its top quality range of individual shops, with a must to head
for the cashmere, glass, wood, ceramic or paintings. Butchers with award
winning haggis recipes, bakers for the Selkirk Bannock and confectioners to
satisfy your sweet tooth including the well known Hawick Balls, great for
the car journey home.
Yes I am glad I accepted this return visit as the area has now fully endeared itself to me and of course it is not too far to travel from the North West, with quiet roads and golf courses. |
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For further information: for booking a break in Scotland |
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www.visitscotland.com/golf or call the national information and booking line on 0845 2255121 |
