Hidden gems: 7 steps to golf heaven

BRORA GOLF CLUB 5872 yards, par 69 Green fees: £37 (weekdays) / £42 (weekend) After taking the overnight Caledonian Sleeper service from London to Inverness I pick up a car and head further north. Afriend has told me about an excellent links course at Brora designed by the great James Braid.

Indeed, Brora is the HQ for the James Braid Golfing Society. It seems like a perfect start to the week.

The first thing that strikes you about Brora is it’s beachside location. It has echoes of nearby Royal Dornoch, which is worldrenowned.

If you can drag your attention from the vistas of Kindtradwell Bay and onto the 1st tee you are in for a treat: the opening nine holes hug the bay in true links tradition.

Highlights of the round include the incredible views of coastline afforded from the 2nd tee; the approach to the beach-side 9th green; and the elevated 17th tee. Using the lighthouse on the horizon as a guide it may just be one of the best driving holes in all of Scotland. Indeed, such is the jaw-dropping beauty of the setting and the varying challenges on the course this just may be the most memorable four hours I’ve ever spent on a golf course... and this is only day one of my trip!

BOAT OF GARTEN GOLF CLUB 5,648 yards, par 70 Green fees £34 (weekdays) / £39 (weekend) Apleasant night passed in Brora and I set off south in search of my next hidden gem.

Boat of Garten in the heart of the Spey Valley is another James Braid classic. If all this talk of Braid is lost on you he wa.....

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By Andrew Ross

Section : Scotland Golf

Page number : 66