The Course

 

 

 

 

A round of golf at Alyth is usually a challenge to any golfer, no matter his or her handicap. The fairways in general are wide and receptive whilst the greens are possibly larger than on most courses. Five consecutive holes from the fifth do have out of bounds to the right, but unless you are prone to wayward slicing, they shouldn't present too much of a problem.

So where's the aformentioned challenge? Well, lurking on either side of most fairways are trees and gorse bushes ready to gobble up the wild shot. Therefore, it is not an uncommon occurrence to see a downcast golfer taking club lengths back to the playing surface and dropping the ball from shoulder height (and possibly muttering under his or her breath!)

A straight putt on the first green is a rarity and with its large borrows it's not unusual, especially for the unweary visitor, to be home in two, down in five. Of course, if the phrase "tricky greens", is implanted in the mind early on, then the danger is that the putter will be working overtime during the round.

Perhaps the most challenging hole is the 5th: lost ball country abounds up the left. To the right is out of bounds from tee to green. The fairway is crossed by two ditches, one at right angles to the fairway, the other running diagonally. It's a dog leg right hole and just to cap it all, the green is on a plateau with subtle borrows and a slope from front to back. Few; if any, will grumble at carding a par 4 here.

However, Alyth is nothing if not a fair test of golf. It's easy to say it in writing, but if you can hold the fairways, judge the distances, choose the right clubs and have a reasonable run of success on the greens, you should come off the 18th with a decided spring in your step.

top of page

course guide/map
scorecards