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Boat of Garten Golf Course ©
Boat of Garten, often referred to as The Boat, looks as if it were designed as a movie
set for Robin Hood. Hills, heather, and an abundance of trees
makes it one of the most beautiful inland
golf courses in all of Scotland. A James
Braid design, it is one of his most unusual
golf courses and a classic example of how
this golf design genius used his fertile
imagination to turn the natural landscape
into a testing, challenging, and altogether
fun golf course. Nature presented him with
hills and valleys, trees and heather, streams,
mounds and slopes all mixed in with dramatic
changes in elevation. Into these natural
gifts he wove challenging doglegs, mogul-filled
fairways, severely slanted landing areas,
and plateaued greens. Once you're past the
first few holes you'll feel as much a part
of nature as if you were on a hike. The only
reminder of civilization is a steam engine
locomotive that blows its whistle and chugs
past the 4th and 6th holes from time to time.
The Boat has it all.
At Boat of Garten breathtaking beauty surrounds you throughout
your entire round. A truly magnificent setting with the Cairngorm
mountains always in the background and the
Highland air crisp and clear. Even if you
play the worst golf of your life, you will
not consider it a good walk spoiled.
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| Easy does it on this first hole. This 169
yard par 3 is an opportunity to begin your
day with a par. |
It all starts out innocently enough with
a friendly hole, a 169 yard par 3--189 off
the championship tees. There are, of course,
a few nasty bunkers in the way between you
and success, but they are certainly manageable.
As you can see from the picture above, you
then immediately start off into the heart
of the golf course.
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| You feel like saying "Get 'um up and
move 'um out" when you face the 2nd
hole, a 351 yd par 4. Isn't this a fabulous
sight from a golf tee! |
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| How's this for something to look forward
to! "Picturesque" doesn't begin
to describe BOAT OF GARTEN. This kind of
beauty seen from the 4th tee predominates
throughout this unusual golf course. |
Not until the 4th hole do The Boat's distinctive fairways really begin to emerge.
This is a longish par 5 where an unlucky
bounce or an errant drive can severely
penalize
you.
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| Ho-hum, another beautiful hole. This view
is from the back of the 7th green--a 386
yd par 4 rated the 4th most difficult on
the golf course. |
Boat of Garten is a perfect example of why raw distance
means little in determining the difficulty
or the joy of playing a golf course.
One
reason is its hills. It has lots and
lots
and lots of hills. The other is design. The 13th is a good example.
A par 5 at a mere 461 yards, it's rated the
most difficult hole on the course and for
good reason. It's difficult to get there
in 2 because of the S-shaped layout and the
severe uphill carry. Also, if your ball falls
off the back of the green it's dead because
of an unforgiving rough. The 461 yards play
more like 561 yards. And if the wind is in
your face, be happy with a 6. Want more proof
that the length of a golf course can be deceiving?
Consider this: since James Braid designed
this golf course in 1932, the lowest round
any amateur has ever shot is 67! Pretty amazing
when you consider that this 5,876 yard golf
course with a par of 70 has only been bettered
by 3 strokes in 73 years of trying! Not bad,
James.
 |
| View from the tee at #13, a 473 yard par
5 (how hard can such a short par 5 be?).
You'll need a very accurate drive on the
left side of the fairway to par this top
rated hole. |
 |
View from behind the 18th green. Note the
uphill approach and small green.
Not a good
time to lose concentration.
|
I really like the look of the finishing
hole.
It's a 437 yard par 4, slight dogleg
right
that golfers with an easy fade will
like.
As you can see from the above picture,
however,
the green falls off in all directions
and
there are two intimidating bunkers
guarding
either side of the green. If you're
having
a good round up until now, think positive--a
prayer might also help.
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| View past the 2nd tee to the 18th fairway
and green in the background. Note how the
green is elevated, so choose your iron carefully.
Anything short will roll back down the hill.
Anything long will be caught up in "junk"
behind the green. |
Golf Nook Scotland rating = solid BIRDIE
www.boatgolf.com -- Contains all the info you'll need on the
course and how to book, etc.
|
Where to Stay in Boat of Garten area
Some golfers drive to Boat of Garten for
the day, returning to Dornoch or Inverness
that night. But many would rather stay in
or near Boat of Garten. If you do, you'll
be glad you did. It's a perfect choice for
the independent golfer in Scotland. Rather
than spending a lot of time in a car, you
experience the natural beauty of this Highland
region -- a ski area in winter, a golfing
area the rest of the year. Set in the scenic
Cairngorm Mountains. A walker's heaven, this
is Monarch of the Glen (TV) location.
Pine Ridge B&B -
Exceptional value In a scenic Highland area with tall tress
and distinctive northern Scottish architecture.
Owner Shona Rankin, with many years of hotel
and hospitality experience, has created a
warm and comfortable place for you to feel
at home. In Shona's own words, "We are a large traditional Highland home
where your comfort and enjoyment is our priority.
We pride ourselves in offering affordable
and comfortable B&B accommodation. Eight
Highland courses are within a 30-minute drive,
including Boat of Garten, the Spey Valley
Championship Course, and not forgetting our
stunning wee gem at Carrbridge Golf Club.
We would be delighted to welcome you to Pine Ridge B&B."
www:pineridgecarrbridge.com
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Craigerne House Hotel -
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This lovely 10 room hotel is on the edge
of Newtonmore, an excellent small town in
the Cairngorm Mountains. Sitting just 15
yds. from 1st tee of the local golf course.
Just off the main road (the A9) from Perth
to Inverness, this is a convenient location
for enjoying the golf courses and scenery
of this beautiful area. The privately owned
country house hotel is known for its friendly,
serene atmosphere and good food. Hosts Dougie
and Joanna Jeffries provide top quality service
for individual guests as well as groups.
Equipment storage and drying facilities are
available. High ratings, moderate prices.
Their exellent website reflects the excellence
of the hotel. Highly recommended. www.craigernehotel.com
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Moorfield House - Affordable luxury at this 4-star guest
house in the Highlands. Relaxed and peaceful
surroundings. Licensed to serve alcohol.
Gillian and Harvey Harris run a non-smoking
B&B and usually require a 2-night stay.
On the main road, in the town centre of Boat
of Garten. Tel/ (0)1479 831646. Email - enquiries@moorfieldhouse.com. More info at www.moorhouse.com.
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Where To Eat in Boat of Garten
Boat of Garten golf clubhouse - friendly atmosphere with good food available
to golfing visitors. (Keep in mind you can
usually rely on getting at least a light
meal at any clubhouse where you play.)
Local Post Office - on the main street just a couple of minutes'
walk from the golf course, they make up sandwiches
for you and they also sell pre-packaged ones.
You can eat them at one of their outdoor
tables (post offices in Scotland are multi-purpose
establishments, privately owned) or you can
take them away.
Boat Hotel - on the main street in the village center
next to the railway staion, a quick walk
from the golf course. Their Capercaillie
Restaurant is an upscale venue requiring
a booking, but the Osprey Bar is a very nice
casual bistro offering good food all day. www.boathotel.co.uk
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What to Do All Day in Boat of Garten
If you decide to stay in the Dornoch area
for the day, please see Northern Highlands. But we suggest that you do come to the Victorian
town of Boat of Garten, where you can spend
a pleasant day surrounded by the eye-filling
Cairngorm mountains--famous for hiking and
pony-trekking in the summer, skiing in the
winter. There is much to experience here.
Strathspey Railway - station can be reached by walking up the
hill from the golf course carpark. Quaint
steam trains run 7 times a day. Buy a return
ticket and see some glorious scenery in a
short time. (Special note--this area is where the very popular BBC
TV series MONARCH OF THE GLEN
is filmed.
Ride the train to BroomhilI,
which is the
"Glenbogle" station
in the show.
In the U.S. you can join Netflix.com and rent this series, which will thrill
you with its scenery.) More info
about the
train on their website. www.strathspeyrailway.co.uk
Woodland Walks - Several low-level local footpaths are
signmposted throughout the village. I like to enter the path on the west side
of the Granlea B&B on the main street.
Look for the sign saying "Woodland Walks"
and follow the arrows. The footpaths will
take you through serene woodlands and some
lovely measows. All footpaths are clear,
wide, and easy to follow.
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