Brora, Scotland

www.broragolf.co.uk

SSS White tees 70
        Red tees    71

The first green looking back to the clubhouse

Founded in 1891 with a nine hole layout attributed to Old Tom Morris, Brora became an 18 hole course at the turn of the century and was then redesigned by James Braid in 1923.  It is essentially unchanged since then and remains an example of pure links golf.  The course lies on the links land between the village of Brora and Kintradwell Bay with its sweep of beautiful golden sand.  It is a classic out-and back layout with the first nine following the shore in a north-easterly direction and the second nine heading back for the clubhouse in a south-westerly direction.  We played the course in a strong wind off the sea which blows across most holes making it a stern test of golf!

The ninth - 'Sea Hole'

The challenging par 3 eighteenth

The fairways are generous and the rough manageable thanks to the sheep and cattle which still graze on the course as a result of retained ancient grazing rights.  A unique local rule states that animal droppings are treated as casual water. I first played Brora as a child and well remember the electric fences around the greens which remain today.  The greens are excellent but small and the bunkers are perfect examples of links construction.  Some holes are particularly memorable with a personal favourite being the 9th, Sea Hole, where in summer the arctic terns which are the emblem of the club will dive bomb the unwary golfer who ventures too close to their nests.  The second nine is particularly testing with the 18th lying in wait for any player congratulating herself prematurely.  It is a par three where any shortish shot will roll down from the well bunkered green into a deep swale where an up and down is well nigh impossible. 




Worth a visit?  Not to be missed - a great example of links golf.