White tees par 68 SSS 64, 4954 yards
Red tees par 68, SSS 62, 4188 yards
This nine hole course on Harris in the Outer Hebrides has a breathtaking setting overlooking the Atlantic ocean, spectacular mountains, miles of golden sands and the island of Taransay. It certainly rivals the best setting we have yet encountered. It was first played probably in the 1920s and the golf club was founded in 1930. The layout is natural, making use of the contours of the land. It was redesigned in the 1980s by Harris native and golf professional Finlay Morrison who was the professional at Bruntsfield Links in Edinburgh at the time of his retiral and is still remembered there for scoring under his age in his nineties.
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The 2nd hole which doglegs from right to left. The green
lies in the distance just in front of the greenkeeper's shed.
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Scarista is a delightful holiday course where green fees are paid using an honesty box, typical of the highlands of Scotland. We had a warm welcome from the greenkeeper and one of the members when we arrived to play on a cool, windy May day. Local knowledge is definitely an advantage at this course - club selection can be difficult at the 1st and 4th holes which have blind greens and must differ greatly depending on the wind direction. The first is a driveable par 4 downhill to a blind green. The second is a challenging par 4 dogleg from right to left with the Atlantic awaiting a wayward shot and a long, narrow green set into the hillside. The next holes meander over the dunes with views which will distract the player from their golf. The nine holes finish with a tough uphill par 5 to a small green nestling in the dunes.
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| The 4th green with the magnificent Scarista beach in the background |
Worth playing? Yes - a fun course in a spectacular setting but it is a long way to get there!
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