Scottish Tourism Guide - Articles
Ladies Golf in Scotland
By Susan Young
Golfers come in all shapes and sizes, from both sexes, and mostly they are a sociable bunch. Men are quite happy to play just about anywhere, in any conditions, and the more hazardous the course the better they like it, even if the course is way out of their league.
Not so women golfers. If the are high handicappers they like a course to be challenging, but within their capabilities. They like a friendly atmosphere in the clubhouse, a pro that doesn’t make her feel stupid when she doesn’t get the hang of the setting-up procedure first time. And she likes half decent toilet facilities at the end of a round.
(The Clubhouse, St Andrews, image copyright of Visit Scotland)
Scotland has many courses up and down the country that meet all of the aforementioned criteria.
For example, some of our best courses like Carnoustie, St Andrew’s Bay, Machrihanish, Turnberry, are all women friendly. Machrihanish in Campbelltown, Kintyre, has a very daunting first hole, right across the sea, but also has a less challenging course which many women prefer to play.
On the other hand, Callander Golf Club, at Aveland Road, Callander, in the heart of the Trossachs, is over 100 years old and offers absolutely no advantages for ladies – both men and women play off the yellow tees. It does have fairly short holes in the main, but no less challenging for all that. Their club house is one of the best and the members make visitors very welcome.
St Fillans at South Loch Earn Road, St Fillans in Perthshire, is another picturesque and friendly course, situated at the end of Loch Earn. A flat, parkland 9-holes inland course, the first tee can be a bit daunting for beginners, as other golfers tend to sit outdoors in decent weather enjoying a drink or bite of lunch only yards from the tee. But once you get going it is a lovely wee course, with a good club house and small pro shop.
The Championship Course at Carnoustie, near Dundee, and also the Old Course at St Andrew’s Bay, has arguably the most terrifying first tees for golfers – especially women. Locals and visitors alike line up to watch both teeing off from the first hole, and the finish at the 18th.
Carluke Golf Course at Mauldslie Road, Carluke, is a well-maintained course looking across the Clyde Valley and Tinto Hills. Not too hilly, apart from the Hill O’ Hope at the 12th…or the Hill O’ No Hope as it must be for many players. Good, inexpensive club house, and always quite a few women around.
The Island of Arran has a surprising amount of Golf courses for such a small island, and they are all good, and very friendly. In particular both Lamlash and Brodick Golf Clubs have spectacular views.
Lenzie Golf Club in Crosshill Road, only a few miles from Glasgow, is a fairly flat course but reasonably challenging for all that. Another fine course to play in the same neck-of-the-woods is Cawder in Cadder Road Bishopbriggs, and also in Bishopbriggs is a very good municipal course, Little Hill.
Golfers come in all shapes and sizes, from both sexes, and mostly they are a sociable bunch. Men are quite happy to play just about anywhere, in any conditions, and the more hazardous the course the better they like it, even if the course is way out of their league.
Not so women golfers. If the are high handicappers they like a course to be challenging, but within their capabilities. They like a friendly atmosphere in the clubhouse, a pro that doesn’t make her feel stupid when she doesn’t get the hang of the setting-up procedure first time. And she likes half decent toilet facilities at the end of a round.
(The Clubhouse, St Andrews, image copyright of Visit Scotland)
Scotland has many courses up and down the country that meet all of the aforementioned criteria.
For example, some of our best courses like Carnoustie, St Andrew’s Bay, Machrihanish, Turnberry, are all women friendly. Machrihanish in Campbelltown, Kintyre, has a very daunting first hole, right across the sea, but also has a less challenging course which many women prefer to play.
On the other hand, Callander Golf Club, at Aveland Road, Callander, in the heart of the Trossachs, is over 100 years old and offers absolutely no advantages for ladies – both men and women play off the yellow tees. It does have fairly short holes in the main, but no less challenging for all that. Their club house is one of the best and the members make visitors very welcome.
St Fillans at South Loch Earn Road, St Fillans in Perthshire, is another picturesque and friendly course, situated at the end of Loch Earn. A flat, parkland 9-holes inland course, the first tee can be a bit daunting for beginners, as other golfers tend to sit outdoors in decent weather enjoying a drink or bite of lunch only yards from the tee. But once you get going it is a lovely wee course, with a good club house and small pro shop.
The Championship Course at Carnoustie, near Dundee, and also the Old Course at St Andrew’s Bay, has arguably the most terrifying first tees for golfers – especially women. Locals and visitors alike line up to watch both teeing off from the first hole, and the finish at the 18th.
Carluke Golf Course at Mauldslie Road, Carluke, is a well-maintained course looking across the Clyde Valley and Tinto Hills. Not too hilly, apart from the Hill O’ Hope at the 12th…or the Hill O’ No Hope as it must be for many players. Good, inexpensive club house, and always quite a few women around.
The Island of Arran has a surprising amount of Golf courses for such a small island, and they are all good, and very friendly. In particular both Lamlash and Brodick Golf Clubs have spectacular views.
Lenzie Golf Club in Crosshill Road, only a few miles from Glasgow, is a fairly flat course but reasonably challenging for all that. Another fine course to play in the same neck-of-the-woods is Cawder in Cadder Road Bishopbriggs, and also in Bishopbriggs is a very good municipal course, Little Hill.
