Discover The Hidden Gems Of Golf In Moray Speyside
Spey Bay
Looking for a golf trip in Scotland, then look no further. Nestling between the Scottish Highlands, the Cairngorms National Park and Aberdeenshire, Moray Speyside is home to miles of rugged coastline to the north and the undulating mountains of the Cairngorms to the South, it’s no wonder that some of the worlds most revered course designers such as Old Tom Morris, James Braid, Henry Cotton and Ben Sayers decided to make their mark here in Moray Speyside.
Scotland is well known as “The Home of Golf” and is famous for many of their championship courses, however, there are still some hidden gems waiting to be discovered. With miles of rugged coastline delivering some fantastic links courses and dramatic mountain scenery providing the perfect backdrop for some of our parkland courses, we are confident that you will find some real jewels here in Moray Speyside.
Whether you’re coming up the 18th at Moray Old in lovely Lossiemouth, regarded by many as one of the finest but toughest closing holes in Scottish golf, or playing anything from a wedge to a 5-wood on 1999 Open champion Paul Lawrie’s all-time favourite par 3, the ‘PreIsach’ in nearby Hopeman, you’ll be assured of truly amazing coastal views, even better sunsets and the warmest of welcomes.
But Moray isn’t all about traditional links like Moray. Old and New, or Hopeman, or other hidden coastal gems, all within 10 miles, such as a delightful 9-holes at Covesea Links, Garmouth and Kingston with immaculately kept saucer-shaped greens, the Ben Sayers’ designed Spey Bay, Buckpool, with what many regard as the best greens in the North, and nearby Strathlene, an intriguing mix of links and moorland, then, just a couple of miles along the coast, Cullen Links, with its spectacular rocky outcrops offering blind shots galore, over, around and between those spectacular monoliths.
We also boast equally spectacular inland courses, Elgin, widely regarded as one of the finest inland tracks north of the Forth, Forres, yet another James Braid masterpiece, its signature par 4 short 16th played through an avenue of trees over a pond to a well-guarded green, a couple of miles away why not pay and play at Kinloss, and let’s not forget the new kid on the block, Maverston, near Elgin, with equally stunning views.
Immersed in golfing history, the classic yet quirky courses in Moray Speyside will provide players from all over the world, a challenging yet enjoyable experience, thanks to the foresight and creativity of some of the icons of the golfing world. Mix this with having over half of Scotland’s Malt Whisky Distilleries, and we are confident that you will have an enjoyable golf break here in the heart of Malt Whisky country.
View article in June 2019 issue of GOLF NORTH magazine.
