I guess you could say the clue’s in the description, if not the name. The Witch’s Pool fishing lodges, on the bank of the River Ericht, are first and foremost about… well… fishing. The river is famed for salmon, trout and grilse – well stocked enough to make it rewarding, not so well stocked as to make it too easy!
But if Scotland is famous for salmon, it’s surely doubly well known as the home of “a good walk, spoiled”. If golf is your (other) sport, or you’d like it to be, or you just fancy swapping rods for clubs for a day, you’re in luck: the Blairgowrie Golf Club, near Perth, is home to two of the finest 18-hole Championship-standard courses, and one of the best nine-hole courses, in Scotland.
The combination of heathland and woodland which make up the area provides the courses with a wonderful charm and tranquillity. The landscape is unspoilt, and each hole is ‘standalone’ – unaffected and untouched by the others. The silver birch and heather-bordered fairways provide a wonderful natural habitat that you may be lucky enough to share with deer, red squirrels and woodpeckers.
Blairgowrie’s Lansdowne Championship Course was designed by Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas, and hosted the Scottish Amateur Championship in 2013 and the PGA Championship Final in 2014. It offers a challenging test routed through swathes of pine and silver birch, and punishes wayward tee shots. With smallish greens, the Lansdowne is demanding but enjoyable for golfers of any handicap.
The Rosemount Course saw Greg Norman’s first victory on the European tour.
Designed by James Braid, the course has staged numerous prestigious amateur and professional tournaments. The fairways are easier but the large, undulating greens will test your putting skills.
The Wee Course is a challenging par 32. Comprised of par threes and par fours it provides a delightful and charming contrast to Lansdowne and Rosemount. More, ‘informal’, it is ideal for a warm-up round or for newcomers to golf.
The club has great practice facilities as well, with a range for warming up or perfecting your swing. There is a clubhouse onsite, with a professional shop and the team offer tuition seven days a week if you make an appointment.
Green fees for the Rosemount and Lansdowne Courses range from £45 to £85 per player, depending on the day of the week, and the tee-off time. Fees for the Wee Course are £12.50 to £17.50.
To visit the Blairgowrie Golf Club website, click here.
