Short but Challenging Golf Course (Niddry Castle Golf Club)

Member Name: scotslady

Product:	Niddry Castle Golf Club
Date:	04/07/01 (67 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: 9 holes, short, challenging

Disadvantages: None

Niddry Castle Golf Club is a 9 hole course at Castle Road, Winchburgh, West Lothian, which is approximately 10 miles from the centre of Edinburgh and 45 miles from Glasgow. It is a parkland course playing around Niddry Castle with an 18 Hole length of 5518yds (Par 70)(4612yds Par 68 Ladies). It is fairly tight in places with water coming into play on 5 of the 9 holes. Another 9 holes are currently being built with a completion date of Spring 2003.

Niddry Castle itself dates from 1490 and it is known that Mary Queen of Scots sought refuge there in 1568. It is not an attractive building but it has recently been restored as a private residence and is not open to the public.

The golf course dates from around the time of the Second World War but wasnt used much until the present club were formed in 1983.

1st. Par 3 (204yds: 172yds Ladies) playing downhill to a green that slopes fairly steeply away from you. Bunker to the left of the green but the difficulty is in stopping the ball on the green.

2nd. Par 4 (248yds: 227yds Ladies) Blind tee shot here over a rocky mound with gorse. The fairway meanders around this outcrop but is lined with gorse bushes on the right. The approach to the green is blind too as the green sits in a deep dip in a corner of the course. Bunkers to the back and left protect balls from going out of bounds.

3rd. Par 3 169yds: 158yds Ladies) Playing downhill from an elevated tee to a green that slopes away and left from you. Bunker on the left with out of bounds on the right.

4th. Par 4 (334yds: 238yds Ladies) Playing from an elevated tee with a burn about driving distance. The decision is yours. My ball goes swimming every time even when I try to play short (I think I will putt it off the tee next time). Bunkers right and left of the green with out of bounds on the right.

5th. Par 4 (349yds: 294yds Ladies) The gent’s tee plays over the burn while the ladies play in front of it
. All uphill this one and you have to watch for golf balls from those playing the 6th. Bunkers to the left and short of the elevated green with an out of bounds dyke just to the right.

6th. Par 5 (493yds) (Par 4 - 391yds Ladies) The castle sits a few yards away on the right hand side of this hole – out of bounds of course. Playing from an elevated tee down to the burn, which comes into play for the second shot. A large rocky outcrop sits on the other side of the burn hiding the green from view and making it a daunting second shot to carry the burn and the hill. There is still a bit of distance over the hill to the slightly elevated green.

7th. Par 4 (310yds: 283yds Ladies) The tee shot is played alongside and eventually over the burn with out of bounds left. Bunker middle left of fairway and short right.

8th. Par 4 (265yds: 246yds Ladies) Straightforward tee shot playing to the foot of a large mound. The green is on the other side with gorse on the left, the burn on the right and out of bounds behind. A couple of bunkers around the green.

9th. Par 4 (385yds: 297yds Ladies) Gents play over the burn from an elevated tee, ladies tee off in front of the burn. All uphill to a green with bunkers left and right.

FACILITIES

Catering, bar snacks, tea/coffee, bar, changing rooms, clubs/trolleys for hire, driving net, putting green.

Visitors - £13.00 per day (weekday), £19.00 per day (weekends) The club can be reached by telephone on 01506 891097.

It’s only 9 holes and fairly short but a challenge nevertheless. Well worth a round if you are in the area.

Summary: