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First round of the year and, whilst sunny, it was near zero with a F5 northerly wind. Our 3 ball was held up a little by a 2 ball, but they disappeared after 9. First 9, greens were in a terrible state - anything within a club length of the hole was a gimmee. I take it that will be addressed as the second nine greens were very good. Lot of fresh sand going into bunkers, so obviously maintaining the course is ongoing.
Reception was pleasant as ever :welcome, check if we'd played before, 'here's your cards' and 'go when your ready.'
A lot of courses round here, I get nothing more than a grunt.
I like this bourse as there's a good variation of holes and there's three combinations

Arrived early and was told the coffee shop was open, however numerous attempts to gain entry thru the locked buzzer door were fruitless.
Onto the course: very neat tee boxes and greens and nearly all the bunkers were freshly raked , meaning you could actually get your ball out, unlike other courses over the last 18 months.
First hole required some thought which is good: slight dog leg right with bunkers on the turn. But, apart from that , very little to think about. Straight holes everywhere - hit it hard and hit it hard again.
And it appeared that most fairways were corrugated with underground drainage _ weird.
Nicely presented course but no 'wow ' holes, or ones with options.

Friendly welcome at Pro shop - this isn't a given.
Slightly undulating course though nothing too hilly (upwards) and best to have local knowledge or a Garmon as a lot of blind hazards and no description of hole on tee box.
Greens in good condition
Good variation of holes, can't recall it being up-and-down.
Would play again but quite a distance away. I recall web saying 'near Livingstone.' It isnt

Played this course once before and recall being absolutely shattered by the end. It's not particularly hilly, just very long Inc some lengthy walks to next tee. Took energy bars and gels this time
There wasn't any kind of welcome as the pro shop was locked for the 20 mins before we arrived right up to tee off time. We made do with Garmon and a discarded card found on the 11th
Onto the course, it's a lot more technical than you think e. g. dog leg on 2nd is 200 yards away so no point blasting a driver. However, a lot of 'good' drives off the tee turned out to be not so brilliant - course knowledge.
Pleased to par the last 2 holes (par 5's)

After the initial non welcome in the pro shop (that you'd expect in HMP Addiewell) we wandered to the first tee and played off, only to then see the tee box also marked 'Hole 3.'
Check on Garmin, hole looked roughly the same shape (more on that later) but the flag is hidden, so back to pro shop where a bunch of seniors said we were on the right hole. Thanks again staff!
After that, some fair holes:bit up, bit down, slight dog leg but only one hole (with a ditch at 240/200) you had to think about.
Some long par 4's (e. g. 450 yds) but I think there was no imagination in this as, apart from three par 3's and possibly a par 5 (forget), they're all par 4's. And just to make sure, the last four holes (17, 18, 1 and 2 then) are all identical: 360 yds ish, flat and straight.
We got this on a deal at £25 but would require more (any?) stimulation for this price

Maybe not the most welcoming sight on arrival - car park, surroundings, grim single storey building - but all good on the playing field.
Generous allowances of the tee for wayward shots and some holes with risk and reward for a short cut over the trees. Variation too in the shape of the fairways with sudden dog legs at the end - so much better to think about attacking a hole, rather than the dull ' hit a driver and hit with what's left to go.'
Some long par 3 s and 4s which, with the F5 we had was a bogey hole.
Putting surface ok.
But for the very cheap rate of £15, variety of holes and general layout, this is a 5

Played this last year and, yes, it's the greens. Sank long putts on the 1st, 3rd and 9th (last two for birdies).
As well as that you have to think about your shots, so much better than 'hit it and hit it again.' E. g. 2nd hole from a elevated tee where you can possibly hit the green but any lay up shot has to be not too short (can't see the green) a d not too long (in the veg patch).
Other memorable holes too, so this is one of my favourites (played 21).
Just one thing, remembered from last year and mentioned by others, please get a direction sign to 3rd tee, it's not hard, but beyond hard to go the wrong way forever and still climb the big elevation in the end

Initially very impressed. Nice chat with Pro shop man and advised which two 9 holes we were playing. Fast greens and pretty backdrop of Ochils against a rolling landscape of hills was nice, but then I realised there was nothing to think about. Everything is fairly straight, so hit it and hit it again.
My wow factor is thinking back as to which holes were really tricky and how to play them next time. Well, there weren't any really.
Nice course for 'just a round of golf,' but I need a bit more mental stimulation and risk and reward.

Initially, seemed a bit starchy: loads of rules in the car park and next to 1st tee ("no practice swings"), but regulars I spoke to were very pleasant.
Lots to think about on this course; sometimes the further you hit it, the narrower it gets - better to lay up.
Some magical downhill par 3 's out of the trees.
Greens v good and tees mostly OK - just wonder why a lot slope away from right handers.
Next hole markers very important as this is a twisty windy course.
Last hole is the best - magnificent vista of downward slope, then uphill to green, clubhouse and Pentlands in the background.
Enjoyed

Looking for another course coming out of Covid lockdown and gave this a go.
Neat and tidy, distance markers at 150/100, greens nearly all good, wide fairways and rough not too bad.
We had a couple of elderly gents in front and a four ball hacker next up, yet still got round in 3 hours - that's the pace of play in Scotland ; like pubs it's "you here to talk or drink?"
At the moment (see para1) I'm motto bothered about the layout, but it is pretty straight - every hole - so not much to think about.
Par 3's were considered, though, with extra deep bunkers all round including the 233 yd one. There's the 14th (I think), 165 yd slightly downhill with a five yard long piece of (away sloping) green to aim at behind a steep bunker.
Nice day and enjoyed but would be looking for more excitement and cheaper cost when the China virus thing goes away.

Flattish course but many holes with dog legs (1 with a double) so you really have to think about lay up.
Given the Covid rubbish, the greens were in excellent condition.
Really friendly staff as well.

Fairly straightforward course, hit it and hit it again - not too much thought required.
Rough was long, far too long. Put your ball in that and even if you find it, you can't hit it.
Greens were average, bunkers raked but under an inch was hard pack, meaning the ball flew out 30 yards.
15th hole - dog leg (at last) but just over 130 yards to the corner then a 250 yd + 2nd hit to a par 4.
You can cut the corner with a 5 wood overthe trees, but there's a ditch that traverses the fairway right on the 180-240 yard mark, so hit a perfect drive over the trees, but no idea where my ball was: short in the woods, in the ditch, in the rough?
Convenient on the Covid shutdown but won't be rushing back