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In the summer, when the weathers at it’s best the course is ridiculously lush. On a good day, photos of the course could be anywhere from the algarve to georgia. Big, mature trees are well spread out, so while hitting them is fairly likely, losing your ball isn’t. The sheer size of them however means being out of position does punish, but you’ll likely have the opportunity to get club to ball, so if you’re good enough, there’s an honest chance of negotiating them and rescuing the hole. The courses main drawback is it’s length, several par fours are comfortably reachable, but the trees do make it risk / reward. Lots of holes are comfortable with a long or even mid iron off the tee, and to be honest it’s probably best enjoyed this way. Likewise, the par 3s are short but we’ll guarded, with the lovely “pond” hole being well less than a wedge. Superb pro shop and good facilities. A properly enjoyable round of golf, and - based on what other courses charge - probably the best value for money in the country.

Perfect parkland day out. Layout looks dull and potentially short on a map but it’s amongst mature trees and the majority of the holes need a decent dig off the tee if you want to get at the greens, so playing safe with an iron is only workable on a few holes. Fairways aren’t stingy but certainly aren’t generous, & if you miss the trees rarely mean you’re doing much more than chipping out. Grass under the trees is short so you don’t waste your day hunting for balls, punishment enough is trying to thread your ball through & under the trees back into the fairway. Greens are very firm, and not quite as true or consistent as this level of firmness needs with a bit of crowning on a couple of greens, but nothing overall to be ashamed of. The course is almost flat, although a few quirky holes near the finish add some fun & would give great risk reward opportunities for match play. Bunkers - and the lack of receptiveness - guard the greens well and the course is pretty & well maintained. Despite it being a Saturday, pace was rarely an issue as everyone was in a group, and everyone was relaxed & accomodating. A LOT of fores as plenty of balls zig zagged onto neighbouring fairways (couple of them mine...) but everyone was really good humoured about it- obviously something the members / regulars are used to! I will definitely be back here, and I expect quite regularly. While this course might appear basic at first glance, it does what it’s meant to - tests whether you can hit the ball where you’re aiming!

Ok: I’ve driven past this course loads of times but been put off by the layout- it plays along and accross a valley. Let’s be clear: it’s pretty. It’s in pretty good condition. Mature trees & great planting as well as well maintained course. Greens are ok. Everyone there was awesome. Great value. The only issue is the layout, and to be fair I don’t know how it could be made better. The issue is where it is. Not that anyone would, but if someone asked me what to do with that piece of virgin land, 2nd bottom of my list would be “golf course”, only narrowly beaten by “geriatric convalescent ice rink”. The slopes are ludicrous. The scary bits you can see from the road are to lure you in. By the time I’d got to the 9th I’d encountered actual mountain bikers presumably in serious training for the softer trails at glentress. By the time the car park came back into view at the end of the 9th I paused to consider just going home to cry. Thinking the worst must be behind me, I pressed on. Mistake. In the space of three holes, I’d achieved a climb that would have caused tour cyclists to undergo several transfusions. I started substantially below the ground level of 5 story flats and university buildings accross the road. By the 12th green I was now looking down on them with the rest of Edinburgh, and Fife on the other side of me. In 3 holes. Cue a couple of completely blind par 3s with just marker poles & a yardage to help you battle the 30mph winds, and then the lunacy finds another level. The psycho that had dragged me up there decided to abandon all that altitude with a single par 3 off the side of a cliff, reading 200something yards, but that’s a horizontal reading. You’re conservatively the same height above the green. At this point I’d lost all interest in hitting the ball and just wanted to be airlifted home. Meanwhile members were happily appearing all round me happy as mountain goats. Clearly not all heroes wear capes. Some wear soft spikes and - presumably - portable defibrillators. Close to weeping, I prodded the ball in the general direction of the car for a couple more holes before picking up and trudging the rest of the way in, defeated. Heroes, triathletes & poorly behaved teenagers should absolutely play here. Middle aged overweight men or anyone with a family who might miss them probably shouldn’t. Sorry.

What a belter. Properly hidden, parkland course played around the functioning Niddry castle, between bings & accross a substantial & well used burn. It’s pretty- every hole is like a postcard. Not long or particularly tough in layout with the risk / reward holes being mostly for show- play well & you could really go after the big greens. The only frustration is how good it could be. It’s pretty well kept, but if it was REALLY well kept I’d be queuing up for a membership. Greens are seriously fast, but don’t roll quite well enough to manage the speed- they spit approach shots off as well so you have to adjust your approach play to a more links-y style. This means fewer birdie putts & the speed means you have to lag first, which puts you at the mercy of the bobbles. Likewise, the meat of the course is well tended but some areas (service areas, like the area around the car park / clubhouse, bunkers in general) could do with a tidy up. There’s a plastic practice green so it’ll take first timers like me a few holes to adjust. Quite a few criss crossing holes and 2 holes with effectively one fairway - heading in opposite directions (!) so keep your wits about you. Despite these grumbles it’s a cracking course & cracking value. The starter was really clear & made sure I didn’t play the junior course by accident (I absolutely would have!) and the guys on the course were absolute gents. Was waved through a medal 3 ball & everyone helped me avoid getting lost! I will absolutely be back here - with some regularity! I hope that they get enough business to iron out these wrinkles. If this course got the same attention as Cardrona / gleneagles / Cameron House I’d play it over them.

Front 8 full links, bruising in the wind, which is used to perfection to lengthen the par 4s and allow some pretty hefty par 3s going the other way. The last 10 holes are pretty much a big field someone’s taken a lawnmower to. Couple of uses of elevation to keep it interesting & again the winds been used properly. Good condition all round however, & the greens were absolutely uniform, even with recent dressing. No problem going back at these prices. Facilities are limited but course is good value.