scappaflow

Played Belshill in August 2017. This is a busy members course, which obviously draws a lot of locals from the town and surrounds.

Course was very playable with a lot of interesting holes, changes in elevation and tree lined fairways.

Trees do create a narrow tee shot on a lot of holes and there are also quite a few doglegs where length off the tee is not necessarily a factor.

At the time of playing, the greens were in great condition. Running true and fast. Hugely impressive and would be very acceptable at more high profile venues.

Course has a few gentle undulations until you get to the 15th! A short par 4 over a dry ditch with a very nice stone bridge - clearly the signature hole with the clubhouse set in the background.

Then 16, plays down a steep gully (or you can potentially take a longer route back up the 15th) to an elevated green. 17 is a par 3 of 165, playing more like 150 downhill which really the only play is to hit a good shot to carry the slope in front of the green (as well as miss the bunkers either side). And then 18 is a testing 310 yard par 4 with dog leg right playing uphill.

The route crosses a railway line a few times so do try and follow a group, or play with a member.

Internal OB on the 4th (and 3rd for big hitters) is a bit of a nuisance.

Clober is a great wee course. I played here as a member for several years and only left due to moving out of the area.

There are 8 par 3s, but that shouldn't put you off. There is still a lot of good golf to be played and a lot of great holes.

The beautiful par 3 5th hole is excellent with an accurate 115 yard tee shot required (water down the right and OB on the left).

On the par 5 8th, a drive up the right (onto the 10th fairway) takes the left hand OB out of play. A layup is also the play as the green must be one of the smallest par 5 greens you will play.

The par 5 10th has the only fairway bunker, around 100 yards short of the green. Next the dog leg par 4 really requires less than driver up the left hand side to open up the green. However longer hitters may take this on.

The hill does come into play on the 7th and the 14th with fairly extreme tee shots required up to the plateau.

The 15th is a blind par 3, but after you have played it a few times it is a pretty big target to find the green.

17th is a strong par 4 with a slopey green and 18 is a good finishing hole that shouldn't wreck your card - with 2 safe shots you can find the green.

Cowglen is a proper course, well maintained and with a lot of variation in holes. Although it appears to be wide open and have a lot or large greens, it is not at all straightforward.

There are quite a few holes that will be a challenge for par, but with a conservative approach will be straightforward bogeys - despite not being crazy long.

There's certainly a lot of holes where you are asked to take on a shot., either from the tee or on approach.

The par 4 3rd hole requires a good drive up the left hand side to carry the gully and from there you have a clear view of the green.

The par 4 4th (stroke index 1) really requires a left to right tee shot to have a decent chance of landing on the tight fairway. And again, you can get a clear sight of the green (albeit with a narrow entrance and over water).

The tee on the par 5 8th provides an excellent view of the hole as well as much of the south of Glasgow.

The course has a number of newer holes (14, 15 & 16) which I like the feel of. A dogleg par 5, with an approach over water and a short dogleg par 4 which still needs an accurate tee shot. Longer hitters may well take on both these holes. 16 is a par 3 with a large narrow green - that would benefit from a raised tee imo.

Some issues are there are quite a few holes with a reasonable walk from green to the next tee, and I found pace of play to not be particularly fast. Also it's a long walk.

There are also quite a few hills and a lot of greens where you may only see the top of the pin, and none of the pin if you play too close to the green (but I guess that is part of the protection).

Also unfortunate to have a road running through the 1st, 17th and 18th. Not really in play on 18, but can be a factor on 1 & 17 - especially following a poor tee shot. It's a free drop, but does spoil the natural lay of the land.

Great facilities with a large clubhouse and a driving range on site. Also a short game area and an old hole with maybe 140 yards to play from.