Irvine "Bogside"

.Home Scottish Links Golf The Basics AFSD - how to determine the real length of a golf course Helpful Websites Platinum Page Upscale golfing products & services Aberdeen & Grampian Highlands Royal Aberdeen, Cruden Bay... Ayrshire Barassie Glasgow Gailes Irvine (Bogside) Prestwick Royal Troon Turnberry Western Gailes Scotland's Golf Coast Edinburgh area, Muirfield, North Berwick... Northern Highlands Royal Dornoch, Brora, Nairn... St.Andrews area Other golf courses Machrihanish, Pitlochry... LINKS LITE... Great links golf for the not-so-great golfer

Irvine Golf Club Bogside Course © 2006, Richard & Mary-Alice Jafolla A Gem Set Among Gems I can't understand why there are so many fine golf courses in Scotland that are virtually undiscovered. "Hidden Gems" is the phrase that's often used. Sprinkled throughout the coasts and highlands of Scotland are some of the most enjoyably difficult and beautiful golf courses in the world. Perhaps it's the out-of-the-way locations that make them so little known. Perhaps in The Irvine Golf Club's case it is its close proximity to the great Royal Troon and Turnberry golf courses. Whatever it is, The Irvine Golf Club golf course is a prime example of the genre. This is a golf course so highly regarded by the R & A that they use it as a final qualifying golf course for the British Open when it is played at Royal Troon and Turnberry. It's also been used for the British Amateur and the 2001 British Ladies final. It's some fine golf course and one you should play if you get a chance. The Bogside number 3 green--imaginative and devilish. Irvine Bogside was founded in 1887-- rather young by Scottich golfing standards. But the layout was updated in the '20s by the famous James Braid, whose name adorns so many Scottish links. Built between the town of Irvine and the River Irvine, it's a golf course that demands accurate shotmaking and, at 6,423 yards and a par 71, a bit of length too. The AFSD is 183 yards, about average for the Scottish links courses. However, the layout is a bit different. There is only one par 5 and two par 3s--bad news for not-very-long hitters like me. And there are five par 4s over 400 yards: 411, 418, 429, 456 and 465. If the wind is in my face, I'm not going to reach any of them in two. So if you're not long off the tee, be sure to bring your short game. There's lots of heather on the golf course. It's beautiful when in bloom, but a pain in the neck to get out of at any time. The first hole has heather on both sides of the fairway, so start your round right. Stay in the center. You'll need to be there because the second shot is blind to a saucer green. Aim for the marker and choose your club carefully. You'll want to start with a par, although at 418 yards this hole is no pushover. You'll play the one and only par 5 on the next hole. It's a 476 yarder,but difficult to birdie because you need lots of length off the tee to get yourself into position. Take what the golf course gives you. Number 5 is an interesting hole. It's called SANDFACE! Guess why? There's a large bunker set smack dab in the face of a steep bank fronting the green. This calls for a blind second shot to an elevated green. And you have probably guessed by now, don't get your ball in SANDFACE--it has a big mouth! Looking down onto the Bogside number 4 tee--quite impressive Every hole on Irvine Bogside is different. Some are very imaginative. Number 3 at 358 yards is a drive and a short iron. However, the iron has to carry over a deceptively wide valley. It's easy to come up short and see your ball dribble back down the side into the valley, leaving you with a devilish recovery. I like the fact that the golf course eases up a bit at the end. The 16th is a short par 3 and the 18th is a 333 yard par 4. The 17th, though, can spoil your day, so be careful. If you're having a good round, put your thinking cap on at 17 and get your second shot close to the pin. The green is large and difficult to read. All in all, Irvine Bogside looks to be an enjoyable golf course. Although I have not yet played it yet I've spent some time with the assistant professional, Andrew Fullen, and he did allow me to walk around the golf course taking pictures and getting the feel of it. I am very impressed. I feel it is one of the true hidden gems of Scotland and especially of Ayrshire. Give it a play. I'm sure you won't be sorry. Irvine Bogside Golf Club Assistant Pro, Andrew Fullen, who was so helpful to me Golf Nook Scotlane rating - BIRDIE Scorecard # medal par SI red par SI # medal par SI red par SI 1 418 4 7 390 4 7 10 373 4 10 360 4 10 2 476 5 5 430 5 5 11 465 4 2 405 5 6 3 358 4 9 267 4 9 12 368 4 14 303 4 14 4 289 4 11 267 4 11 13 429 4 4 380 4 2 5 279 4 15 243 4 15 14 382 4 12 348 4 12 6 411 4 1 389 4 1 15 337 4 8 310 4 8 7 322 4 13 294 4 13 16 156 3 18 137 3 18 8 180 3 17 126 3 17 17 391 4 6 382 4 4 9 456 4 3 380 4 3 18 333 4 16 276 4 16 out 3189 36 2786 36 in 3234 35 2901 36 out 3174 36 2786 36 total 6423 71 5687 72 Miscellaneous Information: Green Fees: Mon thru Fri: £50, day £60 Weekends: £60 Trolly: £3 per round, £5 per day Club hire: £20 per round Facilities: Bar, Clubhouse, Changing room and shower, driving ranage & practice area, Pro shop. Contacts: Secretary: (0)1294 275979 Fax: 1294 278209 Irvine Bogside Golf Club Sandy Road, Bogside Irvine, KA12 88N Scotland www.theirvinegolfclub.co.uk For What To Do All Day, please refer back to Ayrshire