The Courses

Stornoway:

Stornoway Golf Club is an 18 hole well-designed and professionally maintained course in the grounds of Lews Castle, Lady Lever Park. With fantastic views across the sandy Broadbay and across to the mainland North Highland mountains, the club is a well maintained idyll, popular with locals and visitors alike. At only 5250 yards it may appear short by modern standards, but there are plenty of hazards for wayward shots including mature trees, heather and gorse.

Built In 1947 with money from the Air Ministry, who wanted to build an airport on the old golf course at Melbost., there has been a great amount of investment into this course during the last few years. The course has recently had new drainage installed and the clubhouse has been attractively renovated.

This course is set in the only woodland / parkland in the whole of the Hebrides, which has miles of lovely walks and a beautiful angling river, the Creed. The centre of town is only a 5 minute walk away and as well as the clubhouse, there is a beautiful new café and interpretation centre, the "Woodlands" centre, which tells the history of the grounds.

Harris:

Harris Golf Course is set in one of the most spectacular locations in Europe! Perched on the south west coast of Harris, there are views out west to the famous 'Castaway' Island of Taransay and views north and east to the foreboding dark Harris Hills. To the south is Toehead and Northton, a peninsula which is home to some of the most rare and precious machair grasslands and breeding birds in Britain today.

The course itself is set on the machair dunes of the village of Scarista, where a brilliant white beach runs its length and the sand is untouched and silky soft. The course itself is part of this dramatic scenery: it has been formed mostly by nature, where the links are shaped according to the wind rather than by a famous designer: golf the way nature intended. With a layout of 9 holes you may think it's an easy option but the small greens, massive sand dunes and ever-present Atlantic winds combine for an enjoyable challenge.

Playing golf in Harris really takes your breath away:the fresh Atlantic air will clear your mind of any thoughts other than what a beautiful game golf is.

Benbecula:

This course was once maintained by the military and had a short back and sides more regularly than any other course! It is still well kept and is set on the flat grasslands of the Uists' middle island, Benbecula. There are a few tricky holes for the visiting golfer to discover and some natural hazards such as rabbit scrapes which all add to the fun of the game! Situated right beside Benbecula Air Strip, the golf course is minutes away from Balivanich, the social and administrative centre for the Uists. It's a really relaxed way of life in the Uists and you can't help but take your time and relax while you play an unhurried game of golf.

There is an honesty box for paying your fees at this course - just £10 to play all day long if you like!

Askernish, South Uist:

Situated on the beautiful west coast of South Uist, Askernish Golf course is adjacent to a 20 mile continuous stretch of white shell beach. This course was originally laid out by 'Old Tom Morris' in 1891, on a site that he described as: "...Second to none in the various elements which go to make up a really good course". The remote location and invigorating air of this course offers a sharp contrast to the overcrowded and highly artificial fairways on the mainland. There is opportunity for variety in the 2 sets of 9 holes as the tees are sufficiently spread.

Askernish is a beautiful village and is situated not far from local hotels if you need a tasty bite after all that fresh Hebridean air. There is some incredible wildlife located on this machair course with lapwings and corncrakes breeding among the poppies and orchids. Non-members are very welcome.

The bunker-house is located near the gate at the beginning of the course. There are changing rooms as well as a tables and chairs for resting, but no WC - facilities are available in the nearby Borrodale Hotel, which is excellent for lunches and dinners. You'll find the honesty box near the bunker.

For anyone wanting to play a round, Askernish Golf Club operates an honesty box system, located near the bunker house. It's only £10 to play all day long if you like, and means that you don't have to wait in a queue to pay before getting out to play! Stress free golf!

Old Tom Morris is famous in golfing circles for having won four Opens and his son Young Tom Morris for winning another four. Old Tom Morris was very interested in the science of the game and he helped devise the first metal cups for firming up the hole and discovered how sand, scattered over bare spots, encouraged the growth of grass. He crossed the British Isles by donkey cart, train and steamer, laying out golf courses as obscure as Askernish and as renowned as Muirfield and Royal Dornoch. He even invented the double-loop routing of nine holes to a side that is now standard!

Barra:

An ingeniously designed 9-hole course at Greian Head, golf here is full of character and charm. Making full use of the natural landscape, there are undulating fairways, rocky outcrops and possibly one of the world's largest bunkers on the fourth hole.

The natural turf of the machair lands provides an excellent playing surface and there are elevated links with natural contours. The club has a 25-year lease on the land for the course from the Cleat crofting township and there are plans to build a club house in the near future.

A course crafted on crofting land, wire and post fencing to protect the greens from livestock are part of a unique golfing challenge!

This course really is in a stunning location, on a beautiful, lively island full of character! There is so much to do in the evenings (unless you choose to golf through the white nights of midsummer!), the people of Barra really do know how to make their own fun. The landscape around the island is a stunning collage of white beaches, rocky cliffs, rolling moors and machair lands and offshore islands. The main village of Castlebay is very picturesque with Kisimul Castle located in the bay. This was the location for the famous 1948 classic movie "Whisky Galore.'

Green Fees are payable at local hotels, the Tourist Information Centre and Co-Chomunn Bharraidh. The visitor daily rate is £5, membership is also available.