Isle of Arran
Golfing Scotland in Miniature
CONTENTS
P L A Y
S T A Y
Getting to Arran
Where to Stay
Hotels
AirBnB
A P R E S
Food
Drinks
Cultural Attractions
Outdoors
Welcome to the enchanting Isle of Arran, a hidden gem off the west coast of Scotland. Nestled between the Scottish mainland and the Isle of Bute, Arran offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, outdoor adventures, a rich history...and 6 golf courses.
Arran has a rich and varied history that spans thousands of years, intricately tied to the broader history of Scotland, and the island's landscapes hold the echoes of its past. From rugged mountains and rolling hills to picturesque beaches and dense forests, the island boasts a stunning array of natural wonders.
Golf courses on the Isle of Arran often offer a unique experience, with a perfect mix of 9, 18 and, uniquely in Shiskine, 12 hole options. Combined with a variety of links and parkland holes, golf on Arran will challenge all facets of your game!
Each course offers panoramic views of the surrounding natural beauty as standard, including breathtaking views of the Firth of Clyde from many a tee box across the island.
This guide will help whet your appetite for a golf trip to Arran, providing you all you need to know about where to play, where to stay, and where to après golf.
P L A Y
Brodick
Most visitors arriving on Arran do so through its “capital”, Brodick, where the main ferry port from the mainland is situated. Within walking distance from here lies Brodick Golf Club, a challenging 18 hole course set along “seaside parkland” which immediately gives it a unique feel. The course measures 4,332 yards off the yellow tees which makes it a very short course however, with a good mix of eight par 4’s and nine challenging par 3’s, it offers an enjoyable golfing experience for players of all abilities.
Brodick has arguably the most dramatic opening tee shot on the island (see image above), as you pick your line on the peak of Goatfell, the highest point on Arran. In addition, the par 3 4th and 15th holes require an accurate iron across the water of the Rosa Burn at the mouth of the Firth of Clyde, with the par 5 5th featuring stunning views of Ben Nuis and Ben Tarsuin completing the quota of holes on the course.
Course Info
Length: 4332
Par: 65
Green Fees: £35 weekend | £30 weekday | £25 twilight | discounts for 12 or more players
Visitors: No restrictions but please call ahead if enquiring about weekend play during summer
Contact: enquiries@brodickgolf.com | 01770 302349
Corrie
Corrie is a nine-hole golf dreamscape located in Glen Sannox between the mighty peaks of Cir Mhor and Goatfell. On a clear day, the mountains do not look real.
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Lamlash
Set on the hillside above its village namesake, Lamlash was the first golf club to be established on the Island, with the original 9-hole layout designed by Willie Fernie of Troon in 1890.
The course undulates through fabulous heathland, reaching the peak of the course on the 9th tee where there are some spectacular views overlooking the Firth of Clyde over to the Ayrshire coast. Set against the backdrop of Holy Isle, this 270 yard par 4 tumbles downhill to the green and offers another memorable tee shot when golfing on Arran.
Another course that more than makes up for its lack of length with its challenging par 3’s, a few of which stretch out to over 200 yards, scoring well here is tricky. However, par may become irrelevant as you enjoy the panoramic views and fine conditioning of Lamlash Golf Club.
Course Info
Length: 3945
Par: 64
Green Fees: £25 | £35 all day ticket
Visitors: Contact club ahead of weekend play due to member medals
Contact: office@lamlashgolf.com | 01770 600196
Machrie Bay
The charming 9 hole course is beside the sea with stunning views over the Kilbrannan Sound towards the Kintyre Peninsula.
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Shiskine
Founded in 1896, originally as a nine-hole layout, Shiskine was designed by the 1883 Open champion Willie Fernie. Shortly before the Great War, Willie Park Junior was commissioned to extend the course to 18 holes and to revise Fernie’s original nine holes. Six of the new holes fell into neglect during World War I, leaving behind today’s unusual 12-hole links.
This is a simply stunning location, affording majestic views across the Kilbrannan Sound to the Kintyre peninsula.
Nearly every shot at Shiskine is blind, either from the tee or for the approach to the green or, in some cases, both. And because of this tortuous terrain, there are numerous stop/go signals and markers to help golfers navigate their way around the course. The modern school of golf course architecture would cringe at many of Shiskine’s features but the course is a shrine to the way in which the game used to be played by the golfing greats of yesteryear. After all, Shiskine was around long before the earthmovers, irrigators, fertilisers and multi million pound design fees.
What you see in front of you almost does not seem real, as if you are in some wild fever dream of golf
Jim Hartsell, author of “When Revelation Comes"
Shiskine is golfing ground of such purity, owing only the barest influence to the hand of man, that to play here is to enjoy a unique sporting experience. Shiskine can only be described as idiosyncratic. Nevertheless, it’s fun golf and immensely enjoyable. The 3rd and 4th holes, called “Crows Nest” and “The Shelf”, offer real excitement, nestling underneath the Drumadoon Cliffs. This is a links that needs to be played more than once. Only then will you begin to understand and appreciate its quirks.
Course Info
Length: 2996
Par: 42
Green Fees: £37 (12) £60 (24) weekend | £34 (12) £55 (24) weekday | £30 twilight | £160 weekly unlimited
Visitors: Book online 14 days in advance | No advance bookings in July & August
Contact: bookings@shiskinegolf.com | 01770 860548
Whiting Bay
Whiting Bay Golf Club boasts a hidden gem of a course, set above the village on the southeast coast of Arran. Established in 1895 the club has been a favourite with visitors to Arran ever since its inception. The course is an 18 hole par 63 playing 4092 yards from the yellow tees. Although quite short, the course is a fair test for golfers of all abilities and features some particularly challenging par 3s.
Course Info
Length: 4092
Par: 63
Green Fees: £25
Visitors: Contact club ahead of weekend play due to member medals
Contact: info@whitingbaygolf.com | 01770 700487
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