Scotland's Most Difficult Golf Courses
Dougalston Golf Course Demands Both Golfing Courage and Skill
Jun 19, 2009
Every hole is a severe test of the golfer’s acumen, courage, skill and blind faith. Mention the name to all levels of golfers who have tried it, and the reaction will be the same. Although perhaps not one of Scotland’s most famous or well known courses, it is a championship course citing USPGA standards and one that has held many prestigious tournaments over its short life of some 30 years.
There is a general agreement that it is one of the hardest tests of golf for all who are asked and have tried it. Both the wary and the unwary will find reward for hitting straight, and be punished for the least of wayward hits.
From New York to Milngavie
- Dougalston Course in Milngavie (pron: Miln-guy) is in Scotland.
- Scotland’s Dougalston course is part of the privately owned Esporta Health Clubs
- The Dougalston course is a deceptively short 6120 from the medal tees.
- There is another Dougalston Course.
- The ‘other’ Dougalston is in Queens, New York, USA.
- Part of The New York City’s Department of Parks and Recreation.
- Dougalston, NY is also short at 5585 yards from the back tees.
From Tiger Tee to Hame
From the awkward 260 yard par 4 first hole, made slightly longer from the raised championship tee the locals have dubbed ‘The Tiger Tee’, to the picturesque 156 yard par 3 18th, Dougalston is a roller coaster of delights and often disasters.
- 1st has a driveable green, with a small pond in front, that many have found.
- 2nd 'High Pine.' How to make hole more difficult? Put a tree in the middle of the fairway.
- The 16 remaining holes are tight and tree-lined.
- 9th ‘Mickle Ben.’ literally 'great or large,’ 'mountain peak.' 175 yards uphill to be exact.
- 10th ‘Nae Chance,’ 412 yards a par 4 the hole name suggests you’ve no chance.
- 11th ‘Stables’ is the signature hole, 190 yard downhill, mind the burn!
- 17th ‘Eagle’s Nest’ or known locally as 'The Card-Wrecker.'
There are no easy holes at Dougalston Golf Course and the only rest you’ll get is the sometimes long trek between green and the next tee. Every hole presents a new challenge, punishes wayward shots severely and rewards only rarely the brave.
From Handicap to Lost Balls
Scores are often counted on the number of balls lost least, and cards are regularly wrecked on the stiff and sometimes ‘heartbreaking’ penultimate 17th. Although only a carry of some 160 yard over pond and burn, the shot has to be hit straight onto a narrow thickly tree-lined fairway. Then follows an uphill second shot, and most are relieved if they do find it to be their second shot, and even more relieved to leave with a couple of putts.The last is a pretty 158 yard par 3 that shares the same small pond as the 1st.
Although Esporta Dougalston, as the company that owns it would prefer it to be named, plays to a 35 out 35 in par 70, there are few who could claim it. Rumoured to have been constructed as a test for golf pros in the locale, golf at Dougalston is a challenge some, and among them members, shy away from. Other more brave souls try every week to tame it and such is the way with the sport, with varying degrees of success and satisfaction from week to week. Try it!
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