Stunning Views
Strathpeffer is a remarkable fine mature well established 18 hole parkland golf course with stunning panoramic views from the upper reaches of the Cromarty Firth to the mountainous terrain of the West.
The opening hole provides a breath taking challenge with the green nestling far below you and tucked into the corner and a burn to cross.
A unique feature of Strathpeffer is four par 3 holes in a row to get you up the hill and into the upper plateau. Each par 3 has its own challenge with the first of them across one of the ponds. The 5th, the shortest at only 123 yards is daunting.
Once safely negotiated the course opens up with interesting holes from 7 through 9, all three have difficult approaches to elevated greens.
Once you reach the highest part of the course let your mind wander to the famous names that created this gem and appreciate the Open Winners who have tramped these fairways.
Magnificent Scenery
The 10th is a beautiful hole across a pond with magnificent backdrop into a saucer green which you miss at your peril.
The 11th another par 3, long and fraught with danger in particular a pond on the right waiting for your power fade one you clear the bog.
Two short par 4’s follow but position off the tee is vital and the percentage shots to set up birdie chances and caution is the watchword for both.
Some relief comes at the par 3 14th which is the last of the seven par 3’s but be warned there is rough all the way to the green.
The 15th is tricky and the second shot will be blind with “out of bounds” lurking behind the green. Take time on this tee to enjoy the views down to the Cromarty Firth.
Two comfortable par 4’s follow which offer up chances to get some shots back before you reach the 18th. It may not be too long and it is downhill but if you take it on you need to be straight as “out of bounds” runs all the way down the right and there is a severe slope waiting on the green.
Course Guide
Front 9
A dramatic driving hole! A well struck tee shot here will live long in the memory.
Be aware of the burn, which you need to carry.
The second shot has to find a small green with trouble beyond.
This hole rises back up the hill and your drive needs to be a good one.
The left half of the fairway gives a direct line in.
The second shot needs perfect clubbing as the green is difficult to hold.
The first of Strathpeffer’s challenging par 3’s.
Your tee shot needs to fly all the way to the green to make the putting surface.
The green is a tricky one with some subtle slopes.
One of the hardest holes on the course.
Often playing into the wind only the very best struck tee shot will make it to the green.
If you come up short, it is a tricky chip to the green which is perched on the crest of a ridge.
Walk off here with a 3 and you will be very pleased.
After the challenge of the 4th this is a more straight forward par 3 which can be played with a short iron to a green sitting well below the tee.
However, there is plenty of trouble if your tee shot is wayward and the green has some subtle slopes.
A par 3 which plays longer than its distance suggests.
The tee shot is blind with the better line being just to the right of the marker post.
A unique hole. Your drive has to find the fairway.
From here you are faced with a severely uphill shot to a narrow green.
Your clubbing needs to be spot on but this is made harder to judge because of the change in elevation.
Saviour the wonderful view when you reach the green.
Usually played downwind, a good drive means you will be left with a short pitch to the green but don’t be fooled, your second shot needs to be precise to hold the putting surface.
A tough driving hole, especially from the medal tee.
It is important to find the fairway as this is a long hole played uphill and into the wind.
Always club up on your approach to the long, multi-tiered green.
Back 9
Take time to saviour the splendid surroundings and wonderful views.
Once you have composed yourself, be prepared to play over water to a small target cupped between heathery banks left and right.
The better ‘miss’ is to the left as the ball might work back to the green, which has some severe slopes.
This is a terrific hole both in terms of its setting and how it plays.
A beautiful hole and one where only the very best tee shot will find the green.
It is better to aim to the left of the green as water protects the right hand line.
A hole where a par is a good score.
A severely sloping hole and some will choose to take a shorter club off the tee to find a level lie for their second shot.
However, a good drive can catch the slope and get you very close to the putting surface.
The tiered green has a severe slope from back to front.
A memorable, ‘risk and reward’ hole. The tee shot plays towards a narrowing fairway with trees left & right.
The longer your tee shot, the straighter it needs to be so choose your club carefully.
Your difficulties are compounded by needing to find the left side of the fairway as the hole doglegs to the right so trees block out the route from the right side.
If you can find the fairway, your second shot needs to fly all the way to the green in order to make the putting surface. Stroke index 1, this is a tough par 4.
The last of Strathpeffer’s par 3’s is another fine hole.
Played across the prevailing wind, blowing from left to right, finding the middle of the green is a good shot.
The green is defended by thick rough short and to the left and has some subtle slopes.
A par 5 from the medal tee, only the best drive will permit going for the blind second shot with a fairway wood.
Anything less and it is better to lay-up to near the marker post for a spectacular shot down to the sloping green.
A lay-up also permits you sight of the green.
Your clubbing must be perfect because there is Out of Bounds immediately behind the green.
A strong driving hole.
A ball going over the crest will give a much shorter second although you might be playing from a downhill lie.
The green is in a bowl and slopes from left to right.
A perfect tee shot over the marker post might make the putting surface.
For those pitching in, try to get close because this is the largest green on the course and three putts is always a possibility.
A dramatic closing hole. Your tee shot is played downhill to a valley with Out of Bounds to the right.
The second shot is blind to a severely sloping green.
If you finish above the hole then you will be faced with a very tricky shot to get down in two.
At least the clubhouse is just a few paces away!
