Kingussie, Highland, Scotland
Kingussie Golf Club is an 18-hole moorland course situated on elevated ground above the town of Kingussie in the Cairngorm National Park, in Scotland's Spey Valley. Golf has been played on the site since 1891, with Old Tom Morris consulted in 1895 to advise on the layout of the original nine holes. In 1907, Harry Vardon visited and set out plans for a further nine holes across the River Gynack, with the full 18-hole course opening in 1908. The course measures around 5,615 yards from the white tees and plays to a par of 68, making it one of the shorter but more deceptive tests of Highland golf.
The course emerges from pinewoods and onto the lower slopes of the Monadhliath mountains, and is predominantly moorland in character, with small birch and pine trees, heather, and longer grass punishing errant shots. The fairways are generally generous in width but the layout rewards careful positioning off the tee. Walking is moderately easy on the upland terrain, with only short climbs at the 4th and 8th holes. The River Gynack runs alongside the closing holes and is a recurring feature of the back nine. The opening hole is an unusually demanding start — a par 3 stretching to nearly 230 yards from the back tees — while the 15th, named "Little Gynack," plays just 96 yards.
The signature hole is the 4th, known as "The Fort," the course's only par 5, which despite measuring 463 yards is considered deceptively difficult. The course is widely regarded as a hidden gem of Highland golf, valued for its scenic setting, well-maintained greens, and the historical distinction of carrying designs by two of the game's most celebrated early figures.
Kingussie Golf Club