Na h-Eileanan Siar
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Located in Scarista on the west coast of Harris in the Outer Hebrides, the Isle of Harris Golf Club is a nine-hole links course situated above Scarista beach. The layout is bordered by the Sound of Taransay and the Atlantic Ocean, with the hills of Harris to the north. The course was established in the 1930s, with evidence suggesting use during the tenure of Lord Leverhulme in the 1920s. It closed during the Second World War and fell into disrepair before being revived in 1984 by a small informal committee. The club was formally re-constituted in 1986, and in 2000, the members purchased the club, compensating the local crofting Grazings Committee with 350 acres of alternative land. The course plays over 4,834 yards from the white tees for a par of 68, with a total of 68 strokes available across the nine holes. The layout is repeated twice, with the front nine and back nine each carrying a par of 34. The longest hole is the 5th, a 486-yard par 5, while the shortest is the 4th, a 145-yard par 3. The course is known for its demanding nature, with many holes described as very demanding and featuring natural hazards that challenge golfers of all abilities. The stroke index varies by tee, ranging from red to white, with the 5th hole consistently carrying the lowest stroke index of 1. Notable features include the Faldo Fiver, a tradition stemming from Nick Faldo’s visit in the early 1990s while he prepared for the Masters. Faldo played the course and left an autographed five-pound note in the honesty box, which members now compete for annually. The course has also hosted the Ryder Cup, which was flown in by helicopter in September 2014 for a photo opportunity with the club’s most senior member, Bryce Weir. The club is often cited as one of the world’s finest settings for golf, with rankings placing it among the top nine-hole courses globally.