Print this page  |  Close Window

By David Brice
Golf International, Inc.

The spectacularly beautiful Borders region of Scotland is a bewilderingly unknown part of Scottish golf. True to tradition, it has its share of golf courses and although few have names that are easily recognized, they all have an undeniable quality that makes them deserving of far more attention from visiting golfers than is the case. The Borders suffers from the problems of insufficient promotion and a geographic location that misses the usual tourist track by literally, just a few miles.

The Roxburghe Golf Club, one of Britains Top 100 courses

Golf visitors arriving in the capital of Edinburgh, typically follow the rest of the tourists and head north to St. Andrews and the golf-rich Kingdom of Fife. Some then continue further up the coast to play Royal Aberdeen, Cruden Bay and Royal Dornoch in the Scottish Highlands. As wonderful as all of these areas and their courses are, if these new arrivals would have just headed south from Edinburgh instead of north, the wonders of the Borders and its still secret golf treasures, would have been theirs.

This undiscovered small corner of Scotland lies less than an hour's drive from Edinburgh Airport. Here you will find no crowds, no hustle and bustle, just a tranquil almost idyllic countryside of stunning scenery, dotted with ancient castles, charming towns and villages and golf clubs that are among the most welcoming in the entire country.

Dave Thomas designed The Roxburghe - with some assistance from the Duke.

Stay in the Borders for a week or even longer and you still won't have enough time to play all of the courses that call out to be played. Spend just a few days here and you will have to decide which from the smorgasbord of golf choices you will select.

At the very top of your list should be The Roxburghe, an outstanding parkland layout that has received unprecedented acclaim since first opening 10 years ago. In a country with 600 years of golf history and almost the same number of golf courses - many established champions with a few hundred years of their own history to tell - it's virtually impossible for any new course to get recognition of any type. The Roxburghe is clearly no ordinary course.

The brainchild of the Duke of Roxburghe, an ardent golfer who had dreamed of building a world-class golf facility on his Borders estate, The Roxburghe is a combination of the Duke's own ideas and those of architect Dave Thomas (of Belfry fame) arguably one of Britain's most dynamic design talents of the 20th century. The end result is a spectacular layout that was ranked among the Top 100 Courses of The British Isles, within 4 years of opening.

The elegant, Roxburghe Hotel

Stretching to a meaningful 7,100 yards from the tips, The Roxburghe is a course that can be taken advantage of by long hitters, providing their length is accompanied by accuracy, strategy and good club selection. Above all, this is a course for the thinking golfer and to succeed, the thinking process must be operating in top gear from start to finish.

There is no question that this is a very challenging layout, stern enough to test even the scratch golfer. But for those of more humble golfing skills, there is a selection of tee positions, bringing what might be perceived as a monster, down to more manageable dimensions. Seldom is it true that a course can be enjoyed by all levels of players, but here it is the case and regardless of your level of ability, enjoyment of this very special course is assured.

Eyemouth Golf Links is another exceptional Borders layout.

Nowhere is The Roxburghe's challenge more apparent than on the signature hole, the par five 14th, The Viaduct hole. This is a dramatically handsome stretch, swooping down from an elevated tee to a slim ribbon of undulating fairway; well guarded by ingeniously placed bunkers on all sides. It takes two full-blooded strikes to even get close to the sloping green, which is lightening fast, immaculately maintained and filled with subtle undulations. Surrounded by mature trees and a picture postcard backdrop of the 200 year-old, Roxburghe Viaduct, the scene is almost bucolic. But looks can be deceiving, danger lurks every step along the way from tee to green.

To the left the River Teviot runs the full length of the fairway, the two separated only by a narrow, steep bank, guaranteed to suck any errant shot to a quick, watery grave. To the right is gnarly rough, a resting place for impossible lies and just to keep you on your toes, those craftily placed fairway bunkers. It's a hole that tingles the spine and a non-stop thriller all the way. Photogenic it most certainly is, but best to block out the pretty views, concentrate on the job at hand and par might be in the stars.

Floors Castle - Home to the Duke and Duchess of Roxburghe is a must see.

This is about as noble as golf gets and if you want a challenge to shoot for, try the course record of 66, held by Sergio Garcia -- he beat Nick Faldo's previous record of 67 just a couple of years ago. If the golf celebrities enjoy this intriguing layout so much, the likelihood is that you will too.

For those with an appreciation of life's finer pleasures, take the opportunity to turn an excellent round of golf into a complete Scottish Borders experience by staying a night or two at the 200-year old, Roxburghe Hotel. Located on the same 50,000 acre estate as the golf course, living the life of a Scottish Laird for a couple of days, just seems the natural thing to do in surroundings like this.

Melrose Abbey - Scottish Borders

Owned and operated by the Duke, this is a magnificent country house hotel offering just 22 luxuriously appointed rooms and suites. The beguiling atmosphere of informal elegance is quite special and something rarely found in a commercial hotel, giving a sense of being a personal guest in the Dukes own home.

It would be easy enough to spend a few days doing absolutely nothing at all amid such surroundings, but why miss the chance to try your hand at salmon fishing in the nearby River Tweed, reputedly offering the finest salmon fishing in Scotland. For the true sportsman there is shooting for pheasant, partridge and grouse, or fly-fishing in the hotel's own trout pond. Horse back riding is easily arranged and for the ladies, there is also a small health and beauty spa.

Salmon fishing on the River Tweed is an optional pursuit.

But take the time to explore the surrounding countryside, there are castles, gardens, abbeys and stately homes to be visited, cashmere shopping in the local woolen mills and don't forget the golf -- The Roxburghe is deserving of at least a second round and then there the other 20 or so courses, just calling out to be played -- the life of a Scottish Laird can become quite hectic!

Try to get to the Borders on your next golf trip to Scotland and be sure to include The Roxburghe on your must-play list - you won't regret it. While you're there, be on the look out for the Duke, he's usually around the course or the clubhouse and enjoys nothing more than chatting with visitors about the intricacies of his course.

For a few suggestions on how to include The Roxburghe and other gems of the Scottish Borders in you golf trip, click here.

© 2007 David Brice / Golf International Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Golf International -- Providers of quality golf travel arrangements since 1988.