Welcome to UK-GolfGuide's page which contains feedback from site users who have played at Whiting Bay Golf Club.

Whilst UK-GolfGuide.com attempts to turf out the more unhelpful or just plain daft contributions, some may slip through. If you have played the course or hold a different opinion to those of the contributors, feel free to use the Add your Comments icon to provide a broader spread of views. If you have a gripe with the club then take it up with them directly - please don't use this facility for airing grievances!.

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Bill Fogg (England) 27/10/04

This gem of a course is reached up a winding road from the village and you will be greeted with a warm and friendly welcome. The first hole will have you gasping for breath up the steep slope but the views will make you gasp even more. The course is beautifully kept and will test your skill to the full. There are holes for every taste - long level holes, short uphill shots, blind greens the lot. Try a buggy if you are a little short on stamina -

Ian Marshall (England) 22/08/01

Hard walking but worth the effort. If the golf isn't going too well, the views make up for it. Probably the smallest greens I have ever encountered but in very good condition when I played. A warm welcome in the clubhouse.

Toby Perrin (England) 08/09/00

A delightful course with some apparently generous par 4s and some mean par 3s. 6,7 and 8 flow beautifully. Don't forget to take a drink from Mr Curtis' cup at the spring in the gully on the 10th (you'll probably be in there looking for your ball anyway if you don't tee towards the 7th fairway). 11 will invite you to play a sweet long iron before turning sour. The marker at 12 is a little deceptive, play more to its right. I would welcome comment from anyone who knows how to make par at 13. The ridge green at the short 17th could well kill your round but its a gem all the same, don't be short on your approach or you may see the ball back nearer tee than green. If you manage to negotiate that one safely the 18th will have you checking your card since it looks about half a mile to a flag sitting in a rolling green which keeps you guessing to the last.

A tip, nearly all the greens slope towards the sea (which, along with Holy Isle, dominates the view on this charming course).

Play it in Easter and smile at the daffodils, play it at any time and come up smelling of roses.

Garry King (England) 14/06/99

WHITING BAY - PAR 63, SSS 63

If you tell someone that you are going to Scotland on a golf tour you generally get comments like 'don't forget your wetsuit' or 'you must be mad'.

The 'Niblicks' 1999 Golf Tour to the Isle of Arran proved that the cynics were wrong. The four fortunate players who experienced this Highland adventure, in Mediterranean conditions, over five days over this years late May Bank Holiday returned home tired and sunburnt!

Day one of the tour took us to Makrie Bay and then on in the loaded down red Passatt to Whiting Bay situated in the south east corner of the Island with Holy Island nearby to the north. The approach to the course was a good prelude to the golf we would experience later on that afternoon; a steep climb from the eastern sea coast up a narrow winding lane to the club house or base camp!

Getting out of the car you are greeted by a wooden pavilion type clubhouse with adjoining portacabin changing rooms and by a friendly club official collecting the very reasonable œ12 per player green fee. Having packed our provisions (including oxygen for Steve) you mount the white marked tee position and aim steeply up the first 219 yard hole, 'Up 'n' Away', towards the flag.

As you ascend the foothills the view out towards the sea, Holy Island, and the hills and glens surrounding this course, are fantastic, especially so given the crisp blue sky that we were fortunate enough to have.

At each hole a new surprise and challenge, not least the fourth hole called 'The Plateau', a blind 112 yard par 3 rising near vertical from the tee to the green perched high above and protected by a deep ditch to the left (where Mark and I ended up!) and gorse bushes to the right.

Once you reach the higher slopes several holes are laid out over the glacially altered terrain, which are ideal for those of us who hook the ball. Eventually it is time to begin the homeward journey towards the clubhouse. At the 314 yard 12th hole, 'Clyde View', you encounter a blind tee shot which takes you to the brow of the hill and a very tricky second shot (or in my case third!) towards a sloping green. Danger all sides on this one, out of bounds to the left, deep gorse to the right, and an awkward bank laden with thick grass at the brow of the hill. Crampons on we make our descent.

What a wonderful course this is characterised by short steep holes, with blind shots towards small greens, many of which undulate, and are guarded by some extremely difficult hazards. Highlights for me were the breathtaking scenery coupled with some wonderful and challenging holes. Only one drawback, fizzy, cold, keg 70/- beer in the clubhouse. But all that is forgotten later that evening as we watch the sun go down over the calm blue waters from a perfectly positioned Hotel right next to the rocky beech some 10 minute drive from the course. The malt whiskey is a useful compensation..\r\n