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8
Courses in the Scottish Borders
all within 15 miles of Home at First's Lodgings:
Melrose, Galashiels,
Jedburgh, Minto, Selkirk,
St. Boswells, Torwoodlee, and Woll
Golf Clubs
Southern Scotland is known for
much that is typical of Scotlandcastles, sheep, and trout and salmon fishing easily
come to mindbut the region is NOT known for golf. But the region has golf
coursesplenty of them. Every town and hamlet seems to have at least one nine-hole
course. These local courses almost always welcome visitorstheyre rarely
crowded and the memberships are friendly. And greens fees are typically low. And the
courses are typically pretty, most being parkland courses set among the rolling hills and
burbling streams that typify the region.
So, if the region has not produced a world
class course or a world famous courseas have all other regions of Scotlandthe
Borders does offer lots of golf, some challenging, most inexpensive, and all fun.
And visitors never have to go far to play. Take
for example Home at Firsts town of Melrose in the Scottish Borders. It so happens
that our cottages there are just out of bounds of the Melrose Golf Club, a nifty little
9-hole affair. And, within 15 miles of our cottages are seven other clubs, all of which
welcome guests. Come stay with us for a week, bring your clubs (or rent clubs at some courses), and play a different
course each day. One day you will have to play twice.
LENGTH & PAR, FACILITIES, AND COMMENTS:
MELROSE G.C.: 9 holes. When played as 18 holes:
Length: 5579 yards, Par: 70, SSS: 68.
Scenic, tree-lined, hilly, course beneath the
Eildon Hills.
Club house refreshments and bar.
GALASHIELS G.C.: 18 holes. Very hilly and scenic!
Length: 5185 yards, Par: 67, SSS: 66.
Club & trolley rental. Club house
restaurant and bar.
JEDBURGH G.C.: 9 holes. When played as 18 holes:
Length 5760 yards, Par 68, SSS: 67.
Course designed by Scottish golf legend Willie
Park in 1889.
Construction of a second 9 holes is being
considered.
Cart and trolley rental. Pro shop. Club house
restaurant and bar.
MINTO G.C.: 18 holes. Front 9 features lots of trees.
Length: 5542
yards, Par: 69, SSS: 67.
Cart and trolley rental. Club house restaurant
and bar.
SELKIRK G.C.: 9 holes. When played as 18 holes:
Length 5575 yards, Par: 68, SSS: 68.
Only 9 holes, but challenging variety.
Club and trolley rental. Club house restaurant
and bar.
ST. BOSWELLS G.C.: 9 holes. When played as 18 holes:
Length: 5250
yards, Par: 66, SSS: 66.
Another Willie Park design from 1899.
Flat, scenic location along the
River Tweed across from Dryburgh Abbey.
Club house restaurant and bar.
TORWOODLEE G.C.: 18 holes.
Length 6200 yards, Par: 70, SSS: 70.
An expanded
Willie Park-designed 9-hole
course, with a good challenge and full
services, including pro shop, golf cart
and trolley rental, and club rental. Club house
restaurant and bar.
WOLL G.C.: 18
holes. www.wollgolf.co.uk
Length 6051 yards, Par: 70, SSS: 69.
Private estate course that welcomes guests.
Flat course with lots of water: River Ale, Woll
Burn, & a pond.
ALL COURSES OPEN & PLAYABLE YEAR ROUND
GREENS FEES:
MELROSE
G.C.:
£16.00/round & £20.00/day
GALASHIELS G.C.: weekdays: £15/round-£20/day
weekends: £17/round-£22/day
JEDBURGH
G.C.:
£16/round
MINTO G.C.:
weekdays: £22/round
& £27.50/day
weekends: £27/round &
£35/day
SELKIRK G.C.:
£18.00/day
ST. BOSWELLS G.C.: £15/day
TORWOODLEE G.C.: weekdays: £18/round & £25/day
weekends: £22/round & £30/day
WOLL G.C.:
£20/day
TEE-TIMES: Strongly recommended. Book at least 24 hours ahead.
VISITORS welcome daily. Some times may be unavailable due to
scheduled club events.
MINIMUM HANDICAP: None. All courses open to players of all levels.
LOCATION (From Melrose follow
these directions to the courses;
see map below):
MELROSE
G.C.: Dingleton, of A68, 1/2 mile south of Melrose.
GALASHIELS
G.C.: Ladhope Recreation Ground,
NE of Galashiels, 5 miles west of Melrose.
JEDBURGH
G.C.: Dunion Road, Jedburgh, 12 miles SE of
Melrose.
Take the A68 from Melrose 15 miles
southeast to Jedburgh.
Course is 3/4 mile west of Jedburgh on
the B6358.
MINTO G.C.: Denholm, Hawick, 14 miles south of Melrose. From Melrose,
take the B6453 south to Minto Village,
by Denholm, Hawick.
SELKIRK G.C.: The Hill, Selkirk, 7 miles SW of Melrose.
ST. BOSWELLS G.C.: Braeheads, St. Boswells, 4 miles SE of Melrose.
TORWOODLEE G.C.: Edinburgh Road, Galashiels, 7 miles west of Melrose.
WOLL G.C.: New Woll Estate, Ashkirk, 12 miles SW of Melrose.
BOOKINGS (contact
number from outside the UK):
MELROSE
G.C.:
Tel: +44 (0)1896 822855
Fax : +44 (0)1896 822960
GALASHIELS
G.C.: Tel:
+44 (0)1896 753724
JEDBURGH
G.C.:
Tel: +44 (0)1835 863587
Fax: +44 (0)1835 862360
MINTO
G.C.:
Tel: +44 (0)1450 870220
Fax: +44 (0)1450 870126
SELKIRK
G.C.:
Tel: +44 (0)1750 20621
ST.
BOSWELLS G.C.: Tel: +44
(0)1835 823527
TORWOODLEE
G.C.: Tel: +44 (0)1896
752260
WOLL G.C.:
Tel:
+44(0)1750 32711
OR have HOME AT FIRST book a tee-time for you as part of your Scottish Borders travel
itineraryits FREE!
NEAREST HOME AT FIRST LODGINGS: In historic Melrose, one of the prettiest towns of the Borders. More information about HOME AT
FIRST's Scottish Borders destinations and lodging. SCOTTISH BORDERS
THE REGION:
The Scottish Borders is a wonderfully
peaceful place with subtly beautiful sceneryrolling hills, convoluted valleys,
rivers teeming with fishand a violent past. The region has been hotly contested at
least since the Roman Emperor Hadrian first found it necessary to wall off Scotland to
dissuade marauding Scots from raiding across the line into Roman England. Later, the
Borders saw repeated clashes between the English Crown and the Scottish clans who insisted
upon their independence. As a result, few parts of Britain have more castles and fortified
houses than here in the Scottish Borders and just across the line in Northumberland,
England. The history of the region is not simply one of violence. British royal intrigue,
Scottish folk culture, and English literature have all received great contributions from
the region. Mary Queen of Scots, Robert the Bruce, Robert Burns and Walter Scott all have
strong affiliations with the region. Here, too, are great monuments to the power of early
Christianity, including important abbey ruins at Melrose, Jedburgh, Kelso, and Dryburgh,
and just across the border at Lindisfarne on Holy Island.
The region is tied to the River Tweedthe
market towns are here, the biggest fish are caught here, and the walking and cycling are
easy and relaxing here. More challenging outdoors activities are uphill from the river on
the long-distance paths that cross the region. Meanwhile, more genteel touring, shopping,
and dining are in abundance in the welcoming towns and villages of this
off-the-beaten-track part of Scotland.

Read more about the region and Home at Firsts travel
program
to Southern Scotland at: BORDERS
Want to learn about other courses throughout the
British Isles
including some of the greatest tests of golf in the world?
See our SCOTLAND, IRELAND, ENGLAND, and WALES Course Guides for more information.
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