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Boat of Garten Golf Club

A James Braid gem high in the Scottish Highlands.

BOAT OF GARTEN GOLF CLUB
Inverness-shire
Northern Scotland
Tel: +44 (0)1479 831282

        A highly respected short course in the middle of nowhere, Boat of Garten Golf Club, or "The Boat" has been called "The Gleneagles of the Highlands" and "the one golf course that every Scottish golfer should play". Three reasons:

• The course is historic. The Boat is a prize creation of the prolific golf architect James Braid, the apostle of golf whose links and parkland courses established many standard concepts in course design.

• The course is scenic. Located in the wooded upper valley of the River Spey and within sight of some of Britain’s highest peaks, The Boat is proof that Scotland’s prettiest courses are not all tucked along the seacoasts. The river and the mountains are visible from several holes, and the Strathspey Steam (Tourist) Railway flanks holes 1 through 7.

• The course is challenging. A short par-70, The Boat plays longer, owing to its mature trees, dense gorse and heather, and a layout making heavy use of doglegs and hills.

LENGTH & PAR:
    White Tees: 5876 yards, Par 70, SSS 69
    Yellow Tees: 5648 yards, Par 70
    Red (Ladies') Tees: Par 5148 yards, Par 72, SSS 72

FACILITIES:
    Pull Cart (Trolley) Rental
    Club Rental
    Pro Shop
    Clubhouse for men & women, with bar & restaurant

GREENS FEES:
     Mon - Fri:   £30 per round; £40 per day
     Sat & Sun: £35 per round; £45 per day

VISITORS welcome every day.

Maximum handicaps: none

RESERVATIONS: Advanced reservations are recommended.
    Tel: +44 (0)1479 831282
    Fax: +44 (0)1479 831523
    E-mail: boatgolf@enterprise.net
    Web Site: http://www.boatgolf.com/default.htm

Location: 30 miles southeast of Inverness off the A9 and A95.

Nearest Home at First Lodgings are located in Inverness approximately 30 miles (45 minutes) northwest.
More information on travel with Home at First to: NORTHERN SCOTLAND

DIRECTIONS: Drive southeast from Inverness on the A9 highway. From the A9, take the Grantown-on-Spey turnoff, following signs to the town of Boat of Garten. Drive through the town past the Boat Hotel and under the Strathspey Steam Tourist Railway bridge. Entrance to the Boat of Garten Golf Club is on the right side of the road.

LET HOME AT FIRST BOOK YOUR TEE-TIME AT 'THE BOAT' as part of your Scotland travel plans. There is no service charge for making your booking.

THE COURSE AND SOME NOTABLE HOLES: Boat in Garten Golf Club opened in 1898. The site—in the Scottish Highlands near the hiking/skiing resort of Aviemore, next to the River Spey and within sight of the high Cairngorm Mountains, was designed by the great James Braid, 5-time British Open champion and designer of hundreds of golf courses throughout the British Isles and elsewhere. Over 100 years old, "The Boat" is a mature golf course known for its high trees, gorse and heather hazards, James Braid doglegs, and its classic Highlands scenery.

HOLE 3 – "Craigard". #16/11 Handicap, Par 3 (163 yards, 152 yards, 152 yards): Best put the ball on the green here. There are lots of hazards to avoid, including gorse and heather rough just ahead of the tee, a bunker just left of the green, a deep gully just right of the green, and more problems behind the green.

HOLE 6 – "Avenue". #2/9 Handicap, Par 4 (403 yards, 393 yards, 314 yards): Maybe the best hole on The Boat, a large stand of birch trees make the James Braid dogleg difficult to short cut. Greenside bunkers require great accuracy.

HOLE 12 – "Craigellachie". #11/12 Handicap, Par 4 (349 yards, 338 yards, 309 yards): A friendly and scenic Highlands hole. About it, James Braid said, "The 12th hole is in a superb setting, the birch woods and the mountains beyond; I don’t think there is any equals it."

HOLE 13 – "Tulloch". #1/2 Handicap, Par 5 (473 yards, 461 yards, 378 yards): Not a friendly Highlands hole, but the most difficult on The Boat. A double dogleg par 5, while not long, requires accurate shot placement and discourages going for the green in two shots.

HOLE 18- "Road". #7/6 Handicap, Par 4/5 (437 yards, 426 yards, 378 yards): Do well on this challenging finishing hole and you’ll come back for more. Length and accuracy required.

THE REGION: This part of Northern Scotland is rugged, beautiful country with few towns and residents. The region has a great history with clans and clan warfare. Enforced relocation following the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745-6 reduced the local population significantly. Today, the region draws visitors interested in the clan history of the Highlands. Hikers, cyclists, anglers, and skiers come for the clean, wild rivers and challenging mountains. Golfers come to play Boat of Garten and Kingussie (20 miles further south along the A9) golf courses.

More information on travel to: INVERNESS & NORTHERN SCOTLAND

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.