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— Center of the Golfing Universe — |
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HISTORY OF THE COURSE:
The story of golf
in Stirling is nothing short of the historical collision between the
development of the game and the emergence of the royal Stewart dynasty. About Scotland’s King James IV (1473-1513), the theologian Erasmus offered, “He had wonderful powers of mind, an astonishing knowledge of everything, an unconquerable magnanimity and the most abundant generosity.” |
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James IV spoke at least seven languages, and maintained interests in literature, science, law, and medicine. He was Scotland’s Renaissance king. He brought mechanized printing to Scotland, and established universities in Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and St. Andrews. James expanded Scotland’s navy, and brought all of Scotland — even the remote islands of the Hebrides — under the control of the Scottish Crown. To promote peace with England, he married Princess Margaret Tudor, sister of King Henry VIII when he was 30 years old. Their granddaughter, Mary Queen of Scots, was both Queen of Scotland and Queen of France, and mother of King James I of England, the namesake of Jamestown and the King James Bible. |
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During his reign
King James IV improved and enlarged three royal castles where he
maintained residences: Linlithgow Palace in Scotland’s Central Lowlands,
Edinburgh Castle,
and Stirling Castle in Central Scotland. It was while in residence at
Stirling Castle that James IV made arguably his greatest contribution to
Scottish — indeed to world — culture. On a
mild winter’s day in 1506 the 33-year-old king joined a longtime friend,
Patrick Hepburn, the Earl of Bothwell, in the expansive hunting grounds
lying at the base of Stirling Castle. There
they played the second game of golf ever played and recorded in
Scotland. |
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THE LADIES' TEES:
King James IV’s granddaughter, Mary Queen of
Scots, whose childhood home was Stirling Castle, became Scotland’s first
recorded female golfer, when it was noted that in 1567 she played golf
just a few days following the murder of her second husband, Lord
Darnley, a murder in which she was implicated as a conspirator. The
Queen’s game also took place in the winter, and she left her 9-month-old
son — who in four months
would be crowned King James VI of
Scotland, and the eventual King James I of England — at home. Within
three months Mary took a third husband, believed by many to be the
actual murderer of Darnley. It was James Hepburn, the 4th
Earl of Bothwell, and great-grandson of the playing partner of King
James IV. |
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executed at the age of 44 on the order of her cousin Queen Elizabeth I of England. Oh those Tudors and Stewarts! |
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MODERN HISTORY:
More
than 350 years after James IV played his historic round in the King’s
Hunting Park below Stirling Castle, the Stirling Golf Club formed in
1869. The course was laid out on what had been the King’s Park, just
outside the walls of old Stirling town. Young Tom Morris, British Open
Champion four times in a five-year stretch (1868-69-70 and 1872), and a
charter member of golf’s pantheon, was brought in as the club’s first
golf professional in 1869 at the age of 18, the year after he and his
famous father, Old Tom Morris (also a four-time Open Champions and the
greens keeper at the St. Andrews Old Course), finished one-two in the
Open Championship at Prestwick. Unfortunately, the life of Young Tom
Morris ended prematurely at the age of 24. |
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because the parkland course is not subject to the winds and open weather conditions of a Scotland seaside links, the course rarely plays long. However, the Stirling course is not without impediments. The great English golfer, Sir Henry Cotton, saw to that, when he gave Stirling Golf Club a complete course makeover in 1967, planting many deciduous trees that have since matured to define the fairways and add beauty to the course year round. The trees, lush fairways, and castle backdrop make Stirling G.C. an eye-pleasing layout even in overcast conditions. But, in fine weather expansive view looking towards the Trossachs mountains of Scotland’s Central Highlands makes Stirling’s handsome natural setting almost distracting. |
THE REGION: Stirling is the historic gateway to Scotland's Highlands. Nearby are the beautiful mountains and lochs of Scotland's Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park, home also to HOME AT FIRST's Central Scotland travel program. The central region is the ideal base for touring throughout most of Scotland. The central region features unmatched natural beauty, and an outstanding array of outdoor activities: golf, fishing, walking, cycling, whitewater kayaking, and much more. The many handsome villages and towns of Central Scotland provide visitors a genuine welcome, wonderful restaurants, and a complete list of services.
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LENGTH &
PAR: 18 Holes
•
Men: 6,123
yds, par 72, SSS 72
•
Ladies: 5,839 yds, par 74
GREEN FEES:
£30/round; £45/day.
FACILITIES:
•
Pull Trolley - £3/round, £5/day
•
Motorized Riding Buggy – £20/round (pre-reserve)
•
Golf Club Rental – £15/round, £25/day (pre-reserve)
•
Parkview Restaurant (advance booking of meals reco•mmended
for visitors)
•
Two Bars
•
Clubhouse
•
Pro Shop
Visitors:
Welcome
daily, except during scheduled competitions. Visitors should be members of a
recognized golf club or society that is affiliated with a golfing union (USGA,
etc.). Handicap certification should be available if requested by the Stirling
Golf Club.
RESERVATIONS
pre-booking
strong advised; non-refundable booking deposit is required when reservations are
confirmed.
PLACING RESERVATIONS:
•
Tel: +44 (0)1786 464 098
•
Email:
enquiries@stirlinggolfclub.com
•
via
the club’s web site:
http://www.stirlinggolfclub.com/contactus.asp
•
Or, let
HOME AT
FIRST
pre-reserve your tee-times
at Stirling Golf Club as part of your Central Scotland
vacation package.
HOME AT
FIRST
adds no booking
charge for this service.
Nearest Home At First
Lodging Locations:
•
In
CENTRAL SCOTLAND
30-60 minutes northwest of
Stirling by car.
Course
Location:
West end of Stirling city, about 1
hour northwest of Edinburgh and about 1 hour northeast
of Glasgow on the on the M9/A9 in Central Scotland,
and approximately 30-60 minutes southeast of Home At First’s Central Scotland
lodgings.
GETTING THERE:
Take the A84 south to the big M9 roundabout just before Stirling. From the
roundabout, take the B8051 exit south toward Stirling. Continue along the B8051
as it crosses Albert Place and becomes Queen’s Road. The entry to Stirling Golf
Course is on the right hand side of Queen’s Road (B8051) shortly after crossing
Albert Place.
OTHER NEARBY GOLF
CLUBS:
•
CALLENDAR GOLF CLUB,
Callendar, about 25 minutes northwest of Stirling
•
GLENEAGLES GOLF RESORT
(3 championship courses), near Auchterarder village,
about 25
minutes northeast of Stirling
TRAVELING TO SCOTLAND TO PLAY GOLF?
Let
HOME AT
FIRST make your advance tee-times at
Stirling Golf Club and many other Scottish
golf courses as part of your pre-reserved Scottish trip
itinerary. There’s no extra charge for this service.
MORE RESOURCES:
• Golf
in Scotland
• Home At First's
SCOTLAND travel program
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