Answers to the 24 March Quiz

I hope the many hundred readers who tried the quiz enjoyed trying to identify the courses from my photos of the clubhouses.  From the feedback I've had from friends who've tried it, it was pretty hard, even for well-travelled local golfers.  Well done to my close friend Douglas M, who managed to get all of the answers correct after I'd given him a few extra clues on 5 of the courses.  Douglas had a real advantage, though, since he's one of the guys I know that is determined to play all of the Scottish courses and he's nearly there!  We've been a few trips together around the courses - and with any luck we'll be playing the new Dumbarnie Links in Fife together once the lockdown is lifted.

Anyway, here are the answers.  Try inserting the names of the courses in the Search box at the top left of the blog header, to go to the relevant write up about each course. 

1 - this one is in Perthshire and has 2 courses. Crieff GC

2 - Craig, Watson, Stu Fleming and me on our travels.  This time, at a famous former European Tour venue. Castle Stuart Golf Links

3 - one of our best links courses, which also has a 9 hole second course. Cruden Bay GC

4 - Aberdeenshire - good parkland course, also has a 9 hole second course. Deeside GC

5 - oddly named course (after the mountain in the background), which for some reason also does segway rides for tourists. Dragon's Tooth Golf Course

6 - remote, but well worth the effort to find, close to a couple of more famous neighbours. Dunaverty GC

7 - same name as one of our former new towns.  East Kilbride GC

8 - spectacular sea views, with a great Par 3 and a 656 yard Par 5! 
Eyemouth GC

9 - North East fishing village and a really testing links course. Fraserburgh GC

10 - venue when my friend Tom Coyne tried to qualify for the Open Championship.  One of my favourite caddying experiences. Bruntsfield Links GC

11 - village course at the head of a sea loch. Lochgilphead GC

12- ladies only members' club. Lundin Ladies GC

13 - guests-only hotel course. Cally Palace Hotel Golf Course

14 - Glen GC v Rhodes GC before a County Cup match played at a world famous neutral venue. Muirfield, home of the Honorable Company of Edinburgh Golfers

To explain, the Rhodes GC is a separate club that plays over the East Links, North Berwick, home of the Glen GC.  Some years ago I played in an open competition at a rather prestigious club just outside Glasgow.  One of their members noticed my Rhodes GC bag tag and clearly thought that my club was on the island of Rhodes in Greece.  His comment at the time was along the lines of "ye'll no' huv played yer course for a guid wee while, pal, since ye've no much i' a tan!"  I didn't have the heart to explain that the club is North Berwick-based.

15 -  a parkland course in Ayrshire, with a 19th hole just in case your match would otherwise finish tied. Rowallan Castle Golf Course

16 - Scotland's most northerly clubhouse. Whalsay GC, Shetland Islands

17 - Try not to miss it on the way to Mallaig. Traigh GC, pronounced "try"

18 - Take a ferry from Aberdeen or Scrabster to get here ..... Kirkwall GC, Orkney Islands

19 - Strathclyde University course, south of Loch Lomond Ross Priory Golf Course

20  - East Lothian course, chimneys in the background are now gone! Port Seton Golf Club, part of the local caravan park

21 - iconic former Open Championship venue. Prestwick GC

And finally, this was me and Craig Watson after our round at North Ronaldsay Golf Course, one of the more bizarre and remote stops on my travels.  The course is now abandoned, lost to the ravages of the harsh weather that can batter that remote island. We played it in 2010 but this was the 1997 price list. We left our £3 green fees in the honesty box, alongside some petty cash that had clearly been there for some time.