Golfers were teeing up for a new challenge in Tayside yesterday, as a stunning nine-hole course crafted by one of Scotland’s top designers opened near the Dundee coast.
Kingennie Country Resort’s new greens and fairways are now open to the public, after being given an initial test by some of the stars of the recent Open Championship at Carnoustie.
Ryder Cup hero Darren Clarke, Danish favourite Thomas Bjorn and young English prospect Nick Dougherty were among the stars who walked the Kingennie course during the Open in July.
The new course was designed by golf course architect Graeme J Webster of Niblick Golf Design, making the most of the gorgeous landscape of Kingennie and is pitched at all standards of player from novice to professional.
Open to all on a pay-as-you-play basis, the Kingennie course also has a membership roll of 100 – for which there is already a waiting list – which will be extended to accommodate 250 players from 2008.
Kingennie Country Resort is now a mini golfing mecca including the 18-hole ‘Cairngorm’ putting green, also designed by Mr Webster and inspired by the famous ‘Himalaya’ putting course at St Andrews.
Proprietor, Mike Forbes, says, “We are delighted to see the first opening drives being played on the Kingennie course, which is in fantastic condition and is very much ready to play. Perfectly complemented by the Cairngorm putting greens, Kingennie offers an excellent challenge for golfers of all abilities thanks to the vision of Graeme Webster, whose work was admired by Darren Clarke during his stay with us during the Open.
“We have created a first-class golf development which is a superb addition to the many activities we already provide at Kingennie and, with the help of our talented team, we aim to ensure it is seen as one of the ‘must play’ courses in the area.”
Graeme Webster said, “We wanted the course to work with the existing contours of the countryside and the topography of Kingennie has lent itself to providing a very attractive and exciting lay-out.
“It has all the essential ingredients of a top course. When you’ve played a great round in a great location, you immediately want to go back and do it again, and that’s exactly how you’ll feel when you’ve played Kingennie.”
The Kingennie course features three par 3, five par 4 and one par 5 with tees and greens all built to the USGA standards and irrigated. They are carefully maintained by a team led by greenkeeper Gregor Norrie, formerly senior greenkeeper at the Gleneagles PGA course.
In addition to the golf course, driving range and putting green, Kingennie has trout pools and coarse fishing available on the estate. The resort also includes a newly re-furbished waterside restaurant and bar, with terraces looking out over the ponds towards the Angus hills and beyond. Self-catering accommodation is provided in the 12 superbly-appointed woodland holiday lodges.
Kingennie Country Resort www.forbesofkingennie.com
Niblick Golf Design www.niblickgolfdesign.com