Newmachar
Newmachar Golf Club
Swailend
Newmachar
Aberdeen, AB21 7UU
Tel: 01651 863002
Fax: 01651 863055
www.newmachargolfclub.co.uk
Situated in the isolated and agricultural Aberdeen suburb of Swailend, this par 72 course is a complete b*st*rd. Trees everywhere. And where there aren't any trees, there's water. Clunk and splash. It should be re-named Schumacher - if you're off line with your drive, you end up in the scenery.
The yardage chart claims to be in metres but up north, a metre is anything between 50cm and 10 yards and varies from hole to hole.
No wonder Paul Lawrie, the resident tour pro, won the Carnoustie Open. One of the tightest courses on the tour, Carnoustie is based on Newmacher except that they have replaced the trees with grass of similar height.
The 10th is a particularly splendid piece of skullduggery, with a three wood first shot to a tapering landing site, a 9 iron third shot followed by a tricky fifth, seventh and ninth shots (the balls are still in the water if you want to get them).
The Pro's Tip in the Strokesaver for the 12th hole sums up the whole course. "Accuracy is more important than power ..."
The mid-tour tucker is however wholesome and tasty.
Buggies are available (and recommended) though an all terrain vehicle would be the preferred choice of this hacker.
