Lochranza Golf Club
Lochranza,
Isle of Arran, Strathclyde KA27 8HL
Tel : +44 (0)1770 830 273 Fax : +44 (0)1770 830 273
| Proprietor: | IM Robertson | Tel : +44 (0)1770 830 273 |
Lochranza is the wonderfully beautiful village at the north of the Isle of Arran. Set on the shores of a small sea loch with the focal point the ancient Lochranza Castle in the middle at the end of a narrow promontory. The Club offers a golf shop, domestic facilities, showers and changing rooms. This is a delightfully interesting golf course in a most spectacular natural setting with wildlife all around. Red deer stags graze the fairways, golden eagles soar overhead, herons, ducks and dippers fish for trout and minnows in the river and pond, and wild flowers grow all over, Essentially level, the golf course is laid on the alluvial floor reclaimed over centuries and surrounded on the other three sides by steep 1000 foot slopes and mountains beyond. The concept of the 1990 design was to keep it as natural as the original Scottish golf courses, yet bringing in the popular features of those golf courses seen on TV played by the professional's in the 'Majors', more importantly to introduce the different yet complimentary features of the six Arran golf courses.
Directions
By ferry from Ardrossan to Brodick then 15 miles by road. No.324 bus meets every ferry and drops you at Lochranza's gate. A smaller car ferry on the Mull of Kintyre.
Further Information
Information herein provided by the club 16 Aug 1998. Pay and play course.
Course Details
| Course Name: Lochranza Holes: 18 Yardage: 5574 SSS: 70 |
| Lochranza Golf Course I8 tees to 10 greens (8 double and two single).The initial requirement was to use the land as it lay without major earthmoving. Drainage work was creatively used to form water hazards and natural irrigation to greens with the spoil forming the bases of tees, and the imaginative use of natural features including slopes, river, trees, and the perimeter shape of the available land gave the opportunity of wide variation in the shape, style, and length of holes, all with spectacular views and backdrops. Mature trees and water hazards are the key features to this remarkable layout with doglegs left and right, long and short carries measured to test every club. The beautiful 7th and I6th holes are played to a classic green, over 70 yards long and bounded all down the right hand side by a landscaped lochan. The particularly innovative feature of the golf course is the total difference between the first and second nines. Shared greens are approached from widely varying tees making the shaped fairway landing areas and shot making of the back nine quite different from those of the front nine. The long first hole at 445 yards with river and dogleg through mature trees must be one of the most difficult par 4s in Europe, well justifying 511. From there on the variety of shape and length of holes demands concentration. Some offer an apparently straightforward drive, others throw a challenge which seems just within capability! Well placed drives are rewarded, those misplaced are punished. The blend of holes makes each one different from the last, no two holes are the same, with birdie, even eagle chances equally capable of being double bogeys, or worse. And, if you happen to have maintained a pleasing score all the way round, let's see how you finish on the Bermuda Triangle formed by 16,17 and the mighty 540 yard, par 5.18th! a thoroughly pleasing experience! For an appreciation and independent view of this course plea 
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Mathijsen wrote on: Dec 31, 1998
Hi Folks
I'm not a great golfer, but I love the Lochranza's golf.
We were there in '95 and '96. In '95 the weather was good, in '96 very very bad. But we enjoyed our stay over-there. The children loved to play on the putting-green. Ian and Brad loved them as well. Hope to here from Ian, because we planned our holiday in Scotland again. (Why didn't you came to Holland in '97 Ian???)
Many greetings from Joost, Liek, Julia and Adrian. (Pijl 53 3328 KP Dordrecht, Holland.)
Reply
K Thommasson wrote on: Dec 31, 1998
The 8th is another par 4 which sees you driving up to a green elevated above the majority of the fairway by some 15 feet. Work is underway to make the green split-level.
The 9th is the par 5 which leads back towards the river and bends to the right to take you back to the start. If you choose to take the second 9, you'll find similar routes to the first 9 as the fairways and most greens are shared. The exception is the 10th which has its own green. It is surprising how much difference is introduced by a different teeing off point. Some of the holes are similar in both 9s but some have to be treated completely differently.
My wife and I have been visiting Lochranza for some seven years now and have not grown tired of the course. The surrounding scenery is wonderful, and since the sheep were kept off the course they have been replaced by grazing stags, who will reluctantly move out of your way as you make your way round the course. It does test your abilities to concentrate on the golf!
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