Alyth

Alyth Golf Club is a true heathland layout in the heart of Perthshire, and one designed by two legends of the game.

Nine Open Championships are held between the two men who designed the course, with Old Tom Morris and James Braid both having their hand in nine holes each at Alyth.

Today, the layout is more than 6,250 yards, and with some narrow driving holes. Throw in a burn and OOB through the middle part of the round, and there are some tricks to navigate!

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The history of Alyth Golf Club dates back to the late 19th Century, with the club originally being founded in 1894.

The great Old Tom Morris – four times a winner of the Open Championship in the 1860s – was the man to design the first 9 holes.

The course was extended to 18 holes in the 1930s, with five-time Open Champion James Braid designing the second nine.

Unlike most courses you will see in this region of the world, Alyth is a proper heathland layout. Played amongst the trees, but still allowing views of the wonderful scenery, a round of golf is a treat at this Perthshire venue. Thanks to Morris and Braid, the course sits at just shy of 6,300 yards from the tips, and it is a course where you have to make a score on the front nine, as the back nine is the more difficult of the two sides at Alyth, some 400 yards longer than the opening half.

It does start strong, though. The opener is just shy of 400 yards, with missing the bunker on the right side being the key to getting your round off to a solid start. The tee shot is slightly blind to the crest of the hill. The 2nd is 420 yards from the tips and a narrow driving hole. Fairway bunkers on either side must be avoided, along with the trees that line both sides of the hole. The approach to the green is blind. The first of the short holes comes at 3. This 170-yard challenge is played uphill with a pair of bunkers guarding the putting surface. The 4th is another tricky par 4, with the danger really being the complexity of the green. Miss slightly right and your ball may well roll back down to the surface. Miss slightly left and you’ll be left with a blind, uphill chip to try and save par.

The 5th brings water and OOB into play for the first time. OOB runs down the entirety of the right side, while there is also a burn down the right side of the first half of the fairway. The water then splits the fairway in two, with the hole moving slightly to the right. Work out your distance before hitting your tee shot. The burn runs down the left of 6, with OOB continuing to be in play on the right. At 392 yards, this is a solid par 4, especially with anything right of the green being in trouble. The 7th is the shortest hole on the course at just 130 yards. However, the burn runs in front of the square-shaped surface, so make sure you take enough club to make it all the way.

A driveable par 4 follows. 8 is only 255 yards from the tips, but the three greenside bunkers might see people opt against it. Anything shy of 220 yards will find the fairway, and leave the simplest of pitches to this green. The 9th is the hardest hole on the course – the Stroke Index 1 – as it is easy to see why. It is more than 450 yards from the tips, with trees lining either side of a narrow fairway, and with OOB down the right side. There are drop offs on three sides of the green, just to add to the difficulty. The back nine also kicks off with a tough par 4, as your skills are tested around the turn. 435 yards, and moving slightly from right to left, once again the width of this hole will worry some players.

The 11th is the first par 5 on the course, and one of two on the back nine. It is only 500 yards, so some might fancy their chances of reaching in two. OOB lurks to the back right of the putting surface though, so the safe play might well be to lay up. 12 dog-legs around the OOB on the right, but despite that, it is a gentle hole at just 310 yards. Even aiming down the left side will not leave you with a long approach to what is a well-guarded green. 13 goes the other way, with a drive down the right side required if you are to have a view of the surface. However, three fairway bunkers, all down the right, make this a difficult task. At 200 yards, the 14th is the toughest of the par 3s at Alyth. However, the green is large, with the trouble at the front.

Another tough par 4 kicks off the closing stretch. The 15th is almost 450 yards in length, and despite there being no fairway bunkers, it is another narrow tee shot thanks to the trees on either side. 16 is the longest hole on the course at 545 yards. With the prevailing wind in your face, it might feel like it pushes towards 600! The green is almost 40 yards in length as well, so make sure you work out where the flag is... Another par 3 of 200 yards comes at the penultimate hole, one with three bunkers guarding the green, before you’re on to the last. The 18th is only 355 yards, but three fairway bunkers make it a tough driving hole. Stay short of the 245-yard mark and you’ll be safe of those, but you will have a slightly longer shot into this 50-yard deep putting surface.

Where is Alyth Golf Club located?

Alyth Golf Club is situated on the eastern edge of the county of Perthshire in Scotland. The golf club sits to the east of the town of Alyth, around five miles away from Blairgowrie. The city of Dundee is just shy of 20 miles to the south of Alyth. The A926 runs along the southern boundary of the property, from Blairgowrie through to Forfar on the east coast.

Dundee and the neighbouring Invergowrie at the homes of the nearest train stations, but both are around 20 miles away. Dundee is the larger of the two stations, with services operating to Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow Queen Street. Edinburgh Airport and Aberdeen International Airport are the two closest to Alyth, with the former being the biggest and busiest airport north of the border.

Are there any other NCG Top 100s: Scotland venues nearby?

Blairgowrie Golf Club, with its two courses – the Rosemount Course and the Lansdowne Course – is the nearest venue to Alyth, around five miles west of the club. The likes of Downfield, Forfar, Pitlochry, and Panmure, along with Carnoustie’s Championship and Burnside Courses, are within a 30-mile drive.

What golf facilities does Alyth Golf Club offer?

Along with the Alyth Course, the club is also home to the 9-hole Glenisla Course, which sits on the western side of the property. There is also a 7-bay driving range. Along with a chipping green and a putting green, so you can warm up before taking the course.

What are the green fees at Alyth Golf Club?

The price of a green fee at Alyth Golf Club changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend.

For more information on current green fees at Alyth, visit their booking site here.