Covesea Links

Covesea Links is, without doubt, one of the youngest courses that you will find on any of the NCG Top 100s lists.

The course began life in 2010, with Andy Burnett designing the original 12-hole layout, which was a par 3 course to begin with.

A couple of years later, it was turned into a 9-hole course, with the changes seeing the course now have a quartet of par 4s along with five par 3s.

If you’re looking for a proper, championship 18-hole course, then Covesea Links is not the place for you. However, if you’re looking for one of the quirkiest 9-hole layouts in the country, then this is heaven! There is a very good chance that Covesea Links might be the shortest golf course on any of the NCG Top 100s, with the 9-hole layout coming in at just 2,000 yards (exactly)! Holes range from 400 yards, all the way down to 90 yards – just for some extra fun!

The opening hole is the first of the par 3s, but it is a tough start to proceedings. The 1st is 205 yards, and anything right will find trouble in the form of thick, wispy grass on the dunes. The miss is short or left, to give yourself a chance of getting up and down. The 2nd is 305 yards, and for the brave, it could be drivable. However, with gorse on both sides, and OOB tight down the left, the safe play is to stay short of the trouble before knocking a wedge on to the green. 3 is a slight dog-leg right par 4 running in the opposite direction to the 2nd. The same gorse comes into play on the 3rd, and there is a deep bunker by the green. Avoid that at all costs!

The 4th is the longest and toughest hole at Covesea Links. It is a touch over 400 yards, and worthy of its Stroke Index 1 moniker. Long grass borders both sides of the fairway, and the green sits above the level of the fairway, so take an extra club just to be sure. From the longest hole to the shortest hole – the 5th is only 90 yards in length. The green is elevated, though so work out exactly how to play this approach before selecting your club. Stark run offs on both sides of the putting surface add to the dangers, for what should be just a flick of a wedge.

The 6th is the longest of the par 3s at more than 220 yards. However, it plays downhill, and a shot that bounces well short of the green might well be the right approach – especially during the summer months with hard turf. The 7th green is behind a rock, making it a blind approach. If you can work out which tier (of the three) the flag is on, use that to your advantage. At just 232 yards, the par 4 8th is great birdie chance. The green sits below the tee, and between rocks, so deciding on whether to go for the putting surface is the decision on the tee box. The final hole is a 100-yard par 3, to test your wedge game for one final time. The green is bowl-shaped so if you can find the surface, there’s every chance of getting close to the flag.

Greg Webber: Fun, quirky 9-hole course with a fascinating mix of holes, including blind par 3s. If you are in the area, go there, it is well-worth a visit.

Sean Arble: Covesea is a quick nine holes, but unruly and potentially very destructive to the card carrying crowd.  Due to the runty greens, most handicap players will need tidy short games to score well. Given the one man band nature of the project, I am highly impressed.

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Where is Covesea Links located?

Covesea Links sits on the northeastern coastline of Scotland, a few miles west of the town of Lossiemouth, in the Moray region of the country. The former cathedral city of Elgin is less than ten miles south of Covesea Links, while the city of Inverness is 40 miles to the west. The A96, which runs from Inverness all the way round the northeastern coast to Aberdeen, is the best route for those driving to the region.

Inverness Airport is the closest major airport to Covesea Links, just over 30 miles to the west of the golf club. Aberdeen Airport, which is larger than Inverness, is 70 miles to the southeast. The nearest train station is in Elgin, with bus routes then available to Lossiemouth from there.

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

Covesea Links is within just a couple of miles from Moray Golf Club – home to both the Old Course and New Course. Elgin is also within ten miles, while the likes of Duff House Royal, Nairn Dunbar and Nairn are all within 30 miles, and just a few of several stunning golf courses in the area.

What golf facilities does Covesea Links offer?

As space is restricted at Covesea, there is not a driving range at the course. There is a small putting green, but that is it at this pay-and-play venue.

What are the green fees at Covesea Links?

The price of a green fee at Covesea Links 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 Covesea Links, visit their website here (opens in a new tab).

Visit the Covesea Links website here (opens in a new tab).

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