Crieff (Ferntower)

The Ferntower Course is one of two layouts at Crieff Golf Club, which is located in the heart of Perthshire in the centre of Scotland.

Originally founded in 1890, the club moved to its current location just a few years later. 1914 saw the opening of the Ferntower Course, with Robert Simpson designing it. James Braid made changes, with John Stark’s work in the 1980s leading to the current layout.

Trees line the fairways on the Ferntower Course, while there is also plenty of sand to be wary of. At 6,500 yards, it is a proper championship test.

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The history of Crieff Golf Club dates back to the late 19th Century, with the club being founded in 1890.

The great Old Tom Morris – four times a winner of the Open Championship in the 1860s – was drafted in to design the original course. He did so at East Ledbowie Park, with the 9-hole course opening in 1891.

Just two years later, the club moved to Culcrieff Farm with another 9-hole layout. Robert Simpson then extended and redesigned the course, with the 18-hole Ferntower Course being opened in 1914.

Five-time Open Champion James Braid made alterations a decade later, with John Stark then making changes in the 1980s. Stark’s changes allowed for the design of the Dornock Course with the extra space.

With views over the Strathearn Valley, the Ferntower Course is one to enjoy. Generous fairways allow for good scoring, but that does not mean that there aren’t things to look out for throughout a round. There are plenty of trees around, while you will also find bunkers dotted about all over the course. It is not the longest, but at 6,500 yards from the tips, distance is certainly required at times!

Unlike a lot of golf courses around the world, the opening hole on the Ferntower Course is a par 3. At 163 yards from the tips, it will be a mid-to-long iron for your first shot of the day, and played to a narrow green that is guarded by two bunkers – not easy for sure. A pair of testing par 4s follow, with the 2nd coming in just shy of 390 yards. A bunker on each side of the fairway makes the short grass seem narrower than it really is, with three more traps then guarding the green. There are no fairway hazards on 3, which is around 30 yards longer than its predecessor. However, the length makes it more difficult, with a longer club in hand for your second. The 4th is the shortest hole on the course at just 124 yards. The front of the putting surface is protected by a trio of bunkers, so you have to carry it all the way to the green.

All three par 5s on the Ferntower come in a five-hole stretch at the end of the front nine. There are back-to-back par 5s at the 5th and 6th, with the former at 530 yards in length. Bunkers on either side of the fairway make it a narrow target off the tee, while the green sits on an angle from the fairway to make the approach trickier. The 6th is only 505 yards, and moves from left to right. Sand only comes into play at the green, whether it be your second or third shot. The 9th is the last of the par 5s on the course and is 525 yards from the tips. It is pretty straight, with a fairway protected by copses of trees on either side. A bunker on the left side of the green is there for any pulled approaches, with the road on the right also adding to the danger.

Two tricky par 4s sit in between the 5s. The 7th is 450 yards in length, making it a proper test of your game. There is a generous fairway to find off the tee, but it will be at least a long iron or hybrid into the green, one protected by sand. The 8th is much shorter, at just 315 yards, but well placed bunkers will make you try and think about your game off the tee. The back nine begins with a trio of dog-leg par 4s. 10 winds round to the right, around the trees and the road, while the 11th moves in the opposite direction. A bunker on the outside corner of the fairway is the line, but make sure you stay short of it off the tee. The 12th also moves round to the right, and at 467 yards, it is the longest of the par 4s on the Ferntower Course.

13 is the only hole on the course not to feature any sand. It is a 190-yard par 3 with trees lining both sides of the hole. The green is narrow, so it is still a difficult shot, even without bunkers in your eyeline. The 14th is one of few birdie chances on the run for home. A 350-yard par 4 with a generous fairway, the only real trouble comes in the form of a bunker that runs along the front left edge of the putting surface. 15 is a dog-leg right par 4, and at 410 yards, it is one that requires two solid shots. A small stream runs down the right side, but it should not be in play, really. The bunker on the outside corner, however, is very much in play. You then hit your approach over the road towards a tight green flanked on both sides by sand.

The final trio all offer different challenges. 16 is another par 4 of more than 400 yards, and requires a long and accurate tee shot down a relatively narrow fairway. Two traps protect the shallow green, with your approach having to come in from height to find the putting surface. The last of the par 3s comes at the penultimate hole, and just 140 yards, it is one of the shortest on the course. A bunker on either side of the green, along with mounds at the back edge, all need to be avoided. The final hole on the Ferntower is a 305-yard par 4, but it is not necessarily a drivable par 4, especially if you have a good card in your hand. Bunkers on either side pinch the fairway in, before you then hit your final approach of the day, aiming to wards a large putting surface. A birdie here is a very good finish, while a par might still be enough to win any match going down the last!

Where is Crieff Golf Club located?

Crieff Golf Club is situated in the heart of Perthshire, to the northeast of the market town of Crieff. The club sits off the southern side of the A85 – which runs from Oban to Perth, with the latter under 20 miles to the east of the venue. Dundee is 40 miles to the east, while the Scottish capital of Edinburgh is 60 miles south of Crieff Golf Club.

Edinburgh is also home to the nearest major airport, with the country’s largest international being 55 miles south of Crieff Golf Club. Glasgow Airport, which services the nation’s biggest city, is 60 miles to the southwest. For rail users, Gleneagles is the nearest station. Services run to Glasgow Queen Street, Dundee, Arbroath and Inverness among other destinations.

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

Perthshire is home to several NCG Top 100s: Scotland venues, and as with the rail service, Gleneagles is also the nearest venue to Crieff. The resort, which features on the NCG Top 100s: GB&I Resorts list, is home to the King’s Course, Queen’s Course and PGA Centenary Course, all of which are on our Scotland list. Auchterarder is the other venue in the region, sitting next to Gleneagles.

What golf facilities does Crieff Golf Club offer?

Along with the Ferntower Course, Crieff also has the 9-hole Dornock Course. There is also a short-game area by the car park, which a pair of practice bunkers, chipping green and a putting green.

What are the green fees at Crieff Golf Club?

The price of a green fee at Crieff 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 Crieff, visit their website here.