Dalmahoy (West)

If the East Course is the championship offering, then the West Course is the fun layout at the Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club.

It is just 5,200 yards – 2,000 yards shorter than its larger sibling. However, this Par 68 still has a few tricks up its sleeve to tempt you into losing a shot here and there.

Donald Steel designed the course, which opened at the end of the 1970s, with the Gogar Burn featuring towards the back end of the round.

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Dalmahoy House dates back to 1725, but it would two centuries before golf came to be at the Scottish venue. 1927 saw the conversion to a hotel, with James Braid being drafted in to design the East Course.

It would be a further five decades before the West Course was added to the property. Donald Steel was the man behind the design of the layout, which opened in 1979.

The West Course at the Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club is a great complementary layout to the East, offering something entirely different to its bigger sibling. It is more than 2,000 yards shorter than the East Course, but with narrow fairways and some quirky routings, it can definitely catch you out. In total, the West comes to just shy of 5,200 yards, but it does play as a Par 68. For those that don’t have time for a full 18, the West Course can also be played as 9 or 13 holes, with both the 9th and 13th holes winding their way back to the hotel.

There are four drivable par 4s in the opening seven holes, measuring 269, 275, 270 and 261 yards, respectively. Each is relatively risk free, as there is no water, and if you do not stray too far offline, you won’t find yourself in the trees either. Two of those come in the opening two holes. The 1st features a bunker 40 yards from the green as the perfect lay-up distance, while the green is guarded by three more traps. The 2nd moves round to the left, around the trees, and is more difficult than the opener. Tee shots should be played out to the right for those not going for the green, while those opting to take it on will have to hit a high draw around the trees.

The 3rd is the first of the quintet of par 5s on the West Course at Dalmahoy. It is only 125 yards, but the surface is surrounded by six bunkers. 4 is named ‘Perfection’, and it will take that to birdie this tough par 4. The fairway gets narrower the further you hit your tee sheet, while it also angles away to the left, as a slight dog-leg. Any approach that goes long will be in trouble, with thick trees protecting the back of the green. The 5th is just over 300 yards, and has a generous fairway on offer. The green has two bunkers in front, so carry your approach all the way.

6 and 7 are the other two drivable par 4s on the front side. The 6th is 270 yards and again, like the 2nd, a slight dog-leg left. Meanwhile, the 7th is pretty straight, with just one overhanging tree down the left side. Bunkers guard both greens. The 8th is one of the most difficult holes on the course. It is 435 yards and the Stroke Index 2 on the West. It is a strong dog-leg left, and your tee shot has to be long enough to reach the corner. From there, it will still be a lengthy approach into what will feel like a very small target. The last hole on the front nine is one of the longer par 3s on the course. The 9th is 180 yards, and again, the green is small. Bunkers front left and front right add to the difficulty of this approach.

The back nine begins with a par 3 running in the opposite direction. 10 yards shorter than the last, but with an additional bunker to avoid, coming through the turn with a pair of pars is no mean feat. 11 is a dog-leg right par 4, one where your drive should be down the left side of the fairway to give yourself the best view of the green. Only one trap protects the green on this 362-yard par 4, but trees lurk in the background. 12 is also a dog-leg right, but with trees sitting tight into the fairway on the left side. There is more space down the right than you might think on the tee, as long as you reach the corner, though...

There is only one par 5 on the West Course, with it also being the longest and hardest hole on the Par 68 layout. The 13th is on the western boundary of the property, with out of bounds hugging the left side of the hole. Three fairway bunkers are in play, along with bunkers front left and front right at the green. Longer hitters could go for it in two, but there is plenty of trouble lying in wait. The 14th is another short par 4. At just shy of 315 yards, the aim here to get as far down as you can, on what is a very generous fairway. 15 is just as generous, but it is slightly longer. Both holes are good birdie chances.

16 is the signature hole on the West Course, despite being just 116 yards. Nothing more than a wedge or low iron, the approach has to carry the Gogar Burn (also the name of the 15th hole). Anything long of this green will also see you facing a tricky up and down, with a steep hill and the water lurking in the background. It’s back-to-back 3s late on, with the 17th coming in at 175 yards. Three bunkers are all short of this green, so make sure you carry your tee shot on to the putting surface. The closing hole on the West Course at Dalmahoy is another short par 4. It is 315 yards and has an incredibly wide fairway. Anything too far left will be blocked out by a row of trees, but there should be plenty of space for you to thrash driver for the final time. The green has one bunker on its left, and thick rough on its right. It is a good birdie chance to finish!

Where is Dalmahoy located?

Dalmahoy is located between Ratho and Currie, on the outskirts of Edinburgh in Scotland. The centre of the nation’s capital is just ten miles to the northeast of Dalmahoy. The venue sits just south of the A71, which runs from Edinburgh across to Irvine on the western coastline of the country.

Unsurprisingly, Edinburgh Airport is the closest to Dalmahoy. It is just a 15-minute drive from the resort, and the airport is the busiest in the country. Both Kirknewton and Curriehill – the two closest train stations to the resort - are on the same train line, the line that connects Scotland’s two biggest cities, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Both are a ten-minute drive from Dalmahoy, and the train service runs once an hour in both directions.

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

Two venues around the Scottish capital are on the NCG Top 100s: Scotland list. There are Bruntsfield Links and The Musselburgh (Monktonhall), both of which are within 15 miles of the Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club. Glenbervie is also within 25 miles to the northwest, with Lanark a similar distance to the southwest of the venue. The resort is also home to the East Course, the championship layout at Dalmahoy.

What golf facilities does Dalmahoy offer?

Along with the two different golf courses, Dalmahoy’s practice facilities include a pitch and putt with nine holes of differing lengths to allow golfers to practice their distance control. There is also a 12-bay floodlit driving range which is also sheltered from any adverse weather conditions. There is a putting green outside Dalmahoy House, right by the first tee of the East Course.

What are the green fees at Dalmahoy?

The price of a green fee at the Dalmahoy Hotel & Country 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 Dalmahoy, visit their booking website here.