East Renfrewshire

The East Renfrewshire Golf Club is one of several stunning James Braid designs in Scotland, and this one has remained true to his work.

The only real changes over its century-long history have been the trees which have grown around the fairways to turn it into a proper parkland layout, though there are still some heathland properties here and there.

It is only 6,100 yards in length, but with burns and reservoirs seemingly in play at every turn, keeping it on the straight and narrow is the key to scoring well.

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1922 saw the founding of the East Renfrewshire Golf Club, with the course being finished and opened for play around 18 months later.

The great James Braid – five-times a winner of the Open Championship – was the man behind the design of the golf course, and it is one that remained relatively unchanged ever since.

Only the planting of trees, which have since grown over the last century to create a more tree-lined experience, have really changed the look of the golf course.

With it being a James Braid design, East Renfrewshire is all the hallmarks of the great man. There are elevated tees and plateau greens, with undulating fairways in between. Throw in the fact that water comes into play on the majority of holes, and you’ve got a stern test on your hands. It is not a long course, staying shy of 6,100 yards even from the back tees. However, this par 70 layout only has two par 5s, while the quartet of par 3s offer a wide range of challenges.

A trio of par 4s get you on your way, with the opening tee shot played over a burn that you will see throughout your round. It is played to a wide fairway, and it is a gentle opening shot, though the approach is more difficult, with sand on either side of the putting surface. The second is a tricky par 4. Although it is only 340 yards, the tee shot must be played down the left side of the fairway, due to the burn that runs across from short right to long left. From the left side of the fairway, the approach is played over the burn to a small putting surface. At 435 yards, the 3rd is one of the longer holes on the property. It is a relatively wide hole, though, with the danger coming by the green in the form of a trio of large bunkers protecting the surface.

The 4th is the first of the par 3s at East Renfrewshire, with a long green lying in front of you. Three bunkers sit on either side, while the reservoir provides the backdrop. 5 is another wide par 4 that allows you to have a crack with driver. The green is also pretty big, and round, with just a single bunker on either side. 6 is a dog-leg to the left, with the reservoir back in play. The further your tee shot goes, the better angle you will have with your second. Shorter tee shots will mean the reservoir is more in play for the second shot. The 7th is the longest of the 3s, pushing 200 yards in length. It is played downhill, though, to a green surrounded by trees and sand.

The first of two pars 5s on the layout comes at the 8th. It is reachable in two for the longer hitters, but only if they avoid the encroaching reservoir on the right side. The water makes the fairway feel narrower than it actually is, while thanks to the trees, it really does pinch in by the green. Left is better than right off the 9th tee, with OOB down the entirety of the right side. The fairway is wide down the left, but does then offer a more difficult angle with the second shot. The back nine begins with a drivable par 4, but the green sits above the level of the fairway, making it more difficult. There are also three bunkers in front of the surface, so many will choose to lay up before knocking a wedge close.

At 195 yards, the 11th is the longer of the two par 3s on the back side, and there just a single bunker front right as the danger. 12 is another dog-leg right par 4, and another where the drive must go some to provide the best angle to the green. At just 120 yards, the 13th is the shortest hole at East Renfrewshire, but the green is tiny, and a par is still a good score. The last of the par 5s comes at the 14th, and it kicks off a testing final stretch. OOB runs down the right side, but with plenty of space to the left, that shouldn’t really be a worry. The burn that runs across the fairway, some 50 yards from the green, is the difficulty. Do you lay up short of it with your second? Or do you try and fly it past that in an attempt to reach the green?

A quartet of par 4s brings you home at East Renfrewshire. It begins with the testing 15th, which plays as a slight dog-leg left. Find the fairway, and the approach over the burn and between the four bunkers will be much, much easier. 16 is the easiest of the holes on the way in, playing arrow straight towards a green only 350 yards away. The 17th has a burn running across the fairway, which is closer to you on the left side than it is the right, so make sure to judge the distance before hitting your tee shot. From there, two bunkers protect a small green. The closing hole is also the longest par 4, at 450 yards. Again, a burn runs across the fairway, this time straight across, to make it easier to work out the distance. Keep your drive short, and although the approach will be long, it will be better than losing a shot!

Where is East Renfrewshire Golf Club located?

The East Renfrewshire Golf Club is located to the south of Glasgow, Scotland’s biggest city. It is around ten miles from the centre of the city by road, with the venue sitting just off the M77 – the motorway which runs from Glasgow to Kilmarnock. Newton Mearns, the largest town in East Renfrewshire, is just north of the golf club.

Patterton is the nearest train station to the East Renfrewshire Golf Club, but it is around four miles north of the venue. Trains run between Neilston and Glasgow Central, through Patterton, on a regular basis. For international visitors to the region, Glasgow International Airport is the best option. The airport – the second busiest in Scotland – sits just 15 miles from East Renfrewshire, on the western side of the city.

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

There are plenty of incredible golfing venues in the west coast of Scotland, with the likes of Kilmacolm, West Kilbride and Kilmarnock Barassie within 25 miles of East Renfrewshire. Go slightly further down the Ayrshire coastline and you will find Dundonald Links, Western Gailes and both the Ailsa Course and King Robert the Bruce Course at Trump Turnberry.

What golf facilities does East Renfrewshire Golf Club offer?

The East Renfrewshire Golf Club is also home to the Pilmuir Course – a short, 6-hole layout that provides a great spot to hone in your approach game, and for juniors first learning the nuances of the sport. There is also a practice hole, and a full-length driving range at East Renfrewshire, both of which are situated by the clubhouse and the 1st hole. A putting green, set at the same speeds as the greens you will find out on the course, is also available for those final touches.

What are the green fees at East Renfrewshire Golf Club?

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