Spey Valley

Spey Valley is one of the newest golf courses you will find on the NCG Top 100s: Scotland list, dating back only to 2006. It is part of the MacDonald Aviemore Resort, which also features on the NCG Top 100s: GB&I Resorts list. 

 

Since then, though, this Dave Thomas design has played host to the European Challenge Tour on ten consecutive occasions from 2009 to 2018. 

 

The course plays at more than 7,100 yards from the tips, and winds its way along the River Spey through silver birches and across undulating fairways. It is a fun test, but a test nonetheless. 

 

 

Check out our full piece on the MacDonald Aviemore Resort here. 

Visit the Spey Valley website here.  

Go Back To NCG's Top 100s Homepage. 

 

The Spey Valley Golf Course at the MacDonald Aviemore Resort is certainly one of the newest golf courses that you will find on the NCG Top 100s: Scotland list. 

 

It was 2006 when the course opened, with former Ryder Cupper Dave Thomas being the man behind the design. 

 

From 2009 to 2018, the layout hosted the Scottish Hydro Challenge on the European Challenge Tour. The 2013 event was one of Brooks Koepka’s four wins on the Challenge Tour, before going on to win five major championships. 

There are few more scenic, or peaceful, places to enjoy a round than Spey Valley at the foot of the Highlands. With the Cairngorm mountains forming the backdrop, and the River Spey running alongside several holes, its natural beauty is a joy to behold. To prosper at Spey, you need to avoid the heather and silver birches from the tees, as well as being able to hit your long irons and fairway woods well – even from the yellow tees it measures in excess of 6,600 yards. From the backs, it is more than 7,100 yards! 

 

The opener is only 360 from the tips, but with out of bounds down the left and the hole playing as a dog-leg from left to right, it is certainly not the easiest start. The OOB switches to the right side for the 2nd and 3rd, the latter of which plays alongside the River Spey. It is also the first par 5 on the course, and at just 485 yards, it is one that could certainly be reachable in two.  

 

Compare that to the 5th, where most will need three good shots to find the green. It is the longest hole in Scotland, which eventually tumbles down to a green 635 yards away. The first par 3 comes before it, but that also requires a solid hit at 210 yards from the tips. The 6th is another par 3 of more than 200 yards, while the 7th is a long par 4 which fairway split into two portions by rough and bunkers. Most will stay short before having a longer approach to the green. You head into woodland at the sharp dogleg left 8th and two vast trees certainly catch your eye from the tee. The key is not to take them on and stay right to leave a mid-iron to a raised green. There’s also out of bounds down the right side, just to add another layer of danger. 

 

The front nine closes with a short par 4 of just 330 yards. Three bunkers sit in the landing zone of your drives, with there is also OOB down the right side. The shortest of the four par 3s comes at the 10th, which measures 196 yards from the tips. The tough run continues with 11 and 12. The latter is the longest par 4 on the course at more than 485 yards from the back tees. The 13th is an easier par 5, but it still might require three shots to get there. Two fairway bunkers could catch anything too daring while you can easily run out of fairway the other side. Get it right and you will have the opportunity to take on a distant green flanked by two bunkers. 

 

Two more par 4s of 420 yards in length follow, with water coming into play on the second of those, the 15th. There is also water on the long par 3 16th, as well. It plays 229 yards from the tips, with a large water hazard to the right of the green. The penultimate hole is the last of the par 5s, and at 520, there is a chance of reaching in two. Fairway bunkers down the hole represent good markers to aim for, if you’re looking for a final birdie chance. 18 features the River Spey down its left side, while there is plenty of space to the right of the fairway. A wide, but shallow green awaits those finishing off their rounds at Spey Valley. 

Where is Spey Valley located?  
Spey Valley is located in the heart of Scotland. It is situated in the Scottish Highlands, and just outside the Cairngorms National Park. 30 miles to the north is Inverness, while the Scottish capital Edinburgh is 125 miles to the south by road.   

  

Inverness Airport is the closest to Spey Valley, but there are only a few flights each day, both leaving and arriving. Instead, international visitors will land at Edinburgh Airport, which is 120 miles from the course. Edinburgh Airport is the largest in the nation and has flights to most European countries and to North America. Aviemore Station is just half a mile from the course, and it sits on the Edinburgh to Inverness line. There are also trains to London Kings Cross and Glasgow each day. 

What golf facilities does Spey Valley offer?  
As well as hosting a championship golf course, Spey Valley is also home to a full-length driving range, allowing golfers to practice before a round. There is also a short game area with a practice bunker, along with a putting green by the 1st tee of the course. 

What are the green fees at Spey Valley?  
The price of a green fee at Spey Valley 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 Spey Valley visit their website here.

Is Spey Valley part of a resort?  
The Spey Valley Golf Course is part of the MacDonald Aviemore Resort, which also has a place on the NCG Top 100s: GB&I Resorts list. Along with the golf course, the MacDonald Aviemore Resort is also home to accommodation, spas and family-friendly activities.

 

  

Check out our full piece on the MacDonald Aviemore Resort here.  

Visit the Spey Valley website here. 

Go Back To NCG's Top 100s Homepage.