dalmahoy

Located approximately seven miles from Edinburgh, near Edinburgh Airport lies The Marriott Dalmahoy Golf and Country Club. Laid by James Braid and currently celebrating its seventy-fifth anniversary the East Course at Dalmahoy has gained an enviable reputation as a top class course hosting various professional events, including the Scottish Professional Championships and the Solheim Cup.

The East Course is a challenging but fair test of golf. Set within mature parkland the course presentation is excellent. Lush manicured fairways wind from tee to green. Large undulating greens provide excellent putting surfaces. Bunkers are usually deep and beautifully crafted out of natural terrain, providing excellent protection to the large greens and lush fairways. The first six or seven holes give a false sense of security.

As you walk from the seventh tee prepare for battle, it's one great hole after another. The par five 9th is a beauty. A downhill dogleg from left to right leading to a magnificent view of the Hotel. The four hundred and fifty seven yard par four 14th is a beast. Long and narrow with a stream before a well-protected green.

The short fifteenth is appropriately named “wee wrecker”. Guarded by five large, sprawling bunkers that happily gather any stray balls, the green is a difficult place to find. The sixteenth demands a long accurate drive down a tight tree lined fairway laying up short of two bunkers guarding a huge crevasse and water hazard. The next shot is over the crevasse to the green, which is guarded by two deep bunkers and natural mounds. A par is well deserved.