Rossdhu House at Loch Lomond Golf Club – just your average clubhouse…

A 4:30am wake up call was not the perfect introduction to a lazy Sunday morning. However unlike normal days we jumped up and prepared for our drive up the Ayrshire coast from Turnberry to the very private Loch Lomond Golf Club (located 30 minutes from the centre of Glasgow).

Our entrance to the club was not what could be called normal. Turning into the maintenance gates (incorrectly) we proceeded to the clubhouse in an indirect way. We eventually arrived.

The drive up to the clubhouse is one of the best going around. A winding road takes you past a number of the holes we were about to play and we were like the children in the proverbial lolly shop.

Arriving at the clubhouse just about blows you away. Rossdhu House is over 150 years old and was formerly an estate house before being converted in a luxury clubhouse that services the needs of members and guests. It sits imposingly overlooking the 7th and 8th holes and you almost feel the Royal Family is going to walk down the steps to greet you.

Our host Ron met us in the clubhouse and we prepared with a hearty breakfast and a chat with one of his fellow members – an Aussie guy called Chris who had been working in London for a number of years and comes up to Loch Lomond regularly to play golf.

The look of this course is not what you would expect when playing golf in Scotland. Lush fairways, well established trees, beautiful vistas and views over the most picturesque Loch imaginable (Loch is Gaelic for Lake in case you don’t get the idea) are the basis for a memorable round on a beautiful golf course.

Wind is generally not a factor at Loch Lomond (compared to other links courses we have played) and the greens were the slickest and truest we have seen to date. Standing over your putts we really felt the ball would go in the hole if struck on line.

There were a number of memorable holes at Loch Lomond including the drivable 14th which has its green protected by a moat. The tee shot provides two choices – go for the green and be rewarded (or punished) or play left where you then are faced with a short wedge into the side sloping and raised green. The 5th par 3 is also an example of one of the picturesque holes we were challenged with. Hitting the putting surface is essential because anywhere else is in trouble! Bunkers, steep run offs and thick ferns add further challenge to the hole.

The course conditioning rivals the best we have played on around the world. Thick grass in close proximity to the greens was another difficulty factor we encountered throughout the round.

The round started with overcast skies which held until the 12th hole when the rain came. We then played the balance of holes in nice summery Scottish conditions (wet).

Lunch in the clubhouse was pleasant in our socked feet as the locker attendant was eagerly blow drying and cleaning our golf shoes. All part of the service at Loch Lomond.

Shot of the day

Gary’s approach shot from the rough to 3 feet on the 7th hole took out the shot of the day.

Overall birdie tally

David (0 birdies, cumulative 10)
Gary (2 birdies, cumulative 22)

We are writing this report as we board the propellor 40 seater plane for the “puddle jump” across from Scotland to Northern Ireland. Quality golf awaits tomorrow with Royal Portrush on the agenda with our friend John Bamber. Stay tuned….