Everyone, including our panellists, has their own opinions, and when it comes to golf courses and which of those are underrated, it is exactly the same.
There is so much choice when it comes to Scottish golf, with links courses dotted around the coast and world-renowned heathland layouts further infield.
Course rankings lists are not an exact science. And when you have over 30 experts piling in with their opinions, for every one of them when the list comes out, they see courses they think are underrated, as well as others they are overrated courses. That’s democracy for you.
That is why course ranking lists are always such a lively topic of discussion up and down the land, especially when you are trying to compare and contrast the likes of Royal Dornoch and Carnoustie.
Are any of these underrated? Which courses should be higher? Let’s see what our panellists had to say after the list they had all contributed to was revealed…
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Which Scottish courses do our panellists believe are hugely underrated?
Jim Marshall: Turnberry’s King Robert the Bruce. A gem overshadowed by the Ailsa. Put it anywhere else in Scotland, and this gem shines. Views to melt your heart and holes to test your mettle.
Peter Rudd: Glasgow Gailes – a course that tests all aspects of shotmaking, and with holes that move in all directions.
Oliver Baker: Spey Valley
Chris Griffiths: Mortonhall. Doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. But then, there’s so much competition.
Jim Banting: Portpatrick
Craig Redston: Dunbar
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Andi White: Powfoot – fun, challenging course, with rolling narrow fairways and fiendish green complexes.
Michael Atkinson: Boat of Garten in the Scottish Highlands. It is one of James Braid’s finest, with dog-legs, pot bunkers and blind shots. Beautiful setting. The majestic Cairngorms as a backdrop.
Stu Bennett: Ranfurly Castle – after a couple of opening uphill par 4s, you go to the 3rd tee and see the moorland open up in front of you, a number of stunning holes on fantastic turf, along with great scenery.
Ed Battye: Elie – there is something about Elie that puts you under a spell – a truly magical links.
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Paul Watson: Downfield: A parkland course in a woodland setting full of wildlife. A challenging golf course which has staged professional tournaments in the past.
Neil White: Lanark – proves why Scottish golf isn’t just about links. That 18th hole, still original from 1851, would be a classic anywhere.
David Elliott: The Dukes in St. Andrews. It gets overlooked because is not links in the home of links.
Dove Jones: Roxburghe
David Walker: Irvine Bogside – wonderful combination of quirky, brutal and fun holes.
Greg Webber: Golspie. I loved the setting and the variety it offers. The 9th hole is named Paradise, and is an apt description.
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There were also a few venues that received some love from multiple panellists…
Hugh Masson: Murcar – the green fee is not under-rated at £185, but compared to its close neighbour, Royal Aberdeen it’s great value. The stretch from 3-9, mostly along the coast, is fantastic
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Michael Verity: Brora, Dunbar, Murcar
Ian Woods: Murcar Links. Understated but hugely enjoyable.
Charles Abraham: The Machrie – a brilliant redesign by DJ Russell
Steve Watton: The Machrie
Chris Myatt: West Linton exceeded my expectations the most, but I also feel that The Machrie would be considered higher if people realised how easy it is to access
Phil Bedford: Southerness
David Fox: Southerness
Lewis Marr: Southerness
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Listen to the NCG Top 100s Podcast
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Now have your say…
Visit the NCG Top 100s: Scotland page, click on a course you think is underrated and leave a review!
Which courses on our NCG Top 100s: Scotland list would you say are underrated? Which courses would you push higher up the list? Let us know your thoughts with a post on X, formerly Twitter!
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