Belleisle Golf Course

Played with society members from Scotland and Wales in great weather, following two days of very heavy rain. This made things wet underfoot with a couple of holes having a little casual water. However the course stood up well and just got better as the day went on, with truly excellent greens. The end of the round found a very satisfied and happy bunch, all of whom were greatly impressed with the standard of the test of golf, the presentation of the course and the stunning views and surroundings. Pity the house is not a hotel anymore. If it were and was to the standard of the course and it's Seafield neighbour, we would have been happy to base our visit there. It would have been a memorable venue for the 25th anniversary of our get together with our Welsh friends.

The design and layout of this Braid design course is superb. It's a good challenge for golfers of all standards. Architecturally the very most is made of the available terrain. I played it twice in August. Unfortunately the condition of the greens was very poor.The course desperately needs investment, at least to install a watering system for the greens and tees. It could be a gem but urgently needs some TLC.

Hadde en hyggelig tour:-)

Played Belleisle on Sunday 23 Aug 09.First impressions werent very good one word answers from the guy in the office werent really made to feel welcoming.The course itself for a championship qualifying course was ok but certainly nothing special,it could do with some TLC,maybe the course is over played ?Beer cans,bottles etc strewn in the light rough whilst searching for your ball sounds lovely doesnt it ? For £33 im sure we could have played somewhere else a whole lot better.On the plus side the greens were of a good standard.

I love Bellisle having played it a number of times now, but if anybody can tell me why the marker for the 2nd shot into the second green points you toward the right hand rough I'll be very happy to hear from them. We watched the group in front of us aiming that way and ultimately losing their balls and holding up play. On our previous visit we had done exactly the same thing (all 4 of us!) because we were playing blind shots on a couse we hadn't played for years. Hence this is surely something that must be looked at. I have also spoken to other golfers who have played here who fell into the same trap. Dont know if it's changed since 2007 but look out if you intend to play. Greens every time I've played were as good as you'll find anywhere in Scotland.

This course is called the third best public course in Scotland (after St Andrews Old course and Carnoustie). It probably is. I have been told that Bellisle is a true test of golf. It is. If you play good here, you are a good golfer. I am not. I went around in 101 strokes and a bruised ego..... and I loved every minute of it. Every hole is a big test. And when you get tired, the last three holes awaits you. They are the hardest holes on the course. Which says a lot about this course. This course knows no mercy. The best hole ?? I cannot decide. They are all true gems. There is no forgetable holes on this course. The conditions: The greens are very good, the fairways are very good. The tees are good. The bunkers are very good (but do avoid them !!). The staff is good. The pro shop in the hotel are exceptional good. It is well stocked and even sell quality stuff to affordable prices. Unfortunate, the course is very busy even on weekdays and a victim of it's own success. I had a brilliant day on this course and I will play it over and over again. This is the best golf course I have ever played.

Belleisle is my "home" course. Unfortunately, it's a victim of its own success. It is an excellent parkland course with testing, attractive holes but regrettably it is badly overplayed. Be prepared for a four or five hour round. There really is no excuse..but don't get me started about slow play! No sprinklers and poor water pressure combined with Ayr's dry microclimate and heavy use mean that the greens do suffer in the summer. They are at their best in February and March.

much hyped and read about course as we planned our midweek break. Proved to be least favourite course of trip.Real let down, greens particularly average condition. Rough rediculously penal being chest high only yards off the fairway.Seems to be overplayed was very busy on our visit. Pity Intersting well laid out course with a sea view on some holes.Maybe it will be better on your trip.

A good test of golf for most golfers. Good greens although the course itself could do with some TLC. Facilities quite poor but staff very helpfull to point you in the right direction for a meal etc. If on a golf break an ideal course to start with. Also some protection from the elements as compared with the other links in the area.

This course has a great layout for a public course, but the tee,s where in very poor condition and the greens were long and slow.

This is a well designed layout and truely one of the best municple courses in the country. The upkeep was of a very high standard although the greens were long and slow when we played (unlike Lochgreen in troon.) Tough par threes (although don't pay much attention to the strokesaver for the third.) Strong par 4's (two which are reachable.) and great par fives (looking on the card each is reachable and birdy chances.) but two pf them need irons off the tee to lay up in front of a raving or water hazard. Great course, for serious competitive golf, why not try SEAFIELD on the same complex in the afternoon for some FUN and real relaxation.

For a public course Bellisle was amazingly good and very pretty.The fairways and greens were in immaculate condition.It is a long course with many demanding holes.The rough when we played (May) was wholly unforgiving and many a ball was lost just off the fairway.A very enjoyable round but one of those courses I would love to play again with knowledge off where to lay up or play safe!

If there were no Prestwick, Troon, Turnberry, would you go to the Ayrshire area? If you say no, then you probably haven't discovered the other little gems around the place. Belleisle is one of them, and complements a day at Ayr Races perfectly! Along with Kilmarnock, the two Gailes' courses, Largs, and about 40 other courses, Belleisle shares magnificent ground onto which course designers put their devious minds and developed great tests of golf. Belleisle is not Prestwick, but it is a stern test of golf in parts, plays plenty of tricks with the eyes (blast them ever allowing yardage books into golf!), and as always, can wreck anyone if the wind blows. Belleisle is a lovely place to play, and will give you a better going-over than many courses.

I played this course twice duting a three week holiday in Sept- Oct '96. It is a relatively easy course with wide open fairways, and not a lot of serious hazards. It was quite pleasureable, and the setting is ripe with history. As with most courses, it helps to have a couple of locals show the way on blind shots. We enjoyed lunch at the Northpark House Hotel, which is very classy, abliet pricey. The restaurant at the course is quite drab, but not unlike what you'll find in lots of little pub/restaurants in Scotland. Avoid playing the course on weekends when it is very busy. M. Rasmussen Vancouver Canada ([email protected])