Spey Valley Golf Course

It is hard to believe that the course at Spey Valley is less than a decade old as it has matured really quickly into a fantastic championship test set in one of the most picturesque places I have ever been. Purple Heather and the towering peaks of the Cairngorms National Park make this a truly awesome place to play golf - we even had the good fortune of playing in brilliant sunshine - and for those who take their golf seriously rather than being put off by a challenging course will love it here! I am by no means an exceptional player but playing off three, I like to think I know my way around a golf course. Spey Valley, which was designed by Dave Thomas I think, is a great layout that tests every facet of your game. Expect to be hitting a fair few mid to long irons into greens unless you are brave enough to hit driver - the fairways start to get pretty narrow closer to the greens. Undulations, heather, mature trees and well placed bunkers all add to the challenge but from my experience the most important part of your game at Spey Valley is accurate iron play. Hit the greens in reg and you will give yourself plenty of chances thanks to the quality of the greens. All in all, despite the clubhouse lacking a touch of character, Spey Valley will serve up a great day's golf and comes thoroughly recommended by me for those who want to sample the best of Scotland's inland courses without it costing an arm and a leg. I stayed and played twice with dinner and breakfast included and it cost me less than £150 with yourgolftravel.com. 5/5

After reading the previous reviews I thought an updated one was in order. The heather has been cut back significantly and the fairways are consistent and firm and long rolling, yes they undulate but that makes it interesting, who wants flat! Bunkers are well placed but not over deep or too many. I have played it in the worst driving wind they have had to date and every green was reachable in regulation for the average player, the course is in no way shape or form tight. Views are spectacular, greens are very good though not Loch Lomond standard I guess, but what is? Green fees are reasonable.

played 23/09/2010. course was shut the day before (heavy rain for 3 weeks) great track, some greens been hollowtined (time of year tho) overall 8/10.

Day 2 of the Highlands 2009 tour – and a very different proposition to the opening day at Nairn Dunbar, with this being an archetypal modern track set up to attract big tournaments - although whether they actually get a main European Tour event is another matter. I remember reading someone on here saying that they judged a course by how much they wanted to go straight back out and play it again – and whilst this is a good track with some wonderful scenery, I have to be honest and say I just didn't get much of that feeling afterwards. I actually thought some holes were poorly designed for the average player, being 'pinched' in at anything from 190 to 230 yards out from the green, discouraging you from taking the driver off the tee and leaving extremely long approaches - the 11th and 12th in particular. There's also just something about most modern tournament courses that I find a bit soulless – even, in this case, when it's transplanted to the most incredible location. Despite these reservations, I'd still recommend a round here. But if I lived nearby, I'd be playing my golf at The Boat. 8.25 'Young P' (h/c 12)

A wonderful day on a great course. Fantastic layout and reasonable prices with offers for twilight (after 3pm) and local residents make it an affordable day. The course itself is long and tight with lots of heather and some considerably difficult holes. You need to be driving well to have any chance of making pars. We decided to walk round rather than buggy which was worthwhile in the good weather as the views are just spectacular (I couldnt think of a better place to build a golf course!), but it is a long track with some big gaps between green/tee so be ready. Our only criticism was that the course is still maturing, so the grass is not always consistent on the fairways and the greens are still a bit on the slow side, though this will obviously improve with time, it may still be too soon to host professional events.

Beautiful, but incredibly tough. Fairways like roller coasters, consistent and quick greens, we played a day with stiff wind and troublesome showers and the deep, deep heatehr wads a consistent problem. I am sure on a totally benign day it would be great but it was, I would say, too tough - the heather came right to ythe edge of the first cut of rough and any balls hit into it were pretty much lost. A disappointment in that respect - my view is only take it on if you have a single figure handicap (I play off 21). Very well treated on arrival though, with free range balls and driven too and from the course form the 'clubhouse' (which is a bit rubbish itself).

Simply stunning! A brand new course which looks as tho it has been around since the English passed by on their way to Culloden. There was a stiff westerly wind the day we played which made a couple of the par 3's into Par 5's and I suspect that that wind will be a major feature of the course. Although set in some glorious Highland scenery, it is not hilly and whilst buggies are mandatory, it is a shame that golfers have to speed round and not be able to take the time to smell the heather, watch the eagles and just savour the experience. Excellent greens - only small gripe as far as the course is concerned is that the some of the fairways were a tad short on grass. (Hardly surprising given it is not yet 4 months old.) Stay out of the rough as they breed some evil strains of heather in these parts. Off course things are a bit makeshift until the new clubhouse is built next year but don't wait, play it anyway. Small things stick in the mind like whilst there are unlimited free Callaway balls on the range, it is £1.50 for a cardboard cup of Nescafe complete with white(!) sugar. This new course deserves to succeed and when it does, it will give Nairn, Dornoch et al some serious competition in the future - whether competition drives the green fees down remains to be seen tho.