Scawt Hill Links Course GuideWelcome to the Scawt Hill Course Guide! This will help players navigate the golf course and help enhance the playing experience for those that are unfamiliar with Irish Links-style golf.
First, some history:
Scawt Hill is a volcanic plug in the province Ulster in Northern Ireland. The golf course is a fictional routing inspired by courses shown in the No Laying Up Tourist Sauce Season 4 series on YouTube. You may notice the landscape looking a LOT like Carne, Tralee, Ballybunion, and other Irish links courses during your round. Lots of tall grass, Irish Marigold flowers, and even some wildlife paint the dunes as the golf course works it's way up, around, and over the emerald dunes. Throughout your round, you'll see the rocky face of the Scawt Hill Plug stretching over the landscape...but you might not see the course's symbol during your round. The Irish Stoat is a short tailed weasel that scurries through the dunes of the area, and are only native to this part of the world. The Stoat is our crest/logo, and is featured on the scorecard as well as our apparel. Stop in the pro shop for a vest, 1/4 zip, or hat before or after your round!
We only offer a putting green to warm up for your round, but players are encouraged to take a "breakfast ball" off the 1st tee no matter the time of day
A semi-private establishment, we appreciate your patronage and support in keeping our course running for many years to come. The course was "founded" in 1931 after local geologists and scientists found minerals just a few years prior. The club was founded after given special permission from the protected land agency in 1929. We hope you enjoy your round!
Hole 1 - (Par 4)
This slight dogleg right provides a healthy target to begin your round. Keep your tee shot off the cliffs, and watch out for the green as it slopes front left to back right.
Hole 2 - (Par 5)
Every Par 5 on property is reachable, and we encourage you "give it a go" if your tee shot finds the fairway. The more you challenge the pot bunker off the tee, the better chance you have at getting home in 2.
Hole 3 - (Par 4)
If you test the bunkers off the tee, you will open up a better angle of approach into this green. The further away from the traps you play, the more the wall will interfere. Don't argue with the wall either...it's much older than you.
Hole 4 - (Par 4)
The 'ol farm wall stretches it's way into the 4th fairway. Wind pending, you can either pump driver over it, or play behind it for a longer approach. The green sits slightly uphill, and will kick approach shots in towards the center from the left and right edges.
Hole 5 - (Par 3)
Real simple strategy here...DO NOT BE SHORT. Everything will fall back into our version of the "Valley of Sin" and is not an easy up and down. Make your 3, and get out of there.
Hole 6 - (Par 4)With the wind at your back, this is a driveable Par 4. However, we suggest you check where the flag is before you choose which bunker to try and carry off the tee. Unlike the last hole, over this green is certain doom.
Hole 7 - (Par 3)The easiest of the Par 3's on property, this mid length hole offers a great chance at birdie provided you've hit your tee shot to the correct portion of the putting surface. That bunker is mostly there for show, so don't be afraid to challenge it!
Hole 8 - (Par 4)
Known as "the Punchbowl", this Par 4 demands that you check where the pin position is BEFORE you hit your tee shot. The fairway is split level, with only a few flat lies to be found. If the flag is not in the thumbprint near the front of the punch bowl, make sure you take an extra club.
Hole 9 - (Par 5)
Provided you challenge the left side of the "flower mound" off the tee, you can reach this green in 2. If you choose the safer play to the right, your next swing needs to avoid the bunker. A tough hole to eagle, but one to easily birdie if you play it sensibly. Congrats! You're officially the farthest away from the clubhouse you'll be all day.
Hole 10 - (Par 4)
This long par 4 is a tough start as we head back towards town. Make sure you check the wind before sending your tee shot alongside the seaside dunes. Your approach needs to cover the MASSIVE false front, or it will be a tough up-and-down for par.
Hole 11 - (Par 4)
One of the best chances for birdie on the back 9, make sure you pick which landing area to aim for. Any tee shot that avoids the traps will give you a great look at an aggressive 2nd shot, and a chance at birdie.
Hole 12 - (Par 3)
Modeled after the 13th at Tralee Golf Links, this is a beautiful par 3. You're aiming directly at a field of Irish Marigolds with Scawt Hill facing you during this tough test. Anything that avoids the deep depression in the dune system will avoid giving you a big number...and be sure to watch out for the reverse thumbprint near the middle/rear portion of the green.
Hole 13 - (Par 4)Deceptively tough, make sure you pick the correct club off the tee to navigate the two large dunes that protect the fairway. The green is redan-esque, and slopes from right to left.
Hole 14 - (Par4)The second and final driveable Par 4 on the course (if the wind allows). Your approach needs to find the correct tier of the putting surface, or it will be a tricky par in your future. If time allows, be sure to investigate the ruins of an old Irish fort from the 1800's that is long and left of the green.
Hole 15 - (Par 3)Our signature hole, this short-mid Par 3 plays over a field of Marigolds to a split level green that is modeled after the "postage stamp" in Scotland. Don't get caught in one of those deep greenside bunkers!
Hole 16 - (Par 5)TCRBrad (our course architect) calls this "The best hole I have ever designed."
A Par 5 that is all based on how much of the sea you choose to cut off with your tee shot. We recommend aiming at the small dune in front of the fairway for reference. The approach to the green is played over another deep depression in the dunes, with fescue, gorse bushes, and tall plants to make digging a wayward approach quite the chore. With great risk comes great reward!
Hole 17 - (Par 5)The second of back-to-back Par 5's, players need to challenge the fairway bunker in order to leave a shorter approach to the green. Climb up the hill and take plenty of club if you're going to go for it, or 3 large traps will swallow you up. This is the toughest Par 5 on the property, so play it wisely.
Hole 18 - (Par 4)Our final hole is a gentle dogleg right around Mrs. McGinley's pub and the bed and breakfast. Be careful if you try and pump driver over the pub...any ball that comes to rest on the road OR near the pub is ruled "Out of Bounds". Plus, Mrs. McGinley will surely have a word with you if you ding an errant tee shot off her roof. The green plays similarly to the road hole at St. Andrews (minus the length), so be sure to look out for the run off over the green.
After your round, please have a visit to the club shop, and grab a bite and a pint at the "Crow's Nest" pub with a view over the 18th green and 1st tee.
Once again, thank you for visiting us here at Scawt Hill Links. If you need a bed and a warm shower, rooms are available at the Craig Hotel across the street from Mrs. McGinley's pub.
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