Golf Blair Atholl and Pitlochry
The gateway to the Highlands
The Scottish Highlands are regarded as some of the most rugged and, at times, inhospitable areas of the UK. Plying his trade in all weathers is Stuart Griffiths, Course Manager for two of the region’s most delightful golf clubs
A
t the southern reaches of the Cairngorms National Park lie two golf clubs with distinctive personalities, yet under joint management. In this part of
Scotland the views, everywhere you look, are simply stunning and place names have a Celtic charm that leaves the visitor in no doubt as to what country they are in. Heading north up the A9 from Perth brings
you to the first of the two clubs, Pitlochry, an 18-hole facility built on land purchased from two farms - Balnacraig and Drumchorry - back in 1908, with the original design being laid out by Willie Fernie of Troon. In the early 1920s, Major Cecil Hutchison
tinkered and tweaked with the layout and further minor changes have been made by a
20 I PC DECEMBER/JANUARY 2016
succession of head greenkeepers. The length of the course now stands at just under 5,700 yards with a par of 69 for men and just over 5,100 yards, par 72 for ladies. Seven and a half miles further north,
passing Killikrankie on your way, will bring you to Blair Atholl, a classic ‘James Braid like’ design over nine holes that uses the natural contours of the land to best effect, and has been augmented with the addition of several ponds crafted in local stonework. It is generally an easy walking parkland
layout, but with short climbs to and from a plateau, which is a prominent feature of the course and provides fine views of the imposing Cairngorms to the north. Stuart Griffiths is the Course Manager
responsible for both courses, and a delightful
6-hole short course at Pitlochry - The Lettoch Links - with sweeping views of the Tummel Valley. “I was head greenkeeper at Blair Atholl for
five years, until last January, when the directors of Pitlochry Golf took over the running of Blair Atholl and I was then asked to be the course manager for both courses.” “I started in the industry in 1992, as a summer worker at Tain Golf Club under Iain Macleod, who encouraged me to go to Elmwood College to do a full time National Certificate course. After my year at college, I was offered my first full time position at Letham Grange near Arbroath under Jim Grainger; then, after six informative years, I headed down south for a new challenge at Hankley Common Golf Club in Surrey,
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