Swanston Golf Course News
News about the Planned New Holes and
Practice Facilities
Course architects: Graeme
Tait & Ronnie
Lumsden
Aug '08
Work on the new 12th hole will start on Monday 1st
September. Details.
Jul '08
|
Short-course
9th green with new route of Swanston Burn in foreground |
Short-course
9th tee (12ft by 12ft Huxley Premier Tee Turf) with new
clubhouse in background |
It's never too young to learn. The 80 yard 4th hole
on the short-course crosses the corner of a pond. |
|
View back down fairway from new 13th green |
New pond fed by spring between new 13th and 18th
fairways |
View down new 16th fairway from green (parallel to
Lothianburns's 1st) |
New 18th from back tee |
New 18th hole from front tee |
|
The 'Templar' short-course has opened for play on 16th July.
It is free to all existing members, and also open to
visitors. The USGA spec greens and Huxley premier
tee-turf tees are in excellent order, but since the fairways
took a hammering from the torrential rain when first seeded
in the summer of 2007 they are not yet up-to-scratch.
Rather than delay further the opening of the course we
have chosen to allow play but with mats (available at no
extra cost). Chipping to the greens is permitted
within the 3m fringe, but outside that a mat must be used.
Jun '08
Current estimates on opening new holes:
- Practice greens: All open, now cut to 6mm
- Templar short-course: Opening for play in July 2008.
- New six holes for main course: Opening for
members-only play in August 2008, with mats for fairways,
but not for competitions until Spring 2009.
Current view from new 18th forward tee.
Please send suggestions for names of new holes on both
courses to
colin@swanston.co.uk
May '08
What a difference some warmth makes.
|
View looking south-west towards the new clubhouse.
The pond in the foreground is between the 4th and 6th
greens of the 'Templar' short-course. |
New 13th (par 5) hole on main 'Swanston' course with new
practice putting green in foreground. |
Pentland Putting Green |
April '08
The first half of April was again frustratingly cold so very
little growth on the new holes. The 3rd week has
finally seen a shift to warmer winds and April showers.
|
Pentland Putting Green
Opened on Sat 19th |
Current record of 16 (2 under par) set by Malcolm
Campbell on 24th |
March '08
A cold and windy March has seen very little growth on the
new holes. Still aiming to open the two putting greens
and chipping/pitching/bunker green mid to late April,
short-course in June/July and the six new holes for the main
course in September.
|
View looking south-west towards the new clubhouse.
The pond in the foreground is between the 4th and 6th
greens of the 'Templar' short-course. |
View from new 17th green on main 'Swanston' course back
towards new clubhouse. |
View from new 18th tee on main 'Swanston' course down
the fairway 420 yards, trees & pond at 240 on left,
Swanston Burn snakes across in front of green. |
February '08
Latest photos of new holes from the new clubhouse.
|
View looking north east from new clubhouse over new
holes. The ditch crossing the picture is the new
course of the Swanston Burn. The 3 greens in the
foreground (L to R) are the 9th of the short-course, the
new 18th for the main course and the new practice
putting green. Short-course greens in background. |
View looking east from new clubhouse. New putting
green bottom left. New 13th tee just over the
hedge bottom right. New par 4 - 18th fairway left
of pond and small copse of trees; new par 5 - 13th
fairway to right of trees. |
January '08
The latest estimates on when the new holes will be open
for play are:
- Driving range - Opened in July 2007
- Short-game putting & chipping greens - April 2008
- 6 new holes for main course - August 2008
- 'Templar' 9-hole short-course - August 2008
October '07:
With the growing season coming to a close the condition of
the new holes is summed up as 'good' in places. Being
seeded in the spring the greens have come on very well with
consistent cutting, but since the wet summer prevented us
completing the sowing of the fairways until late August,
they need some early warmth next year to thicken out.
We still hope to open the three practice greens in the
spring, then open the new holes in the summer for limited
play with possibly mats for the fairways.
17th Mar '07:
Evening
News article: Golf course developers are given green praise
5th Mar '07:
Road sign to
show pedestrians how they'll have a new 'country path' to
get them off Swanston Road available this year.
2nd Mar '07:
Planning permission for new holes approved by City of
Edinburgh Council. [Evening
News article]
21st Feb '07:
Layout plan for short course including yardages for play as
9 holes, or 6 holes (3 pairs of holes are can be played as
one on certain days/competitions).
