Issue link: http://pgaofcanada.uberflip.com/i/390538
35  | FALL 2014 eden cOuRse at st. andReWs: Everyone wants to play the old Course. at makes plenty of sense. But to pass on the lesser-known Eden Course, a bril- liant sporty design by Harry Colt, would be a shame. ough alterations have changed Colt's vision, the front nine, with its plunging greens that play right alongside the old Course, is as good as it gets. of particular note were two one-shot holes (5 and 8) with crossing tee shots. Five is a pitch hole, requiring little more than a 9-iron, but plays to a green set on the right of a small dune. e 8th is interesting because it crosses over the 5th, playing to a wild green with a false front that is more than eight feet in height. It cards at 178 yards, but it is fasci- nating to not quite navigate the slope at the front and see the ball come rocketing back to your feet. Short? Sure. Inexpensive? At $90 this is a steal. Enjoyable? Without question. Best paired with: Carnoustie; New Course at St. Andrews fORtROse and ROsemaRkie: A visit to Aberdeen will surely include a round at Trump's modern links. A visit to the Inverness area about two hours west will likely entail a round at Castle Stuart, the course created by former Kingsbarns owner Mark Parsinen and de- signer Gil Hanse. But for $80, be sure to drive a half hour around the bay and see Fortrose and Rosemarkie, a true example of a course likely played by the average Scot. on a bold sunny day dozens of people were using the perimeter of the course to walk to the lighthouse that sits on the southernmost tip of the property. It made hitting our opening tee shots a bit daunting, but aer that the land grew rumpled and the golf became pure links. ankfully the stretch of holes with pedestrians nearby only occurs on the opening holes, and by the time you make the turn at the 5th, a cute par-3 over an active roadway (so typical of these unusual links), the course takes on a different tone, mixing wide links holes with short and smart ones. e general theme is straightforward—simple greens, plain bunkering and easily routed holes over natural land. e result was never overly difficult and very cool in places, especially the 17th hole where a stone marks the reputed site of the last witch burning in Scotland. Best paired with: Royal Dornoch; Castle Stuart