Loch Lomond :: A return to Scotland’s most iconic golf club

Until yesterday, almost six years had passed since I last visited Loch Lomond Golf Club.

Edoardo Molinari’s Scottish Open victory there in 2010 was the most recent opportunity that I – indeed, most people – had to see one of Scotland’s most beguiling, seductive golf courses up close.

So, you can imagine my delight when an invitation dropped to play it yesterday afternoon, followed by dinner in the spectacular Rossdhu House.

With the Scottish Open now confirmed to go to its sister course, Dundonald Links, in 2017, Loch Lomond is reappearing on the golfing landscape after a difficult few years.

Yesterday was an opportunity to go back behind the Tartan Curtain.

Now, following a successful member buy-out which brought the club out of administration, it is on a healthier – and, more to the point, happier – footing. There seems to be a genuine will amongst the 570-plus members to re-connect with the outside world. Taking the Scottish Open to Dundonald is the first step in that process, with a future tour event at Loch Lomond itself not being ruled-out.

For me, yesterday was an opportunity to go back behind the Tartan Curtain and see one of the country’s most notoriously private clubs up close.

Suffice to say, it’s every bit as special as it ever was…

The locker rooms are still amongst the best in the country and, yes, still manned by Willie. If you haven’t met him before, he’s a hell of a character. If you have, you know exactly what I mean. He’s a master of banter.

The practice ground, meanwhile, is in great nick and a superb place to work on your game. If I hadn’t had a tee time, I’d happily have spent the whole afternoon there. The pic above is of the short game area. There’s a large putting green just to the back and right of me, whilst the driving range – the best in the country by an absolute mile – is over to the right.

The course itself has undergone some subtle tweaks here and there – ‘continuous improvement’, they’ve called it – but, for the most part, it is just as it was when the Scottish Open was last there. The above is the fourth green, whilst below is the superb par-3 fifth. I, of course, found the bunker to the right of the green. Standard behaviour.

It’s worth pointing out that the greens are exceptionally good and not just ‘for the time of year’. I was told they were running at 10.5 on the Stimp – so, they’re pretty quick – and they were just so true, so well manicured and so free-rolling. If there are better greens in the country, I’ve yet to see them.

The view from the 18th is still pretty special. There were decidedly fewer boats on the loch than there typically were on the Sunday of the Scottish Open but, still, it’s a pretty impressive sight.

Even without the trees and flowers in full bloom, there are few places finer to complete a round. Even the bunkers were superb.

The fairways were in good condition considering the amount of rain that has fallen on the ‘Bonnie Banks’ over the winter. They were heavily sanded in places but you still got plenty of run, so it’s barely even worth a grumble.

Oh, and these were parked side-by-side in front of the clubhouse…

No sign of either Mr Bond or Mr Woods but, when the course is this good, who needs them?

Driving away down the A82 after dinner, I felt as though I’d reconnected with an old friend and with the same lingering feeling: let’s not leave it so long next time.

Loch Lomond Golf Club is, indeed, still there – and it’s still fantastic.

Loch Lomond Golf Club :: Your Thoughts

Would you like to see a tour event return to Loch Lomond? Have you played the course yourself? What are your favourite memories of visiting it? Leave your thoughts in our ‘Comments’ section below.

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor