Sharing borders with Glasgow, North Ayrshire and West Dumbartonshire, Renfrewshire provides links for more than 10,000 golfers and is affiliated with 22 clubs in an area which stretches from Gourock in the north west and Bonnyton in the south east.
The headline acts in the county are, without doubt, the impressive moorland trio of East Renfrewshire, Kilmacolm and Ranfurly Castle.
East Ren, as the locals know it, is yet another James Braid classic which the famed architect pieced together in 1922. It still features many of Braid’s signature traits, from high tees, rolling fairways, and plateaud greens. With all 18 holes offering something different, East Renfrewshire is moorland golf at its finest.
On the opposite side of the county is Kilmacolm, dubbed a ‘miniature Gleneagles’ and another fine track. With only one par-5, Kilmacolm comes in at a modest 5,961 yards at its longest and only three of the par-4s play longer than 400 yards – so this is very a much a course to be enjoyed.
Ranfurly Castle, meanwhile, lies to the western edge of the large village of Bridge of Weir, which prospered in the 18th and 19th centuries due to cotton mills and tanneries. Despite its close proximity to Glasgow, Ranfurly Castle remains relatively undiscovered, except to those in the know.
And we can’t discuss golf in Renfrewshire without mentioning the Mearns Castle Golf Academy, which develops young golfers and provides many children with access to special coaching sessions at their specialist facility.
David J Whyte © Linksland