Cardrona: The Borders venue that’s back with a bang!

The Scottish Borders is one of the prime places to escape to for a golf break, and if some peace and tranquillity takes your fancy, the Macdonald Cardrona Hotel Golf & Spa is the place to book.

Only 40 minutes from the centre of Edinburgh, Cardrona is in the ideal location for a golf break, and the facilities are set to take a big leap forward in 2022.

Cardrona is located in the picturesque borders, beside the town of Peebles. Although it’s a huge development, it has always been a responsible one, with the course receiving the Scottish Award for Environmental Excellence in Golf. This is all down to the course’s commitment to preserving local wildlife and its beautiful surroundings.

The hotel is a four-star facility where you are guaranteed to be made to feel at home, particularly with the appointment of the new general manager, Siann Reid. Reid has accumulated many years in the hospitality business, and has already taken the hotel forward. She knows that 2021 was a tough year for the whole industry, but that only means 2022 will be twice as good.

“We, like all hospitality businesses, faced some challenges in 2021 but what we did see was a great demand for golf,” Reid said.

“The one thing we have always been able to do throughout the pandemic is utilise the great outdoors, and our stunning surrounds and Championship Course in the Scottish Borders offer just that. There has been significant investment and project works that have seen our course continually improve. I am looking forward to welcoming new and returning guests to Cardrona for an excellent golf season in 2022.”

Of course, the most important part of any getaway is the golf, and Cardrona is lucky to have a Dave Thomas-designed championship golf course on the grounds. The late Thomas began his course design career in the 1970s and is known for large, rolling greens and shapely bunkers, which you’ll find here.

While Cardrona only opened in 2001, it has matured quickly and hosted Challenge Tour events in 2007 and 2008. Although you might not have the skill of the pros, that’s no problem, as there are plenty tee boxes to suit whatever skill level you’re bringing to the course. If you want to test yourself, though, the course can stretch to over 7,000 yards off the back tees, with a par of 72.

As with all of Thomas’ designs, bunkers are a key feature at Cardrona. Where some other Scottish courses will have you in deep pot bunkers, Cardrona is home to huge, flat bunkers, that won’t always force you into playing out sideways.

The fairways are undulating, with some running alongside the picturesque River Tweed, which might be nice to look at between shots, but be aware that it can – and will – attract any wayward drives.

One man who is looking forward to the 2022 season is the Golf Course and Estates Manager, Bruce Watson, who has been working hard over the winter to have the course back to its best. “Although some storms over the winter were damaging, we’ve been lucky at Cardrona to get away with minimal damage,” said Watson.

“Throughout the winter, the course has been playable virtually every day, which is testament to the good work the team have been carrying out. But we also have to thank the mild conditions for that and, hopefully, they continue.

To prepare for the new season, we’ve focused on aeration in the greens and tee boxes, with both areas receiving regular hollow tining over the autumn and winter months. 

“We have further plans for the greens in the spring and, weather permitting, this will see work getting under way at the start of March. We’ve also been working on improving the greenkeeping equipment, which is only going to make the course easier to maintain.” 

So, if you’re planning your next short golf break and want to get away from the hustle and bustle of St Andrews or the cityscapes of Edinburgh or Glasgow, then you should book into Cardrona. You’re guaranteed a warm welcome, before taking on one of the best courses in the area. 

Find out more 

Golf Breaks from £89pp.

macdonaldhotels.co.uk/cardrona 
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0344 879 9048