Boat of Garten

Overview: Boat of Garten, known locally as The Boat, is a Highland heathland course in the Cairngorms National Park. The 18-hole par 70 layout measures about 5,876 yards and uses birch, broom, heather and naturally shaped fairways. The short yardage does not remove the challenge, because the holes are individually shaped and the surrounding trees and rough punish imprecise lines.

History: Golf began at Boat of Garten as a six-hole course in 1898. James Braid later created the 18-hole championship layout, which opened in 1930. His design remains closely associated with the course, using the natural ground rather than imposing a repeated template. The club has continued to maintain the character of the Highland setting as the surrounding area developed.

Did You Know? The course is bordered by the River Spey on one side and the historic Strathspey Railway on the other. Those two edges help explain the course's narrow sense of place and the changing views that appear between the wooded fairways.