Buchanan Castle Golf Club Stirlingshire

Designed by James Braid, Buchanan Castle Golf Club is a beautiful 18 hole parkland course lying on the plain of the River Endrick less than one mile from Loch Lomond and it is a delight, in spite of the fact that in Scottish golfing terms it is almost a new-comer, dating from 1936.

One intriguing aspect of play over the course is that many fairways have been framed by two tall trees, one either side, at around 200 yards, or where the Braid Dog-legs start to turn. These are simple but insidious. For example, the very first hole has these framing trees just where the fairway turns to the right. 

The 1st hole is 395 yards. If you drive well to the left to open up the second shot, you will find bunkers squeezing out the left side of the green on the line of your approach – likely to need a healthy iron shot. The 9th hole at 387 yards is almost a replica, this time with the fairway sloping downwards into the right turn of the dog-leg.

Holes 6, 7, 9 and 16 run by the River which is never in play, but it is always there, just over your shoulder. Braid’s original design on the 7th called for a carry of a couple of hundred yards across the angle of the River Endrick.

Buchanan Castle offers golfers a fair but challenging round of golf in a unique setting, with mountains, river and forest scenery near the shores of Loch Lomond. It is a stunningly beautiful parkland course.