Earl of Mar Estate,
Bishopton, Glasgow PA7 5NW
Office
+44 (0)141 812 9999 (Hotel)Pro shop
+44 (0)141 812 9990 (Pro Shop)Fax
+44 (0)141 812 9997Website
Visit websiteGolf pro
Christopher McQueen (Head of Golf).The Course:
18 holes. Tree-lined & open parkland. Gently undulating terrain - easy to walk.
Surroundings:
Riverside and woodland.
Designer:
Dave Thomas
55.921213
-4.478001
10 miles W of Glasgow.
Follow the M8 west from Glasgow. Go past Glasgow Airport and exit onto the M898 at junction 30, direction Erskine Bridge. After o.5 miles turn off the M898 onto the B815 and follow direction Bishopton. After o.6 miles on the B815 Bishopton road, turn right into Mar Hall.
Mar Hall Golf & Spa Resort (Earl of Mar course): There was a time when golfing around Glasgow was synonymous with a trip to the Ayrshire coast to sample the seaside courses of Irvine, Prestwick and Troon. In recent times the emergence of several excellent inland courses has brought top-quality golf closer to the city, notably with the likes of Loch Lomond and The Carrick. Now even a trip over the Erskine Bridge isn't necessary with the opening of the well-laid out and very scenic Earl of Mar course at Mar Hall.
This attractive Stay & Play venue, also open to visiting green fee payers, is located directly along the banks of the River Clyde, with towering Erskine Bridge at one end of the course, and the beautiful Kilpatrick Hills in constant view across the river. Designed by the much respected architect, Dave Thomas, this attractive and challenging course stretches out along the Clyde to the east and west of stately Mar Hall.
Each of the two nine-hole loops provides three riverside holes, with the remainder arranged on the gentle slopes that lead up from the Clyde. Already, the Earl of Mar gives the impression of a well-established course shaped around a scattering of 250-year-old chestnut and beech trees.
Most of the time the layout exudes an open, linksy character, where strategically placed bunkers threaten throughout your round. The opening quartet of holes provides arguably the toughest stretch, while the green of the short par-4 14th and 15th tee offer a fabulous view down the Clyde, although not quite out to sea.
Stay&Play at Mar Hall: onsite accommodation available, see Where2Stay section below.
Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends.
Must book in advance.
Contact club for full details, discounts, Stay&Play packages, etc. [Last updated: 2023].
Players generally walk this course. Golf carts available for hire.
Good
Mar Hall - formerly Erskine mansion - was designed in the 19th century by Sir Robert Smirke who had previously worked as an architect on the British Museum in London.
Smirke was commissioned by Major General Robert Walter Stuart, the 11th Lord Blantyre, whose family had purchased the grounds and estate some one hundred years previously. Construction was not completed until 1845, fifteen years after Lord Blantyre's death. The house fell into disrepair during the 20th century and it was only in 2004, following a £15 million restoration, that it was returned to its former glory.
Next door to Mar Hall is Erskine Golf Club, a 100+ year old private golf club that also welcomes vistors.
Earl of Mar Estate, Bishopton, nr Glasgow PA7 5NW
+44 (0)141 812 9999
Visit websiteMar Hall is a luxury 5-star golf & spa resort located within a tranquil 240 acre woodland estate on the banks of the River Clyde, just outside Glasgow. It combines 53 individual bedrooms, a championship golf course, Aveda Destination Spa, as well as extensive dining, wedding, conference and banqueting facilities. The centrepiece of Mar Hall is a baronial mansion that was completed in the 1840s, which retains many original features. Overlooking the River Clyde, this grand private residence enjoys views towards the Kilpatrick Hills. A member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
Mar Hall
Erskine GC (not covered on Where2Golf.com)
Loch Lomond; The Carrick; East Renfrewshire; Haggs Castle.
Sony Open in Hawaii: played at Waialae Country Club near Honolulu, the Sony Open takes over the spotlight from The Sentry as the PGA Tour’s calendar-year opening event (Jan 15-18). The Sentry (not being played in 2026) was formerly known as the Tournament of Champions, with a field typically restricted to golfers who won a PGA Tour event in the previous calendar year.
Dubai Desert Classic: the DP World Tour’s first Rolex Series event of 2026, is contested for the 37th time (Jan 22-25). First won by Englishman Mark James in 1989, it now boasts a four-time winner, Rory McIlroy. Played on the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course, this once desert-surrounded course is the long-time flagship for Golf in Dubai.
Our visit last month included two rounds at Golf de Chantilly, one of France’s most prestigious clubs.
It offers two superb layouts: Le Vineuil, a five-star championship course with a rich history, and Longères, an excellent four-star course that provides a strong and enjoyable test.
The wider Paris region offers plenty more. Courses such as Fontainebleau, Golf de Saint-Germain, and several other top-rated layouts make this area one of Europe’s most rewarding golf destinations, offering a mix of woodland, heathland, and parkland designs.
The Dutch: "It's no' just a game", as they say in Scotland, and that's certainly true at The Dutch. With 5-star services throughout, a lavishly comfortable Loch Lomond-inspired clubhouse, and a superbly designed and presented golf course, one could not ask for more from this top-end private club.
Join us at The Dutch from August 21–24 for the Festival of Golf, featuring the HotelPlanner Tour. Experience four days of top-tier sport, live music, incredible food, and unexpected surprises. Explore the grounds, connect with others, embrace new challenges, and dive into an unforgettable celebration. Click here to buy tickets.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
You can subscribe to the Where2Golf channel on YT if you like to see more video content. You'll find a "Subscribe" button on any of our YouTube videos. Or if you want a quick and direct access subscribe here. Once done, any new published videos will show up in your Subscriptions feed.