Spey Bay,
Fochabers, Moray IV32 7PJ
Office
+44 (0)1343 820 424Pro shop
+44 (0)1343 820 424Website
Visit websiteThe Course:
18 holes. Seaside links. Gently undulating terrain - easy to walk.
Surroundings:
Coastal duneland.
Designer:
Original design by Ben Sayers (1907). Renovation by Mike Clayton, Mike DeVries and Frank Pont (of CDP Golf Design) (2024).
57.671282
-3.081616
4.6 mi N of Fochabers / 50 mi E of Inverness.
Spey Bay
Spey Bay Golf Club: after a period of relative neglect, good to know this once celebrated course on the Moray Firth seashore is bouncing back. The excellent Ben Sayers layout is still thoroughly absorbing, although some big changes will occur if an ambitious plan to create a 22-green reversible layout is implemented in the coming years.
This quiet, wonderfully natural and historically rich layout heads out-and-back along its rolling, tumbling fairways. After the first six east-facing outward holes, you'll enjoy plenty of full-on sea views, starting at the par-4 7th (Wardie). The par-3 8th (Plateau) marks the turn, while the semi-blind par-3 15th (Sea), with a carry over a yawning front bunker, offers up the most memorable short hole.
Throughout the terrain is not overly undulating, with limited elevation changes and relatively modest dunes. What you will find are several valley-like, good-width, gun barrel fairways, with plenty of heathery rough awaiting anything hit too far offline.
Bunker defences are not too onerous, either along the fairways or around the generally large greens. Restoring the greens and greensites to their previous first-rate condition has obviously been a key element of the recent restoration work.
The masterplan for Spey Bay will eventually see it transformed by Mike DeVries and his team into a fully reversible 18-hole championship layout with up to 22 greens and 5 different routings. The aim is to create a truly unique experience at this existing links course beside the North Sea.
Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends.
Must book in advance.
Contact club for full details, discounts, packages, etc. [Last updated: 2024].
Players generally walk this course. Golf carts available for hire (if booked in advance).
Limited
In its heyday the golf course at Spey Bay was much used by guests staying at the onsite Richmond Gordon Hotel. The hotel's wealthy clientele plied their golfing skills on this seaside course. A period of gentle decline set-in after the Second World War, culminating with the hotel burning down in 1965. It's replacement, the Spey Bay Hotel, was developed from the coach houses of the original hotel, but this hotel was later demolished to make way for a housing development.
Women’s (British) Open: the last women’s major championship of the season is hosted by Royal Porthcawl GC. It’s the first time this fabulous seaside links course has hosted the event (July 31-Aug 3).
Walker Cup: the 50th playing of this prestigious men’s amateur event sees the GB&I go head-to-head against the defending USA team at Cypress Point Club, California (Sept 6-7).
After that, all eyes turn to Bethpage State Park on Long Island, NY, where the American and defending European professional teams engage in the 45th Ryder Cup (Sept 27-29).
Lottie Woad: 21-year-old Woad burst onto the professional scene in July, with wins in the Women’s Irish Open (as an amateur) and three weeks later in the Women’s Scottish Open (as a professional). She nearly picked-up a major championship, placing third in The Evian in the same month.
Pádraig Harrington: the ever-likeable Irishman added the (British) Senior Open Championship title to his stellar array of tournament successes. His win came on Sunningdale’s spectacular Old Course. Harrington had already bagged the U.S. Senior Open title in June this year.
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
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