Spey Bay Golf Club was designed by Ben Sayers and is a picturesque, undulating links course with a long beach on one side. The fairways are lined with swathes of gorse and heather, while shingle and the beach also form a border at some holes. The beach and shingle won’t come into play unless you completely lose control of the ball.
The Late Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald was a member at Spey Bay. The Magnificent club championship trophy which remains at the club, was presented by him. The grand Richmond Gordon Hotel stood overlooking the eighteenth green and was a favourite retreat for the gentry of the day. Sadly the hotel was burned to the ground in the great fire of 1965.
The signature hole, Spey Bay Golf Club, is still the 138-yard 8th, situated at the most easterly point on the property. Out of bounds extends to the left and beyond this par three hole, with a nasty pot bunker positioned to the front left of an elevated, shallow putting surface. Pray the wind is blowing against when standing on the tee as that’s the best chance of playing a tee shot to hit and hold this treacherous green.
Note that several holes were lost during the 1980s due to storm damage but most of the original layout remains intact.
Visitors are welcome at Spey Bay Golf Club. The bar is open until 11pm from Thursday to Saturday. the rest of the week until 7pm.
