Clarke and Co. open new course

Ryder Cup hero Darren Clarke meets Kingennie Gregor Norrie (far left), former Dundee United captain David Bowman, a member of the Kingennie team, proprietor Mike Forbes (far right) and his sons Cameron and Alistair.

Golfers are teeing up for a new challenge in Tayside following the opening of a stunning nine-hole course crafted by top Scottish designer Graeme Webster near the Dundee coast. Kingennie Country Resort's course was launched unofficially by Darren Clarke, Thomas Bjorn and Nick Dougherty during Open Championship week at nearby Carnoustie but now it's open for its limited membership and pay-and-play customers.

Green fees for visitors cost £18 per day during the week (juniors £10) and £21 at weekend (£12).

Cairgorm putting green in the foreground

The resort also includes an 18-hole Cairngorm putting green, inspired by the famous Himalayas course at St Andrews, punctuated with rock gardens, practice range, trout pools, restaurant and bar and self-catering accommodation in 12 woodland holiday lodges.

Proprietor, Mike Forbes, says: “We have created a first-class golf development which is a superb addition to the many activities we already provide at Kingennie.”

Adds Webster said: “We wanted the course to work with the existing contours of the countryside, and the topography of Kingennie has lent itself to providing a very attractive and exciting lay-out.

“It has all the essential ingredients of a top course. When you've played a great round in a great location, you immediately want to go back and do it again, and that's exactly how you'll feel when you've played Kingennie.”

The Kingennie course features three par-3s, five par-4s and a par-5 tees with USGA- specification greens and irrigation maintained by a team led by Gregor Norrie, formerly senior greenkeeper at the Gleneagles PGA course.