Nairn GC

Serious Scottish golfers don't like shouting about the quality of Nairn because until the Walker Cup went there in '99 it was relatively unknown - a real hidden gem. Obscurity is not necessarily a bad thing - you'll avoid those trophy tourists simply intent on returning home with stories about how they stood in the same bunker as Tiger Woods. But for those who take their golf seriously and are after a real test that won't break the bank, Nairn is ideal.

Unless you're straight off the tee, these fairways made by the 'A Team' of course design (Morris/Braid/Simpson) could easily lead to the kind of card you have sweaty nightmares about. Don't be fooled by the wide 1st which runs parallel to the beach. If the wind is blowing think carefully and avoid the sand.

The greens here are true and fast and will lead to a host of slippery putts that are they key to a good round. Get the flastick going and you could return with a respectable total. The fairways are flanked by thick, springy rough, enter too deep and you risk a reload.

But don't despair, when the heather blooms in late summer and the sun is still shining at teatime, there surely can't be many better places on earth.

Best Hole: The gentle opening hole is a beauty with a sandy beach on the right that must be missed.

Web: www.nairngolfclub.co.uk

Thinking about a trip to Aberdeenshire? Click here for the Total Golf guide to the area