10 - Abernethy Golf Club

Location: Nethy Bridge, Scotland

Rating: 6.9

Abernethy is a fantastic, wee 9 hole course nestled in the heart of the Cairngorms in the Scottish Highlands. I have played here many times and on annual golf trips we often try play as many holes as we can in one day, the one year getting to 49 in a single day.

With a small clubhouse and no more than a tiny putting green in front, it is a very lowkey, quaint golf club with a great mix of unique and challenging holes.

The first is a lovely start, a par 4 from an elevated tee with the hole bending to the right is a great kick off to the round. The second is a short par 3 which hits across a busy side road, where you'll often be found waiting for cars to pass as you prepare to take your shot. At no more than 100 meters but with thick heather and the road before the green, it is amazing to see how the mind can be affected on what should be the easiest of holes.

The holes continue to weave through the forest all with their own interesting and different challenge. The 8th is another cracker, a completely blind par 3 where you have no more than a pole to aim at and at close to 210 meters for me it is the hardest hole on the course.

Abernethy is genuinely one of my favourite 9 hole courses and I couldn't recommend playing it more highly.