Discover a True Hidden Gem Golf Break in Scotland

Having rekindled my love affair with the country of my birth, I have just returned from my fifth trip to Scotland in two years. And the flame burns as brightly as ever.

While much of England roasted amid temperatures touching 30C, I am here to tell you that things were much cooler up north. We even saw a few raindrops. But did it spoil our trip? Not a bit of it.

We stayed at Campsie Glen Holiday Park, about 12 miles from Stirling. Run by Largo Leisure, Campsie Glen lies between the villages of Fintry and Kippen and is the ideal base for both a golf break and a spot of sightseeing. And we did both.

The Park

Campsie Glen is an idyllic holiday park situated on and around the banks of the River Kendrick and located between Campsie Fells and the Fintry Hills and is within easy striking distance of Loch Lomond, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Stirling. 

First impressions are important and this park is beautifully manicured and manned by staff who greet all guests with a smile. It is a dog-friendly facility and I am here to tell you that there are some breathtaking walks for owners and pooches alike.

Accommodation

(A Two-Bedroomed Lodge at Campsie Glen)

We stayed in a magnificent two-bedroom lodge which sleeps four people and included two bedrooms, toilet and shower, fully-fitted kitchen and lounge area featuring two sofas, a TV and free wi-fi. There is also a secluded outdoor hot tub offering stunning views along with an outdoor sitting area. There are also three-bedroom lodges. All lodges provide ample parking for two cars. All bed linen, duvets, pillows and towels are provided and all lodges are double-glazed and fully heated.

(Lounge & Kitchen Area)

There is something to suit all tastes - there are also caravans, some of which also boast hot tubs, delightful glamping pods and domes for those seeking a taste of the great outdoors without the hassle of pitching a tent and fully-serviced and hard-standing pitches complete with electric hook-up, fabulous scenery and fantastic facilities.

The glamping pods can sleep from four to six people and come with microwave, toaster, kettle and fridges as well as outdoor furniture. All you need to do is bring your bedding, towels, kitchen utensils and any other equipment you may need, as you would with a camping holiday. All the pods have their own private decking and gates, dogs are welcome and guests are able to BBQ on the grass adjacent to each property. 

The Facilities

There is a wealth of on-site facilities. These include a small shop located in the reception area, a heated swimming pool, indoor hot tub and small kids pool, bar and bistro with an outdoor terrace, indoor games room open from 10am until 10pm, outdoor children’s play area, washing and launderette facilities and trout fishing. The bar and bistro is open Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and during the summer there is a full programme of entertainment provided by the park.

The Food

(Delicious Home-Made Steak Pie & Mouthwatering Burger)

The home-made food on offer at Campsie Glen’s bar and bistro is splendid - and extremely competitively priced, ensuring that a night out is not going to break the bank. I opted for a mouth-watering steak pie. The pastry was light and flakey and the meat melted in my mouth. The cost was just £15.95. My wife chose a burger which was quite clearly home-made and utterly delicious and was served with fries and fresh salad. It cost £13.95. Other offerings include fish and chips (the portions are HUGE), chilli con carne, mac and cheese, gammon steak and an assortment of 12-inch pizzas from £10-£12. 

There are also plenty of starters and lite bites to choose from, a full children’s menu and a selection of desserts.

It also has to be said that the friendly staff were an utter delight. The atmosphere was extremely friendly - lots of laughter and people going out of their way to ask us if we were enjoying our trip.

On the Tuesday night we headed to the Inn at Kippen, a country pub where we received a warm welcome. It also just happened to be "steak night". We each had sirloin steak washed down with a glass of white wine - all for less than £40!

Places to Visit

Where to start?

You must head to Stirling Castle. Perched on a hill overlooking the city, it affords views that will stop you in your tracks. You will also learn a great deal about Scottish history - the real story of William Wallace, Mary, Queen of Scots and Bonnie Prince Charlie rather than the Hollywood versions. Nearby is the historic site of the Battle of Bannockburn, which is also well worth a trip - and if you are a National Trust member you will enjoy free entry.

Edinburgh lies about an hour’s car journey away. Trust me when I tell you that the Scottish capital is well worth spending a day. But be warned - it is busy. Don’t think about driving into the city. Instead, locate the park and ride at Ingliston and take a tram trip to the heart of Princes Street. There is no need to buy tickets - you can tap on and off using a bank card. If you are heading into Edinburgh then you have to go to Edinburgh Castle but ensure that you book your tickets well in advance, and if you do not like crowds you should probably go early in the morning because it gets VERY busy.

(Crowds Enjoy The History at Edinburgh Castle)

I can also thoroughly recommend a trip to Glasgow to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum - be sure to leave yourself at least three hours to get round.

The Golf

Hidden gem alert! I know it is a cliche, but it is a cliche for a reason. You will almost certainly never have heard of Balfron Golfing Society but if you are in this part of the world then you simply have to check it out.

There has been a nine-hole course at Balfron since 1905, given up twice for the war efforts during the First and Second World Wars. In 1945 it was not reclaimed and became farmland. But in the 1980s a group of golfers formed Balfron Golf Society and visited local courses. One of the group discovered that the farmland adjacent to the village still belonged to Balfron Golf and they started a campaign to reclaim the land and the golf course. The course was reclaimed and the volunteers immediately started work to recreate the original nine holes. 

One of the founder members' son was Robin Hiseman, who has gone on to become one of Europe’s top golf architects, and he designed the original nine holes to their former glory. In the 1990s, when millennium funding became available, the club was able to fund and get grant aid to purchase more land and establish an 18-hole course, again designed by Hiseman. Balfron is a true reflection of what a community club is all about - the community saved it, rebuilt it and now enjoys and supports it. Although it is a golf club, it encourages the community to use it for walking, fell running, dog walking and general health and wellbeing.

When I visited a new clubhouse was nearing completion and the club aims for it to be Scotland’s first net zero clubhouse. 

There are some things that will surprise English golfers. First is that they have no plans to have a bar. That may come as a surprise but, as club secretary David McCann revealed, many of the courses in the region that struggle to balance the books do so precisely because they sell alcohol. You may not know this but the drink-drive laws in Scotland are far stricter than in England. Drink any more than half a pint and you are going to be in danger of failing a breath test. So why take the chance? And why even bother to sell alcohol?

For the past 10 years the committee had wanted to replace their old clubhouse with a modern 21st century building. In late 2022 the membership agreed to push forward with the project. When complete it will have cost £450,000. They secured £300,000 in funding from the following:

• Sport Scotland - £133,000
• Business Energy Scotland (Air source heat pump, LED lighting and additional insulation) - £18,500
• Local energy Scotland (Solar Farm and battery storage) - £20,500
• The Paul Charitable trust - £45,000
• Sales of telecom mast lease - £85,000

The club has funded the rest without any additional costs or levy from the members.

(The New Clubhouse at Balfron Nears Completion)

The new clubhouse will have male and female changing, showers, toilets and accessible facilities. There will also be a lounge area for members, visitors and the community and a dedicated juniors room and a kitchen, along with landscaped areas outside with views of the 18th hole, along with a practice putting green, practice nets and parking facilities, including disabled facilities. 

Unlike many courses in Scotland - and elsewhere - Balfron makes money. I know this to be true because I have seen the books. And they do this despite charging an annual subscription of around just £475 with a joining fee of £240 payable over three years. It also has only about 350 full-time members. Oh, and did I tell you that if you want to go and play there as a visitor it is only going to cost you £30 on weekdays and £35 at the weekend?

You may be jumping to the conclusion that cheap cannot possibly equate to quality. You would be wrong. This is a fabulous parkland golf course that I guarantee will live long in your memory.

The Course

Balfron Golfing Society, parkland, par 72, white tees, 6,094 yards; yellow tees, 5,840 yards.

The second is a par five measuring 520 yards from the white tees. A drive of 250 yards leaves you in great position for the second shot but make sure you don’t go too far as there is a stream at 260 yards. The fairway is pretty generous but miss it and you will find thick and juicy rough. Then it is uphill with trees on the right to be avoided. The green is protected by  bunkers to the left-hand side and is tucked behind trees on the right. Don’t hit the right of the green as it runs away off and through the back is fatal. The third is a 354-yard dog-leg which offers magnificent views of the stunning surrounding countryside. The tiger line is over the tree and there is a fairway bunker at 285 yards that cannot be seen from the tee. A raised green offers a real challenge with the contours and run-offs. The seventh is another par four, this time measuring 350 yards. Again, the fairway is pretty generous with an approach played to another raised green protected by a bunker to the left. Beware the run-offs right and back of the putting surface.

(A View of The Course at Balfron)

At 429 yards, the 10th is stroke index one. It plays downhill for 300 yards but hit your drive too far and you will struggle to find it. A bunker at the back of the green will find anything that is too long. A word of warning - don’t get above the hole on this contoured green. The 13th, 14th and 15th are a great stretch of holes. The 13th is a 325-yard dog-leg with out of bounds on the left. The approach is to a raised green guarded by five bunkers. The reward on this hole is a 360-degree view of Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. The Loch Lomond hills are behind the green and campsie fells in front, wow, what a view. The 14th is a great par three of 183 yards with a fairway running downhill and then climbing uphill to the green which is on the same elevation as the tee. Rough left and right will swallow any wayward shot. Behind the green is out of bounds. The 15th is a par five of 520 yards and is Balfron’s signature hole. A raised tee offers a view of most of this dog-leg left. Rough on the left is to be avoided, as are the two fairway bunkers on the right. A stream runs from halfway down the fairway on the left-hand side all the way past the front of the green so the second shot requires a lot of thought. The green sits in a corner with broom protecting it on one side, the stream at another and out of bounds behind. Par here is a good score! The 17th is a tough par four of 456 yards, with out of bounds left and trees on the right. There is a stream at 420 yards and the long and narrow green is protected by a bunker left, a stream right and in front. 

Verdict

A fabulous, forward-thinking course and club that represents truly outstanding value for money and offers visitors the very warmest of welcomes. If you are in this part of the world it should be on your list.

For further information go to:

www.largoleisure.co.uk

www.balfrongolfclub.co.uk

www.theinnatkippen.co.uk