Developed by Macdonald Hotels & Resorts and situated adjacent to the recently refurbished Macdonald Aviemore Highland Resort, the Spey Valley golf course has opened for limited play, and will be open for full membership in Spring 2007.

The championship 18-hole course has a total length of 7,200 yards and features one of the longest par five holes in Scotland, which from the back tees will be a full 641 yards in length.

Dave Thomas, architect for the course said: "This has potential to be one of the best courses in Scotland, and is certainly on a par with Gleneagles. Built to championship standards in heath and heather, and lined with silver birch and pine trees, it is truly magnificent." The course is the first in Scotland to operate exclusively using golf cars, introducing a 30-strong electric-powered fleet from E-Z-GO. Fraser Cromarty, director of sales at Macdonald Aviemore Highland Resort commented, "As we are based in the heart of such a beautiful national park, it was important to consider the 'green' aspects whilst developing what we believe will become of the top UK courses. Being electric, our golf cars are quiet, and environmentally friendly." A quintessentially Highland golf course, with a twenty first century twist, it already boasts a visitors' book that reads like a Who's Who of Scottish golfing society, including Macdonald Hotels' own non-executive director of golf, Sandy Lyle.

"There is nothing more enjoyable than playing a challenging round of golf with good friends or colleagues, your only distraction being the panoramic scenery or choosing your next club. Here at Spey Valley Championship Course, you get that in abundance," said Lyle.