Interviews

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Sean Dudley
/ Categories: News

Spey Valley opens for limited play

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.

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