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Brunston Castle Golf Club, Dailly, Ayrshire. (1992 – 2019)

The 18-hole course designed by Donald Steel opened in July 1992.

The Water of Girvan, a salmon river, separated the course with six holes to the north and twelve to the south. Surrounded by rolling hills and with its natural undulating fairways, excellent greens, and strategically placed water hazards the course provided a great test of golf.

The following statement was issued in January 2019; “Brunston Castle Golf Club – It is with great sadness that due to unforeseen circumstances Brunston Castle Golf Club is closing on Sunday 13th January. We would like to wish all our staff, members and visitors who have stuck by us through the years all the best.” 

With dwindling membership and competition from both private and municipal courses in the area - Turnberry, Troon, Barassie, Belleisle, Seafield, etc., the final round was played and the club closed its doors on Sunday 13th January 2019. The club was a member of the Ayrshire Golf Association. 

Alan Mcpherson is in the process of playing all Scottish golf courses in aid of Cancer Research UK. Alan played the Brunston Castle course in 2009, see link below.

https://scottishgolfcourses-allofthem.blogspot.com/search?q=brunston+castle

Course scorecard.

Course layout.

Origins of the hole names with a brief description of some:-

First Hole; The Baillie – Named after James Kennedy the Baillie of Carrick, the first recorded owner of Brunston.

Second; Brunston Castle – The fairway was alongside the ruins of the castle, the home of a series of owners of the estate over 400 years. It was blown up by allied Special Forces during WW2.

Third; Doun The Watter – Played alongside the River Girvan. Bunkers on the left required the tee shot to be well placed for the approach to the green which was banked at the back.

Fourth; The Wee Roundel – Named after a small group of trees planted in the 19th Century. On the left were two bunkers in the landing area, if they were avoided it left a short pitch to an elevated green.

Fifth; Drongan – The name refers to a dwelling that used to sit next to where the green was situated.

Sixth; The Inkpot – It was named after a small pool in the nearby River Girvan. The green was guarded by a large pool.

Seventh; The Big Roundel – The group of trees behind the green is bigger than the roundel at the fourth. There was a large deep bunker in the fairway which was reachable from the tee.

Eighth; Black Bessie – Named after Elizabeth the most famous female member of the Kennedy familywho was known as Black Bessie because of her dark complexion.

Ninth; The Fiddle – Named after a nearby wood which was shaped like a fiddle. Fairway bunkers could be reached from the tee.

Tenth; Milcavish – This was the former name of Dailly. An iron from the tee was the sensible shot as a driver may catch the river which had to be crossed for the second time to reach the green immediately beyond.

Eleventh; Ailsa View – The top of Ailsa Craig could be seen in the distance from the green. The Craig is part of the Dailly parish, which is probably the only inland parish in Scotland which contains an island.

Twelfth; Old Coach Road – The original road from Maybole to Girvan runs through this hole and is just in range from the tee shot which left an uphill second to a bowl shaped green.

Thirteenth; Crown Jewel – Bob Lowe the original owner of the golf course loved the view from the elevated green and described Brunston as the jewel in the crown of Bargany estate.

Fourteenth; Curragh – A short distance from the green was Curragh Cottage where David Kenedy, a Covenantor and fugitive from the law, lived in the 17th Century.

Fifteenth; Cleekhimin – The green lay close to where the old Cleekhimin Inn stood on the Old Coach Road.

Sixteenth; Doun “n” Roun – The green was tucked against the riverbank and the fairway sloped down before turning sharp left to the green.

Sevententh; The Boggie – A large pond protected the front of the green and a club more than you may think was required to reach it.

Eighteenth; Bruxelles – Named after the home of the first owner Bob Lowe, who was a diamond merchant.

Below are pictures of the course taken prior to closure.

This picture shows the 18th hole prior to closure. 

We would like to thank Dr. Douglas Lockhart who provided the photographs below, taken in August 2019.

Clubhouse - note electric fence to keep sheep from straying - the 18th green is off camera to the right.

Approach to the 18th green.

Looking back down the 18th fairway towards the tee. 

Sign between 18th green and car park. Above images courtesy of Dr. Douglas Lockhart.