After 17 years as one of the best 9-holers in the world, Gowrie is now 18, par 71, opening to the public on March 13. Seven newly designed holes are still fairly rough yet most interesting to play, some adaptations by designer Guy Smith of famous holes on Scottish links. The new greens are beautifully shaped, mostly small or narrow, with magnificent bent grass surfaces. Bunkers abound. The course opens with the par-4 first, followed by a long 3 over a wetland. The new holes follow from 3-9, with a halfway house in the middle of the course. They are strong and characterful. No 3, a long 4 akin to the Road Hole at St Andrews, has a large bunker to carry on the tiger line, with an alternate route left. No 4 (Sahara) is a drivable 4 but a big mound and rockwall guards the green. No 5 is unique, a bunkerless hole based on The Pit at North Berwick. A stone wall lines the left side of the par 4 fairway with the green hard up against the wall on the other side. No 9 is another short 4. Its raised green has the same dimensions as the Postage Stamp at Royal Troon. The back nine has three 5s, three 4s and three 3s using the old holes.
