Shiskine

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Number 77. Played autumn 2011. Links designed by Willie Fernie.



The first is a fairly straight forward and nondescript hole. If your long enough you can clear the mound and leave a short chip onto the green or your second shot may be blind. The greens are pretty forgiving and if you can get your 2nd close this is a birdy-able hole. A more interesting hole which offers two approaches of the large sunken green. Again reaching into 2 won't be an issue - the issue will be where the flag is positioned on the green!  The 3rd is one of the many par 3s on the course, it is directly uphill and it is scary tee shot! There is a flag at the top of the hill but that is merely to inform you if people are on the green. You want to be slightly right of the marker post - anything left and you are dicing with a lost ball. The green is large & flat so if you get it up you will be on & putting for birdie. The 4th is the true signature hole and what a cracker it is - the tee is perched o. The site of a cliff face and it is directly down to the green. The biggest defence that this hole has is the wind as your ball will get plenty of hangtime. A stunning hole to look at.


The final run of the par 3s but this one is slightly longer and flatter. The greenside bunkers can be an issue but the best idea is to keep your tee shot as low as possible to eliminate the swirling wind. My second favourite hole on the course; you have out of bounds on the right, a bumpy fairway to negotiate and the trickiest green on the course. Not as aesthetically pleasing as the 4th but a greater challenge. The 7th is another blind par 3; this time you have to go over a large mound to a large green behind. Better to be short than too long as a burn at the back could be a problem.  It was at this stage that I was starting to put together a very decent run of pars. The Captain was none too impressed as I was matching him blow for blow! However this is the joy of Shiskine, short enough to be fun but tight & quirky enough to be a challenge! The 8th must be one of the easiest holes on the course as it is an eminently drivable par 4; in fact it isn't too far in distance from the 5th which seems to play more into the wind! The only par 5 on the course is next and it is long. With a burn crossing the fairway and the green in an elevated position it is testing.


The final 3 holes are all par 3s; the 10th is from an elevated tee to a reasonably well protected green. The front of the green seemed particularly compacted and I wonder if most people slightly under club this hole. I know I did! The 11th is another blind tee shot; it plays over the rise in the fairway into a bowl where another devilish green is awaiting. The final hole is a bit like the opener in that it is fairly standard - a short par 3. However, it will live long in my memory as I chipped in for Birdie and beat the Captain both net AND by gross scores! My first ever single figure golfers scalp & it felt nice; almost as nice as standing on the 4th tee of the course itself.


Conclusion. An excellent holiday course, just the right balance of fun & challenge. The quirky nature of the 12 holes and the relatively compacted course area also helps to produce an intimate course which can be dusted off early morning leaving you with the rest of the day for sightseeing. I would recommend the Shiskine - although it is a bit of a hassle getting there once you stand on the 4th tee it will be worth it.