CAMPERDOWN GOLF COURSE, DUNDEE
Camperdown is one of the finest inland courses on the east of Scotland – but not many people know about it. Run by Dundee City Council for most of its 50 years, this leafy labyrinth has been used almost exclusively by the citizens of Dundee – and the few visitors who found it. These days, as a new Trust-administered facility, Camperdown is coming forward to take its rightful place as an exceptional parkland golf experience.
The 18-hole course opened in 1959 was sculpted from a mature country estate full of magnificent arboreal specimens. This was the former home of Robert Dundas Haldane-Duncan, 1st Earl of Camperdown and the son of Admiral Duncan who defeated the Dutch at the Battle of Camperdown in 1797, ‘Camperduin’ being a small village in North Holland.
Dundee City purchased the estate for the community in 1945, intending it mainly for leisure use, including an 18-hole golf course. Local golfers found it hard to believe that a course as fine and as challenging as this could be made available to them as part of the city’s leisure offering.
The routing of the course remains much as it did in its early days. The 1st drives away from Camperdown House and immediately throws up the character of the course. Mature, large, leafy trees line the fairway with one or two making their way closer to the action. Good tee shot placement is imperative on this and many of Camperdown’s holes. You need to be in position to attack the greens, which are all small and difficult to hit & hold. If it’s any consolation, the 1st is Stroke Index 1 – it can only gets easier.
The course opens out at the uphill 2nd but soon narrows again with thick stands of trees lining the fairways. This is the outstanding feature of Camperdown. It will ease off for a hole then immediately applies pressure again forcing the golfer to take care off the tee. The 11th is one of the most unnerving tee shots. There’s reasonable space between the tree-lined edges but lush semi-rough makes the fairway seem very narrow. The hole doglegs sharply just before the green and a very good tee shot is the only way to gain access. The two superlative closing holes also spring to mind, the 17th a short Par 3 to an elevated green. The 18th is uphill also and over-road; again a great tee shot is the only way to gain clear sight and access to the green.
Camperdown Golf Course (2011) Camperdown Country Park Coupar Angus Road Dundee DD2 4TF Tel: 01382 431820 Email: golfbookings@dundeecity.gov.uk Web: www.dundeecity.gov.uk/golf Statistics: 18 holes, 6548 yards, Par 71 Location: 3 miles from Dundee city centre off the Kingsway West (A90). Follow A923 past Camperdown Park entrance to the North Entrance ½ mile on the left. Green Fees:Weekdays: £27 per round, £36 per day Weekends: £32 per round, £41 per day
Comments are closed.