Anyone who’s listened to Talking GolfGetaways over the years knows that Scotland is Mitch Laurance’s soul home. Not only for its connections to the game and its history, but for its welcoming, kind and wonderful people who are so willing to share Scotland’s gifts.
On this special episode of Talking GolfGetaways, co-hosts Mitch Laurance and Darin Bunch and Producer Kris McEwen are joined by Scotsman Greg McCrae, who has spent all but his first 5 years living and working on the Isle of Arran, is responsible for sharing the joys of golf and community with a rapidly growing social media base, and who, along with others talked about on the pod, helped guide Mitch on his most recent and first-time trip of discovery to the west of Scotland and to the Isle of Arran and down Kintyre. A week of memorable days that every golf traveler would relish when visiting Scotland.
The podcast begins with Mitch talking about the connections that led him to choose Arran and its 7 golf courses as well as Dunaverty Golf Club in Kintyre, all of them anchored by good friend Jim Hartsell, whose incredible book “When Revelation Comes” first alerted Mitch not only to Dunaverty but to the incredible array of golf courses on Arran, all of which offer singular experiences, stunning landscapes and a wide variety of challenges at an otherworldly price. Mitch explains the connection to Jim, to noted author and friend Stephen Proctor (“Keeper of the Green” and “The Long, Golden Afternoon”), and the subsequent connection to Greg McCrae and Scotsman Robbie Wilson, who joined Mitch and Greg on an emotional day at Dunaverty.
Mitch discusses the first two days of the trip, spent in Argyll at Troon, their (Mitch, his wife Ewa and two friends) base at the fantastic Piersland Hotel (across the street from Royal Troon), a visit to historic Prestwick, site of Mitch’s first Scottish golf trip more than 30 years ago, and their first round at the also historic Kilmarnock Barrasie Golf Club, just north of Troon. This also had a Jim connection, this time connecting Mitch to General Manager David Addison, whose kindness and generosity set the tone for what would become a theme of the entire trip. The 9 holes of the beautiful Hillhouse course at Barassie were a perfect way to begin, and David’s tour of the Walker Cup room in the clubhouse showed Mitch the club’s connection to the history of that iconic amateur event.
After further explaining the connections to Greg and to Robbie, thanks again to Jim, Mitch welcomes Greg to the show, and a full recap of ferry rides, golf courses, hotels and a wide variety of fortuitous happenings that exemplified the kind of warmth and generosity of spirit that were the bedrock of the trip follows. Mitch and Greg talk about the wonderful Douglas Hotel in Brodick as a base, and about the elements that make Arran one of the truly great golf and family destinations in the world, easily accessible by ferry, and with an array of courses that provide an incredible immersion into a landscape that has shaped the game and the spirit of those who play it.
Someone who’s spent his life living and playing golf (from the age of 6) on Arran, Greg is perhaps the island’s best source of all things Arran. During the course of the podcast, he talks about the amazing variety of Arran’s 7 courses, in landscape, challenge and qualities. From the joy of the unique 9 holes that make up quirky Corrie Golf Club to the magnificent experience of Arran’s perhaps best-known Shiskine Golf & Tennis Club (a perfect 12 holes whose beauty is impossible to describe), to the popular, community-oriented 18 holes at Brodick Golf Club (within walking distance of the Douglas Hotel and ferry landing in Brodick), all of which Mitch experienced, Greg runs down the other 4 courses, the 18 holes at Whiting Bay, Lamlash, and Machrie Bay, and the 11 hole short-course, family-oriented Par 3 course at Lochranza. Greg also describes his recent one-day adventure playing all 95 holes on Arran, which adds a perfect background on all the courses (link to a great video below).
The conversation then shifts to a day Mitch says he’ll never forget, as he and friend Bob were graciously taken to the club that holds Jim Hartsell’s heart, Dunaverty on Kintyre. From a ride with Greg from the hotel to the ferry in Lochranza, a short crossing to Kintyre and being picked up there by Robbie Wilson, a great friend of Jim’s and a man who knows as much about Scottish history (as a Stone Mason who works with Historic Scotland) and the game as anyone, who drove the foursome to Dunaverty for a round of joy, the day was as much about friendship, caring and laughs as it was about discovering a course that epitomized everything great about the game and its connection to community. Lunch at iconic Macrihanish (Robbie is a member) and the drive and ferry and drive with Greg back to the hotel ended an emotional, memorable day for all involved.
Greg ends the podcast with an wrap-up of why Arran is fast-becoming a destination of choice when planning a visit to Scotland. Accessibility, a unique combination of diverse golf courses, stunning scenery, incredible affordability in today’s modern landscape, and the opportunity to combine golf and other fantastic island experiences.
Here you’ll find a list of terrific people and content who find Arran as wonderful as Mitch did. Please use it to explore more about Jim Hartsell, Greg McCrae, Robbie Wilson,Troon, Kimarnock Barassie, Arran and Dunaverty, and to plan what will hopefully be your next Scotland GolfGetaway.
On Instagram:
- @JimHartsell
- @GregMcCrae
- @linksrobbie
- @barassie_kbgc
- @pierslandhotel
- @GolfArran
- @VisitArran
- @ArranIceCream
- @thedouglashotel
- @corriegolfclub
- @shiskinegolfclub
- @DunavertyGolfClub1889
On YouTube:
- Destination Golf / Kilmarnock Barassie David Addison
- BogeyTrain.Films Arran (95 Holes with Greg and host Pete McLachan)
- No Laying Up Films (Shiskine with Tron, Jim, Robbie and Greg)
- The Average Golfer “Ferry Golf” Shiskine
On Spotify:
The Waggle Golf Journal Podcast wi Host AJ MacVie
