Once you have changed your shoes and enjoyed a spot of breakfast a short walk across the lane takes you to Gordon Stewart’s Professional Shop where all manner of golfing goodies await to empty your wallet. Here you have a choice of two courses to play and a difficult decision it is too. Cawder is fortunate to have a pair of courses to play both of which have very individual characteristics and both ought to be experienced. The Cawder course is in its third incarnation, one which closely mirrors that of the original. The Keir Course, dubbed ‘the wee course’ by members is more relaxing but equally as testing.

The Keir Course
Starting across the road from the Pro Shop a gentle par 4, a few yards shy of 300 gets you on your way. Scribble down a couple of points in your Stableford box and walk on to the delightful short par three that follows. The lovely little hole is set off with a meandering burn that splits the hole in two nicely. The green is accessed via a beautifully ornate bridge that leads you to a long putting surface ahead cowering under the canopy of the high oaks behind.

The Keir course is predominantly flat but lined with slow growing trees that, whilst developing their own ‘Tower of Pisa-like’ lean away from the elements also line the fairways distinguishing each hole to perfection. The holes are generous in width off the tee - unless you swing one away behind the trees – but small and well protected greens insist on accurate approaches to achieve your target score.

The front nine ends where the back nine begins, uniquely with a par three. Differing in character immensely however, the 9th is a shortish finale to the front followed by a long uphill number taking you to the highest point of the Keir Course. A large ‘wok-shaped’ green soaks up anything slightly wayward and brings it nicely down to the middle of the green for you.

From here the views of the countryside are quite breathtaking and the following tee shot one of the best of the bunch. Launch one away to the generous fairway below and enjoy the freefall – be careful not to dislodge one of Antonine’s stones on the right hand side of the fairway! The course is 5878 yards from the white tees and offers all players a good test. The greens are excellent throughout the year and the course is maintained impeccably by the dedicated greens-staff too.

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