The 14th takes you up to the highest point in the Edinburgh area where I defy anyone not to stop for a long stare at the ‘buena vista’ lying afore them. It’s staggering. From here you can see the estuary relieving itself into the North Sea, the city of Edinburgh going about its daily business, the hills to the north watching the world go by and most of the holes at Torphin. It really is spectacular and well worth the climb.

A long par 5 drops you back down the slope once again and welcomes you to a delightful par 3 of 159 yards that must drop 50 feet to the green below. Get the club right and judge the wind well and watch your ball fly endlessly through the breeze to the dance floor - be sure to repair your pitch mark though won’t you – it comes down with a hell of a bang from up there!

The tee shot from the 17th is one of many to savour at Torphin Hill and at 309 yards is reachable for the big hitters but a well-placed 5 wood will leave you a relatively simple wedge to the raised green above.

Any good golf course designer will leave a tough test to the last and the 18th doesn’t disappoint. At 437 yards the par 4 finale starts low with nothing more than a marker in the distance for guidance. A good tee shot will open up the opportunity for a good approach the green down the hill in front of the clubhouse. It’s a fine way to finish a fascinating, picturesque and thoroughly enjoyable round of golf.

Favourite hole
Torphin Hill Golf Club is littered with cracking holes all with views to die for but one in particular stands out. The sheer height difference between tee and green not to mention the view from the par three, 16th makes it a bit special. If your wedge or 9iron has behaved itself thus far, a well struck full swing will launch the ball skyward and then the agonising wait hoping you chose the right weapon as the ball floats back down to earth like a paraglider in the Alps. There’s no alternative way to play this hole as gorse and heather line the journey down the hill to the green so line up and commit. Get it right and you’ll love the hole as much as I did.





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