golfrewind.com

Just returned from a round of golf at Murrayshall near Perth (Scotland) which is about a 2 hour trip away from home. We were looking for somewhere different to play and decided that the deal was possibly too good to be true.

Murrayshall have two courses (one of which is a legitimate full championship track) and they try to keep one or the other on full greens during the winter months. We've never played either course before and booked a tee time without any problem. When we arrived they offered either the championship course on winter greens or the second course on full summer greens. We opted for summer greens and both of us played to our handicaps and, although the course was very wet and the wind was quite strong at times, we had a good time.

So what I hear you say.............. well the deal was, a round of golf on either course AND a roast dinner in the main hotel dining room (which was very good BTW) all for £20 each (about $30)......... outstanding value we thought.

Murrayshall is not a low quality venue (www.murrayshall.com) so I thought that others on GR may have similar "good deals" in their areas??? Also, any more within a couple of hours of Aberdeen?

Sounds like a great deal to me! Wish I could afford to fly over and try it out!

In our area (Florida), the best deals are in the summer. Winter time brings all the visitors from up north (snowbirds), and prices jump up considerably. Places I played for $20 in October now want $75, sometimes more, and are not in their best shape. If we have a season like we did last year, where the number of golfers is lower than expected, some courses may have a special to attract more local golfers. Even this will be higher than summer rates, usually by at least 50%.

In another couple of weeks we'll start seeing the courses putting more coupons in the paper, or posting specials in their email newsletters.

So, I don't golf as much during winter months - not due to temperatures, but due to expense.

Winter deals? There are no deals, because there's no golf. It's not supposed to hit 30* here in Chicago for a long time. There are a smattering of courses that stay open year round (1 of every 10 maybe?). The best course for me is Hilldale. It stays open, costs $25 (w/a cart I believe), is a tweny-minute drive, and as you can see, is a little gem :

http://www.hilldalegolf.com/?page=3635

They have one of the few 600 yard holes (#11) and is designed by Robert Trent Jones. Hilldale also owns the distinction of having the finest greens in all of Chicagoland.

When the 2 feet of snow melts and we get a 45* day, I be there! (whenever that will be)

Beautiful Course. Can't imagine it with 2 feet of snow. It would be a challenging course. Would love to play it some day during the spring or fall.
Thanks for the pictures and description.