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— Center of the Golfing Universe —

       Callander Golf Club
             Callander, Central Scotland
                      Classic Inland Scottish Golf

                                                                                                                            Photo credit James P. Green

        Think for a moment of classic Scottish scenery. Do images of green, rolling meadows divided by stone walls and gurgling burns and lined with gnarled oaks and tufted grasslands come to mind? Are there high, bald mountains in this picture—often dusted with snow?

        Now, conjure up classic Scottish golf course scenery. Are your classic Scottish golf courses all treeless links courses with long sea grasses, deep pot bunkers, fairways full of moguls, gale-force winds, and great sea views?


        Are the two mental images different? Great Scottish golf isn’t only found along the rugged seacoasts of the Atlantic and the North Sea. It may be found in Scotland’s classic inland scenery too. And, while the golf courses here—with rare exceptions, like Gleneagles—are not international names, they do offer Scottish golf tradition and challenging golf. Indeed, many inland courses are designs of the same great golf architects that created the famous links courses—men like Old Tom Morris and James Braid. And, best of all, most inland courses welcome guests on short notice, do not exclude high handicap or casual players, and are not cottage industries that charge significant greens fees that their considerable traffic must bear.

        Typical of such courses is Callander Golf Club in Callander, Central Scotland. 

Length & Par: 
        • Championship Tees:    Par 66, 5185 yards, SSS 65
        • White Tees:              Par 63, 4441 yards, SSS 62
        • Ladies Tees:              Par 68, 4595 yards, SSS 68

Greens Fees per ROUND:
        • Weekdays: £25
        • Weekends: £35

Greens Fees per DAY:
        • Weekdays: £35
        • Weekends: £45

Open and Playable Year Round

TEE-TIMES: Walk-ins welcome, but advance booking of tee-times recommended.
Visitors welcome any day, but some times may be unavailable due to scheduled club events. Handicap certificates are required on Wednesday and Sunday.

Facilities:
        • Changing rooms for men and women
        • Club Pro Shop
        • Practice area and putting green
        • Bar and restaurant

Rentals:
        • Clubs/Shoes: NO
        • Pull carts (trolleys): YES
        • Golf carts: NO
        • Caddies: NO

LOCATION: Callander Golf Club is situated at the east end of Callander, just off the A84. From Home at First Central Scotland cottages to the north, drive through Callander on the main street (A84) to a pink house on the right with the small post office on the left. Just before the post office turn left onto Bracklinn Road. Follow the road up and over the old railway bridge to the top of Ancaster Gardens where the golf club’s car park is clearly signed.

Address:  Callander Golf Club, Aveland Road, Callander, FK17 8EN Scotland

Bookings (from the USA):   TEL:  011 44 (0)1877 330 090
or e-mail: callandergc@nextcall.net
        OR have Home at First book a tee-time for you as part of your
        Central Scotland travel itinerary—it’s FREE!

Minimum Handicap Required: NONE

Nearest HOME AT FIRST lodgings:
    In Callander, Scotland, 5 minutes drive northwest of the course.
    Also in Strathyre (15 minutes north), Balquhidder (25 minutes north, Lochearnhead
    (25 minutes north) and Killin (45 minutes north).
   More information about HOME AT FIRST's SCOTLAND CENTRAL HIGHLANDS travel program.

OTHER GOLF IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA: At least 10 other courses are within 25 miles of Callander, ranging from intimate 9-hole courses to the three 18-hole resort courses of internationally famed Gleneagles.

HISTORY OF CALLANDER GOLF CLUB:
        Callander Golf Club is a picturesque, undulating, partially wooded, parkland course set in the center of Scotland and at the southeast entrance to the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. In 1890, Old Tom Morris (British Open champion in 1861, 1862, 1864, 1867; runner-up 1860, 1863, 1868, 1869, the latter two times 2^nd place to his son Young Tom Morris) designed Callander’s first 9 holes. Another Scottish golf legend, Willie Fernie (Open champion in 1883; 2^nd place four times; helped design Royal Troon Old Course), designed the second 9, giving Callander a short (par 66, 5126-yard) but challenging 18-hole course. The course has changed little in the century plus of its operations. Its course record of 5-under-par 61 is testimony to its fair challenge unchanged by years of transition in the game. Today, Callander remains a private club that welcomes visitors openly at low cost and without crowds and delays. The club’s membership and staff have a reputation for offering genuine friendly Scottish hospitality to guests.

THE COURSE AND SOME NOTABLE HOLES:
        The short course has seven par-3’s and only one par-5. But four of its par-4’s are its most difficult holes—the 372-yard 6^th, 365-yard 16^th, 348-yard 1^st, and 404-yard 12^th are the top handicap holes. Callander’s signature—the par-3 15^th—hole is one of its easiest (16^th handicap) and by far its shortest. From the 15th green the view northwest toward the round-topped Ben Ledi mountain provides golfers an unforgettable backdrop of classic Scottish scenery. After more than a century of play, Callander’s mature layout features narrow fairways and greens that require careful approach. Even the short 15^th (135 yards) cannot be taken lightly, owing to encroaching trees. So maybe you become familiar with your long irons and give Big Bertha the day off.

THE REGION:
        Callander draws visitors on the strength of its status as a multiple gateway: to the Trossachs, to the Highlands, and, only in the last years, to Scotland’s first national park, Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park. The region, while perhaps now officially Perthshire, is more closely allied with Stirling, only 17 miles southeast. Stirling is home of one of Scotland’s great castles, and site of two of its greatest victories against English overlords 700 years ago: by the armies of William Wallace at Stirling Bridge and Robert the Bruce at Bannockburn. But the Scottish hero best associated with Callander lived 400 years later, and, though ultimately defeated by the English, remained always defiant, outspoken, and free. He was—despite the best efforts of his powerful enemies—Rob Roy MacGregor, and Scotland’s favorite Highlander. The Callander Tourist Office is a center for all things having to do with Rob Roy. The town is also the regional center for all manner of activities and shopping: hiking, biking, climbing, kayaking, dining, nightlife, antiques, woolens, and crafts.                                                                    Photo © HOME AT FIRST
        Because of Callander’s central location, excursions throughout much of Scotland are easily made—including to Edinburgh and Glasgow (each less than 90 minutes away), and into the Highlands (they begin just north of town). Both coasts are within reach of Callander, too: east to the Fife Coast and St. Andrews (90 minutes), and west to the West coast and the islands of the Inner Hebrides (about 2 hours). All this makes Callander a great base for touring throughout most of Scotland and a superb destination in itself.

Read more about the region and HOME AT FIRST’s travel program to Callander and
CENTRAL SCOTLAND.