Course & Clubhouse

The Course

"I feel compelled to write and complement you on the condition of the golf course. Having played the course 12 months ago I cannot believe the improvement in the condition of the course. I look forward to coming back during the season to play the course in what I expect will be superb condition."
Dale Reid OBE, 3 times Solheim Cup Captain

Established in 1922, Falkirk Golf Club has one of the finest parkland courses in Central Scotland. Under the expert guidance of Head Green-keeper Matt Thompson the course has improved enormously in recent years and it keeps getting better.

The clubhouse and 18th green in winter

The course has an abundance of natural features which make no two holes similar and is set amongst a wide variety of trees, bushes and other plant-life. The undulating nature of the location provide some spectacular views across the course at certain points. Look further afield and you'll see the mountains of the Trossachs and vast expanses of the Central Belt of Scotland.

Despite sitting in the industrial heartland of Scotland, escaping to the course opens up a beautiful landscape rich in flora and fauna which inspires good golf and the challenging holes are a great test for your game. To find out more check out the following features on our website:

                              * An overview of the course
                              * A hole by hole guide to the course
                              * The scorecard of the course
                              * The flora and fauna of the course
                              * Some of the history and older images of the course.

Medal:
Par 71, 6230 yds, SSS 70

Yellow:
Par 69, 5975 yds, SSS 69

Ladies:
Par 73, 5559 yds, SSS 73

“My younger brother, father and I are all members of Callander Golf Club, and through the new SGU half price scheme we plan to play a lot of local courses. We played your course last Friday, and I would like to let you and your staff that we really enjoyed the course, and a special mention must go to the greens as they were absolutely brilliant. We will pass our experience on to our golfing buddies and we will definitely be back to Falkirk Golf Course!”
Ronnie, Member Callander Golf Club

During the next few years major changes will be made to the Course. David J. Russell, PGA Professional and Course Architect, has made recommendations on the layout of the 18 holes and they will be introduced over a period of time.

New practice facilities have already been introduced with four practice bays, practice Putting Green and 'Short Game' area for pitching and bunker play. The Golf Professional Stewart Craig has a state of the art Practice Bay equipped with the latest technology to help golfers improve their game.

"The work we have seen going on around the course this winter has all had a very methodical and logical process about it and much of the good work cannot be seen as it is all under the surface."
Stewart Craig, Golf Pro

The Course Record was unique for a number of years as it was 66 for Gents, Ladies and Professional. In 2006 the Gents course record was reduced to 63 by Colin Mundie, Club Champion 2005.

Renowned for the quality of its greens, Carmuirs, as it is known locally, is a 116 acre parkland course with water featuring in the form of ponds on holes 4, 5 and 8 and burns crossing holes 4, 11, 14, 15 and 16. With a punishing back six, good scores at Falkirk Golf Club need to made before reaching the 13th.

The 13th is a long uphill par 3 that requires the shot to be played as a fade. The 14th/15th have a burn running between them that requires the tee shot to be accurate. The 17th is a long and very good par 4.

The closing hole offers options - it can be played as a good par 5 with the 3rd shot over a burn to the green or for the long hitters have a go for the green in two, if you succeed you are rewarded if you fail there is a penalty. The course offers challenges at each hole, how you play them is for you to decide.

"Matt I just wanted to let you know how impressed I was last week with condition of the greens at Carmuirs. How you have managed to treble the root growth in 4 months of winter weather is quite unbelievable. However you seem to continue to perform miracles, keep it up.”
Gary McCandles, Industry Professional & Qualified Head Greenkeeper

"The condition of the course and facilities were amazing, in particular the greens were superb to putt on and really helped with my preparations. I would also like to say thank you to everyone I met for the really warm welcome you extended to me it really felt like being at home."
Jason Shufflebotham

"I feel that Falkirk Golf Club is the most improved course I have seen for a number of years. Having been a member at both Falkirk Tryst and Glenbervie Golf Club I cannot say enough about the condition of the course and also the positive direction the club is moving in under the direction of club captain and his council. All of these factors were behind my decision to become a member of Falkirk Golf Club"
Thomas Miller, Mizuno Area Sales Manager for Scotland and PGA Professional.

Course Environmental Management

Golf clubs are encouraged by the Scottish Golf Union, R & A and Environmental Agencies to be environmentally friendly - especially towards plants, flowers and wildlife. One of our lady members, Elinor Milne, looks after the flowers In the boxes in front of the clubhouse - our thanks go to her for taking some time out to help make the clubhouse surroundings look a bit more colourful. Elinor has also contributed the following articles to brighten up our website .

Elinor Milne

Click here for a guide to the flora and fauna Elinor has seen around the course

Flora & Fauna

Falkirk Golf Club is not only a good leisure facility but it is also a nature reserve and we the members are its guardians.

There are at least two different types of wild orchid in the damp sections of the course which are protected by law. They are the pale pink Common Spotted Orchid (June to August) and the deep pink Marsh Orchid (May to July). They can be seen in the area between the 8th and 9th fairways and over the bridge at the 11th as well as occasional specimens along the burns.

There are many other beautiful wild flowers around the course including: marsh marigolds, valerian, meadow sweet, foxgloves, vipers, bugloss and purple loosestrife. They all enhance the course and attract a range of mammals, insects and birds. We are fortunate to have them and should encourage their growth in the wild areas of the course.

Our ponds already attract insects and frogs and there is a family of moorhens in the marshy pond beside the 4th green. This pond was designed with the assistance of Scottish Golf Environment Group who suggested that it be kept clear at the side of the green but allowed to grow naturally from the middle over in order to maintain a natural habitat for wildlife and flora.

Roe deer have been seen on the course on a number of occasions and there is a kestrel which hovers over the course looking for prey, whilst buzzards can be heard mewing to each other high above.

It is always interesting to hear what wildlife and flowers members see while out enjoying their golf.

Wildlife

The wildlife on the course is doing well. There is a wide variety of flora and fauna to be seen at all times of the year.

At the moment stoats have been seen playing beside the burn in front of the 1st tee, by the 3rd tee and behind the 10th green. They should help to keep the rabbit population down which can only be good news for us.

We have a family of moorhens with 3 chicks in the marshy pool at the side of the 4th green. I only hope the stoats leave them alone! Last Thursday, on a low branch of the silver birch near the right hand side of the 16th green I saw a kestrel eating a mouse or vole. Buzzards, heron and ducks have also been seen around the course. There are lots of swallows flying over the course catching insects.

The wild flowers have thrived this year. The gorse (smells like coconut), broom and hawthorn blossom has been profuse. At the moment there are spikes of creamy spirea, pink rose bay willow herb and pale pink valerian. Wild orchids which are protected by law, are a rare sight but can be seen on the course in marshy areas. Two varieties can be seen in larger numbers at the side of the 11th hole by the fence just over the burn. One is the pale pink common spotted orchid and the other is the deep purple marsh orchid. There are many other wild flowers on the course which help to make it a more attractive and colourful place and add to the enjoyment of the game.

Elinor Milne. July 2009

"Can I also add my tuppenceworth? I am also very pleased with the condition and changes to the course. I have had a poor season but none of it is down to the either the state of the fairways or the greens! I also have to say thanks for giving an outline on the website of the wildlife we can see ... but has anyone else seen the heron trying to get fish out the burn at the second!?"
Colin Graham, Member