Those who like their Scottish golf may know how partial I am to the Askernish course located along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline on the island of South Uist in the Outer Hebrides.
If I have done my job well then you may be planning to visit this Old Tom Morris designed links gem and, if so, you may wish to make the small effort visiting a little-known nine-hole course around a 35-minute drive north named Benbecular.
Benbecular is around both a 12-kilometre long and also similar width wide island located between the islands of North Uist and South Uist that form the Outer Hebrides. All three islands are linked by superb two-lane causeways.
The Outer Hebrides showing the island of Benbecular and it’s short distance north of Askernish.
Getting to Benbecular is not too difficult as you can travel by air and land to to find the Benbecula Airport nearest neighbour is Benbecular Golf Course. Logan Air offer daily flights from Glasgow, Stornoway, Kirkwall, Campbelltown and also Derry.
Of course, you can do what we’ve chosen to on our many visits to the Outer Hebrides and that’s simply pack the car and then head to the Scottish mainland west coast to any of the towns where you can board a ferry.
There is no direct ferry services from the mainland to Benbecular though there is a service operated by Caledonian MacBrayne from Bob MacIntyre’s home town of Oban to Lochboisdale on the isle of South Uist from where, and as I mentioned above, it’s about a 40 minute drive north to Benbecular.
Benbecula Golf Club – Image GolfByTourMiss
Alternatively, you can drive further north along the Scottish mainland, cross the Skye road bridge and head to the north-east corner of the island to Uig and board the two-hour ferry service to Lochmaddy on North Uist and from there it is around a 30-minute drive south to Benbecular.
Ferry services from the islands of Berneray (linked by causeway to North Uist) and Eriskay (linked to South Uist) connect to the other Outer Hebridean islands of Harris and Barra respectively.
There is around 1,300 people living on Benbecular.
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Flora MacDonald
In 1746, Flora MacDonald was the chief of Clan Ranald during the feudal wards. She was a distant relative of two of the companions of Bonnie Prince Charlie (Prince Charles Edward Stuart), who had recently fled the aftermath of the Battle of Culloden.
During his voyage, the Prince’s boat was caught in a storm, and forced to land on Benbecula. Despite mainly being Presbyterian, Flora and the population of Benbecula were sympathetic to the Jacobite cause, and the Prince and his companions were able to obtain hospitable treatment.
Nevertheless, the Prince was a fugitive with a price on his head, and his companions therefore sought out Flora. She disguised him as an Irish spinning maid, Betty Burke, and by this means smuggled him off the island, on 27 June, and took him over the sea to Skye.
Flora was arrested upon her return to Scotland, but was released following the Indemnity Act of 1747. Later, she explained to the King’s son, Prince Frederick, in person, that she had only acted out of charity, and would have done the same for either side.
Welcome to Benbecular Golf Club – Image GolfByTourMiss
Actually, and the following is taken from the club’s webpate, it was the insistence of American visiting troops, that golf was played at Benbecula as early as 1962. The ‘course’ consisted of four holes in the centre green of the airfield. At that time, airport traffic was primarily military. As the air traffic increased and safety became paramount, the “course” was eventually outlawed.
In 1984 the arrival of golf-loving RSM John Ransome at the RA Range Hebrides heralded the rebirth of golf interest and he, together with fellow enthusiasts, designed and built the course much as it is today.
John was later to complete a second tour in the Hebrides in a more senior status and continue to improve the course known as the RA Range Golf Club.
As the RA Range civilian staff increased, it became quickly apparent that the club should be open to civilians, both range employees and local inhabitants and when the course was officially opened late in 1985 by the Range Brigadiers wife Mrs Painter, there was a mixture of both military and civilians present.
The course was to be and still is to this day, maintained by its members on a voluntary basis, much of the original equipment coming from various mainland military sources, which at that time, were being transformed from self maintenance to contractual maintenance.
In the 1990`s and demise of the cold war, the RA Range lost much of its purpose and the exit of Military personnel began. It was apparent that if the club were to survive, it should be handed over to its now majority civilian members.
This was so done and the club re-named The Benbecula Golf Club with the resident “oyster catchers” providing a club emblem. At this time the ground was still owned by the M.O.D.
In 2009, with a mere handful of military staff on the Island and rapidly decreasing numbers of visiting units, the M.O.D. decided to sell land no longer required for operational purposes and offer it to the local community under the right to buy scheme.
It didn’t take long for a sports association to be formed on Benbecula and with the aid of a grant, the land was purchased in 2010.
At the time of writing, the club has some 65 members and a constantly increasing number of visitors, and hopefully this short feature will lead to more.
It’s a nine hole course, easy-walking course laid out on flat land while commanding some great views of the Atlantic and the Monach Isles that are located about four miles directly to the west.
In visting the club you’ll find an “honesty box” is in operation and the course very well maintained by the members, with a great many competitions taking place throughout the year.
Also, and as you see in the video below, the golf course is right beside Benbecular Airport so you will be distracted by planes landing and taking off but it is so vastly different to playing a course such as the famed Prestwick and where the planes are bigger, louder and more frequent.
Trust you have enjoyed reading this feature.
Please now enjoy a selection of photographs and three more vidoes:
Benbecular GC – Image GolfByTourMiss
Oh, you may have known it! You just can’t keep the world’s most travelled koala away from limelight. Well done, Ted.
Benbecular GC – The par-4, 373-yard fifth hole – Image GolfByTourMiss
Bernie with Ted at Benbecular GC – Image GolfByTourMiss
Members of the A team – Michael, Paul and Bazza. Great golfing companions
The Benbecular Boys – Paul proudly wearing his Askernish cap.
