Macdonald Cardrona Hotel, Golf and Country Club

Day two of our tour of the Borders, found us at Cardrona on 9/9/2008. Its six years since I last played here and the course is maturing nicely. It rained most of the way round, and really the course should have been closed, but I doubt if there was more than 10 hardy soles out there!! Even in these conditions the greens were in superb condition, and they are BIG, and typical of Dave Thomas designed courses, with lots slopes and borrows and probably 2 clubs or more from front to back on some holes. Many of the bunkers were flooded, and we were advised to play “pick and place” any where,a suggestion we welcomed, we were invited to play off any of the tees, a nice change.
The rough was vey punishing, and soon swallowed several of my balls; I would guess this was mainly due to the volume of rain restricting any form of cutting for several weeks. The par threes are fairly long and well protected and many of the par fives were not in range in three shots for us.
We took advice from previous reports on here and visited the spike bar, but we still thought the prices were excessive, an extra £3.30 to add to tot of brandy to coffee, and the quality of sandwiches’ (not even presented on a plate) left a lot to be desired. But that aside a great course, well worth the surcharge on top of the Freedom of the Fairways pass and I will look forward to playing it again in the future.

Played it in June 2007 and fortunately got on 2-fore-1 but what a waste of money
Great scenery great first hotel but after that I thought it was one of the worst courses I have ever played (out of around 300)
the layout the condition the cut of the bunkers were all crap
Yes it is good test of golf but if all courses had a layout like this ( about 800 metres walk from 8th green to 9th etc etc) I would have given up 20 years ago
I will not be going back even if they pay me

Good layout if a little typical of the modern style (large bunkers, large and raised greens) and in a spectacular & scenic setting. For the full green fee I had expected the condition to be near perfect at this time of year, but it still seemed a bit "new" i.e. some stones in bunkers, a few bareish patches on fairways and mottled greens (although they putted very truly and better than threy looked). In fact looked like course needed some rain. Worth a visit, more so on a discounted green fee.

Played the Cardrona for the second time on April 25th 2007. Again it did not dissapoint. Some great holes too many to mention, course is long but that does not bother you when you have the scenery to match absolutely beautiful. Hotel beer prices a bit high so we had a pint in the spike bar which are cheaper, not much selection of food in here but after a round on this course you would not mind. Driving range ok but only allowed to use irons as cars pass to get to hotel ball prices reasonable 50 for £3, a must play in the borders

This is the second time I have played the Cardrona and have to say I enjoyed it just as much as I did the 1st time. This was our 3rd game of a four day stay in the borders and although the weather wasnt great the course was still in reasonable condition. It did "lash down" for 2 holes and the course held a lot of surface water (they will have to sort this out if they seriously want to hold any high standard golf comps here) but the greens were quite receptive and were in descent condition.
The course is set in a stunningly beautiful setting but dont let the surrounding area put you off your game as the course will bite you hard. There are a lot of "risk and reward" holes with the 1st par 3 being a prime example of this.
I really enjoyed my game at the Cardrona and would defo play again although it is quite expensive.
Well worth a visit and if the ground staff get the few niggly problems sorted (ie lying water) the course WILL hold PGA qualifyers in the future.
Oh, one last thing - if your going to have a drink in the bar better take out a second mortgage - £3.50 for a pint of lager which is scandelous, and £6.00 for a pint of cider!!!!!

We played Cardrona during the special winter offer - £25 for a round and I have to say its one of the best £25 I've spent all year!!
The course is superb (especially for being such a new course) and the facilities are great too!
If your looking for a reasonably priced round of golf in the borders area get yourself down to the Cardrona for an excellent game of golf!
Cant recommend it enough and cant wait to play again next year in April!!

Fantastic Course. Wish I could have stayed longer.
Great Bargain. Go Now because prices are bound to go up in the near future, when it matures.
Not often do you shoot well over your handicap and rave about it.
Freedom of the Fairways recommended, if staying anywhere in the borders.

PLAYED THIS COURSE ON 20TH SEPT AND WAS VERY IMPRESSED.
IT HAS IMPROVED SINCE I VISITED LAST YEAR AND THE GREENS WERE EXCELLENT.
QUITE A LONG COURSE BUT FLAT.A MUST FOR ANY GOLFER IN THE BORDERS.
STEVEN BLAKEY

I played on this course on 18 July 2003 and found it to be a very impressive layout with wonderful greens.
Cardrona requires a little more signposting between holes as the geography can be quite confusing. Merchandise in the Pro Shop tends to be priced on the high side.
A great challenge with top class facilities.

A good course that will be a great course when it matures and when one or two very minor niggles are worked out. I played with a half price voucher published in the national press recently. If I had paid the full price I'd have been very disappointed with the niggles. Other than that the course is great, challenging and, whats more, relatively quiet at the moment. We went out and I think the first players behind us were three or four holes behind, with the guys in front two holes ahead. A challenging first with bunkers peppered liberally around, tough uphill second, then a deceptively difficult third all with the opportunity to mess the card up straight away. A great course.

Two of us fronted up to pay fifteen quid a head half price golf only to be told that as the greens had just been top dressed, we would be charged a tenner each - what an absolute bargain as this was a great course to play.
We had a really sunny day today (mid April!) and our one and a half hour trip through from Clydebank was amply rewarded in surroundings that just take the breath away.
A lot of money has been spent on a) USGA greens, b) heavy and strategic bunkering, c) planting of tree/gorse saplings all over the course - what a track this will prove to be as it matures.
The hotel is due for completion next month which will only enhance a great on course experience with proper changing and clubhouse facilities. I want to play the Roxburghe now to compare how well that course matches up to this Borders newcomer - I played at Kingsbarns last year and was blown away by how good a links course it was - this is almost the same standard of parkland course, it's that good, believe me.

Fantastic golf course set in beautiful surroundings. Played this course in March 2003. A good variation of holes, a mixture of short and long Par 3's and 4's, dog legs left and right and water coming into play on a couple of holes. Ta very good test of golf. The course was in very good condition and is one of the best inland courses I have ever played.

Played several times since it opened and each time it improves. The greens are large and there are bunkers a plenty! Large fairways but if you stray you will be punished. It is very quite at the moment so get on as the prices have already risen since it opened. As it is quite there is no need to rush the course - so take a good look at the surrounding hills of Peebles and Cardrona - an awesome place to play golf. Oh and buy the way make sure you are prepared this is a lung buster of a course!

This is brand new championship length course heading for the big league judging by the size of the hotel complex being built by what currently the 1st green. This course is lengthy as you would expect, with deep rough and water hazards to catch any stray shots. The greens are large and very well guarded by unforgiving bunkers. The design is first class and, whilst it is currently in it’s infancy, in my opinion this will become a great course in future. Play it now before the price goes up.

This brand new course will challenge The Roxburghe in due time, designed by the same man (Dave Thomas) with his liking for very large and numerous bunkers it is all ready a good test for all level of players. The greens are large and undulating and with the bunker placements it demands your concentration. A very large hotel is under construction on the course and with the buggy paths already in place it is obvious where they see their core market. My advise, play it as soon as possible whilst you can get on, ignore the fact there is not yet a clubhouse and few direction signs from green to the next tee, go and enjoy what I am sure will become a “championship” course in a few years time