Cochrane Castle Golf Club

Overview: Cochrane Castle Golf Club sits on the southern slopes above Johnstone in Renfrewshire. The mature parkland course measures about 6,190 yards to a par of 71, and its higher holes look north across the Clyde valley to Ben Lomond and the Campsie Fells. Rolling fairways and established trees give the round a settled, old-club character, and the elevation means few holes play quite to their yardage. From the upper holes the course looks across the Clyde basin, and the changing elevation makes the card feel longer than a flat parkland course of similar length.

History: Cochrane Castle’s first holes opened at Craigston Farm in 1895 on land leased from G. L. Houstoun. Charlie Hunter, then associated with Prestwick after Old Tom Morris, created the original layout. Housing later took some of the land, and around 1950 the holes were adjusted, with James Braid often credited for advice.

Did You Know? Cochrane Castle was the home club of Barclay Howard, the Scottish amateur who finished as leading amateur at the 1997 Open at Royal Troon.