After a peaceful and relaxing night at the Craggan Outdoors bunkhouse I woke up early. I headed to Moray Golf Club to beat the sunrise. Unfortunately, I underestimated the beauty of the 90-minute drive to Lossiemouth and I arrived a little too late. However, I parked the car and walked over to the course feeling like a giddy teenager who has fallen in love for the first time. The view of the clubhouse and of Moray itself gave me excited butterflies in my stomach.

I played the Old course of Moray during my last trip to Scotland in the summertime 2017 and I had fallen in love. So I was beyond excitement to this time have the chance to play the New course. Honestly, the pro and staff are lovely and helpful, really unbelievable like the last time I was here.

The New, designed by Henry Cotton opened in 1979 and is the perfect addition to the Old. The par 70 course stretches just to 6,084 yards, but, don’t underestimate it, you play golf on the same firm and sandy turf as the Old. The first few holes of the New look very simple. Don’t be untidy off the tee, the typical gorse and pot bunkering is everywhere. The length might be slightly less but serious accuracy is truly required.

The first hole I would like to talk about is No.5 with a ditch crossing the fairway just in front of the green. From the tee you don’t see it, so be sure not to leave your approach shot to the green too short.

It was a very windy day but somehow I was again in this special positive golfing mood! I always seem to have this feeling on the links. I was able to shape the ball and play with and into the wind without any bad shots. A celebration.

The New is an equal to the Old in my opinion. You also have to handle the noise of RAF jets but still, they are very entertaining. The New has the same superb quality and shape of greens as the Old. Some of my favorite holes are No.9, No.10 and eleven which are next to the sea and so give you the truest links feeling. The 10th called „Bents“ is a short par 4 of 325 yards from the white tees and is my goodsundays.com signature hole of the New.

„Bents“ is a soft dogleg right with the ditch crossing the fairway just after the tee. The small green isn’t defended by any bunker but with a slight breeze from the sea, it’s still hard to attack.

A tough tester at the end and also the longest of the par 3`s is No.17 „Ceasar`s Grave“. With 181 yards from the white tees you really need to hit a full shot to reach the green. In summary Moray New course is well worth a visit from tee to green. Like the Old, golf at its best. It’s easy to spend a day at Moray playing two of the best courses in the area. 36 holes of pure joy.