ITS famous fairways have been walked by even more famous people.
But chances are you’ll NEVER follow in their footsteps – unless you have a spare £100,000.
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It costs well over £100,000 to be a member here – and that’s not the only hurdleCredit: Scottish News and Sport
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The course is a favourite of the rich and famous – and top golfers
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Rangers and Scotland footie hero Ally McCoist is a big fan of the courseCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
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Sir Sean Connery used to be one of the exclusive membersCredit: PA:Press Association
It’s one of – if not the – leading golf course of its kind in Scotland but if you don’t have a friend from high society or the deepest of pockets, then you can forget about teeing it up here.
Loch Lomond Golf Club has been described in different ways by those lucky enough to have graced its greens.
Various reviews use words such as “unparalleled”, “romantic” and “truly special” when gushing over the venue, which hosted the Scottish Open between 1996 and 2010 before it moved to being a links-based event (it’s now held at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick).
Perhaps those descriptions are not too surprising given the club’s location: secluded on the bonnie banks of the eponymous loch which is famed for its outstanding beauty, hidden from the rest of the world among 600 acres of woodland. Over 60 species of tree live within the boundaries and they help to block out the noise – and any sight – of the A82 that runs alongside a couple of the holes.
The towering Trossachs and the looming colossus of Ben Lomond ensure the player has picturesque views at every turn, with the loch itself never far from sight. Each hole (other than the second and fourth) is sheltered from the next, adding to the feeling of blissful isolation.
The course itself is a heaven for wildlife as bats and owls flutter in between the branches at night and deer are known to stray out from the trees. The club is also home to two Sites of Special Scientific Interest and has been designated as a National Scenic Area.
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You’d be forgiven for forgetting all of this is only just over half an hour in the car from Glasgow.
But don’t be fooled into thinking a game at Loch Lomond is a good idea on a quick day trip from the big city.
That’s because of the super-strict rules on who can actually experience it, giving the course its reputation as the hardest to play on of anywhere in the country.
Even the club’s website is veiled, with little in the way of information on it in relation to playing or indeed becoming a member.
Tom Holland plays golf in Scotland as Spider-Man star hails Loch Lomond as ‘possibly the best course he’s ever played’
Instead, you are greeted with pictures (albeit impressive ones) of the course and the lavish clubhouse, or the occasional quote summing the place up.
If you were to scroll to the bottom of the page you’d encounter some text, written by the club, which states: “Loch Lomond Golf Club is one of the finest private members’ clubs in the world and the privilege of membership (and with it the opportunity to play our extraordinary course) is extended only to those proposed by our esteemed group of existing members or expressly invited by the club.
“It is perfectly situated for those who travel the world for business and pleasure. Less than 90 minutes from London, two hours from Paris and approximately six hours from both New York and Dubai.”
So, what is the path to becoming part of that exclusive membership?
Loch Lomond Golf Club: A lowdown
Location: Loch Lomond Golf Club is situated on the shores of Loch Lomond in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, within the stunning Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, near the village of Luss.History: Established in 1993 on the grounds of the historic Rossdhu House, an 18th-century stately home and former seat of the Colquhoun clan, which now serves as the clubhouse.Design: The 7,100-yard, par-71 championship course was designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish, blending seamlessly with the natural terrain and featuring lochside views, streams, and ancient woodlands.Membership: An exclusive, members-only club with membership by invitation, attracting a global community of business leaders, celebrities, and golf enthusiasts.Facilities: Includes the grand Rossdhu House clubhouse, luxurious accommodation in lodges and cottages, state-of-the-art practice areas, and a spa and fitness centre.Tournaments: Former host of the Scottish Open (1996–2010) and widely regarded as one of the finest golf courses in Europe.Natural beauty: Offers breathtaking views of Loch Lomond and Ben Lomond, with a tranquil setting that emphasises privacy and seclusion.Conservation: Committed to sustainability and biodiversity, with initiatives to protect the natural environment and preserve the estate’s ecological balance.
Well, because Loch Lomond is one of the few courses in Scotland where visitors can’t just turn up and pay to play you HAVE to receive an invite from someone who is already a member, or become a member yourself (there is a way around this, but we’ll get to that later…).
First off, you need to find a current member to vouch for you.
Good luck with that. You’d have more luck diving into the loch to look for a long-lost former Scottish Open champion’s ball than you would actually meeting a member.
But you say did manage to encounter one, that member must put your name forward and you’ll then be vetted before being accepted.
If you’ve got this far the chances are money is no object.
But just in case you were wondering, the joining fee is now estimated to cost anywhere from £100,000 to an a EYE-WATERING £160,000.
That’s a staggering rise from a reported £75,000 in 2006.
Annual membership fees have also jumped from around £5,000 per year to around £7,000 per year.
Loch Lomond’s roll of honour
Winners of the Scottish Open held at Loch Lomond
2010: Edoardo Molinari (Italy)2009: Martin Kaymer (Germany)2008: Graeme McDowell (Northern Ireland)2007: Grégory Havret (France)2006: Johan Edfors (Sweden)2005: Tim Clark (South Africa)2004: Thomas Levet (France)2003: Ernie Els (South Africa)2002: Eduardo Romero (Argentina)2001: Retief Goosen (South Africa)*2000: Ernie Els (South Africa)*1999: Colin Montgomerie (Scotland)*1998: Lee Westwood (England)*1997: Tom Lehman (United States)*1996: Thomas Bjørn (Denmark)
*From 1996 to 2000, the tournament was known as the Loch Lomond World Invitational
What do the members get for all that cash?
For starters, a lot of responsibility.
The club says: “Membership carries with it responsibility and opportunity in equal measure. Responsibility to uphold the club’s unique spirit and global reputation, and the opportunity to meet and foster long-standing relationships with accomplished individuals from all corners of the globe.
“World class golf is our raison d’etre, but our membership is not defined by it.
“Our members enjoy world class facilities, but covet the camaraderie and bonds created by this very special place.”
The club also provides traditional outdoor pursuits such as fishing and shooting on the property.
But contrary to popular opinion there IS a way to play the course without the help of a member.
For the comparatively minute sum of £1,000 per head, you can apply to play in Variety Golf’s charity event at the course.
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The club’s spa is located within an 18th century walled gardenCredit: LOCH LOMOND GOLF CLUBFamous fairways
Loch Lomond is famed for its pristine condition. It always looks perfectly manicured, down to the smallest blade of grass, no matter the time of year.
And there’s a reason for that – beyond the skilled and dedicated green keepers.
That’s because it’s affluent members are actually LIMITED to the number of rounds they can play per year.
The number itself has never been confirmed but it’s understood to equate to one per month. It doesn’t seem to bother them though, and perhaps it works out.
A leaked email from 2006 found that just FIVE PER CENT of the membership had Scottish addresses.
Some of them would be flying in from the Bahamas, the USA or further afield.
One man who did just that was Sir Sean Connery, who was famously a member at Loch Lomond whilst living in the Caribbean.
The identity of the membership is shrouded in mystery. Only once has a substantial list of members been released – and the club has kept it hush-hush ever since.
The leaked private email from 2006 revealed some of the high-profile names who could call themselves part of the club’s exclusive community.
Three-time Formula 1 world champion Sir Jackie Stewart was one of them as was Glasgow curry king Satty Singh.
Sir Peter Burt, the former governor of the Bank of Scotland and chairman of ITV and Robert Wiseman, the founder of the dairy company of the same name were also members before they passed away.
The son of Rangers chairman Sir David Murray, also called David, was on the same list.
The ‘Green and White Room’
Celtic-daft rocker Sir Rod Stewart is also a member, and recently he offered a glimpse of life as a member.
Sir Rod is frequently seen in the stands at Celtic Park cheering his team on but for their game against Ross County on October 6 last year, he watched the action from the ‘green and white room’ at Loch Lomond Golf Club.
The singer posted a picture of him taking in the game on his Instagram story, with the opulent surroundings of the room there for all to see.
With posh tartan chairs, fancy white table covers and almost palatial curtains, the room seemed quite the setting to watch a game of football.
A portrait adorns one of the walls, and perhaps Sir Rod had a hand in some of the decor with the curtains and wallpaper both resembling his beloved hoops.
And of course there is an illustrious group of elite golfers who have forked out for membership, including Sir Nick Faldo, Hale Irwin and Arnold Palmer.
Top Scots such as Colin Montgomerie, Sandy Lyle and Bernard Gallacher were also listed as members. Reigning Scottish Open champ Robert MacIntyre is on record as naming Loch Lomond as his favourite course of all (and this is a man who has played Augusta National, St Andrews and Royal Troon).
Many more familiar faces from the worlds of film and sport have tested out Loch Lomond’s lush fairways over the years such as Ally McCoist, Walter Smith and none other than Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood.
More recently, Spider-Man himself (Tom Holland) swooped in for a round and called it the “best course he’d ever played”.
And even those high profile names would only have been able to play thanks only an invite from a kind member.
Championship pedigree
Despite its lofty status, Loch Lomond is still relatively young in golfing terms.
It was opened (in its current guise) in 1993 after Arizona businessman Lyle Anderson bought the land with a vision to turn it into an exclusive hideaway resort, a “private and discerning international golf club.”
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A view of Loch Lomond Golf Club from the airCredit: Alamy
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It’s a pretty place to play golf – but the bunkers are a force to be reckoned with
Within three years the course was making waves and it took over as the host of the Scottish Open in 1996. The event had previously been held at Scotland’s other premier inland course, Gleneagles (King’s).
Now Gleneagles, a heathland track, had a rival. The Perthshire site may have had history on its side but Loch Lomond’s parkland setting made it a hit with the pros because it was more like what they were used to week-in, week-out on the PGA Tour.
Both still vie for the title of Scotland’s best non-links course on a yearly basis but Loch Lomond definitely takes the crown when it comes to parkland – and it’s not even close.
The club has a spa within a walled garden and the impressive 18th century Georgian mansion, the elegant Rossdhu House, is a dominating presence in which members can wine and dine in luxury after a round.
The course itself is championship-calibre, designed by former Open champion-turned top course architect Tom Weiskopf, in conjunction with Jay Morrish.
Weiskopf described Loch Lomond as his “last memorial to golf”, fitting words for such a stirring setting.
It stretches to 7,100 yards from the back tees (6,300 from the middle) and aside from the loch itself, water features on many of the holes in the form of burns and ponds. The rough isn’t overly penal (think of your typical American rough) but the the trees have reeled many a ball in, the bunkers are large and of course, there’s plenty of water to contend with.
Unlike links courses, there aren’t any hidden bounces or blind shots at Loch Lomond. The challenge – whether it be staying out of the trees, navigating bunkers or avoiding the water – is laid out in front of you.
It’s just that the bigger challenge is in actually getting on the course in the first place.
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The famous logo of Loch Lomond Golf ClubCredit: Tom Farmer – The Sun Glasgow
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Rory McIlroy teed it up at Loch Lomond at the Scottish Open in 2009Credit: Action Images – Reuters
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Colin Montgomerie playing a chip shot with the loch in the backgroundCredit: PA:Press Association
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Fans used to watch from boats on the loch when the Scottish Open took placeCredit: Reuters
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