Chloe Goadby is a final year undergraduate at the University of Stirling. She is a member of the Great Britain and Ireland women’s amateur squad and finished 2018 as the number one ranked student golfer in Britain.
1 Favourite five
Rank your top five golf courses in Scotland with a one-word explanation of why each course has made it on your list
1. Kingsbarns: Scenic
2. Old Course, St Andrews: Historic (and home!)
3. Gullane No. 1: Challenging
4. Elie: Unique
5. Crail – Craighead: Strategic
2 Groundhog golf
If you could play just one Scottish course, over and over again, which course would you choose and why?
Kingsbarns holds a special place in my heart. I am from St Andrews, and my grandad has caddied at Kingsbarns for over 15 years – he loves it. One of my most special golfing experiences was having my grandad caddy for me when I played the Alfred Dunhill Links Championships with Thomas Levet. That day was perfect – the sun was shining and the course looked spectacular. The views are beautiful and I always feel at peace there. I love the course design, with the subtle but tricky sloping greens and I feel the course demands a lot of different type of shots. My favourite hole is the par 5 12th sweeping round the water.
3 Hidden gems
Scotland is full of great courses that hardly anyone has ever heard of – what’s your favourite and what makes it special?
Lossiemouth is definitely a hidden gem in my mind. It is quite far north and I had never heard of it before my first trip there. It is an all-round great golfing experience, and a real test of links golf.
4 Links lessons
What’s the single most important piece of advice you’d give to someone who was playing links golf for the first time?
The front of the green is the most important number! Leave yourself at the front edge every time and you’re in a good spot.
5 Off course
What’s the one off-course activity that any golfer coming to Scotland should experience?
Visit Janetta’s Ice Cream in St Andrews – the perfect post-round treat, and you won’t be disappointed!
*Recommended flavours from a local: Scottish Tablet or Cookie Dough
6 This much I know …
What words of wisdom would you give to a student golfer visiting Scotland for the first time?
Make the most of the opportunity to develop some unique skills in the tough golfing conditions Scotland often presents. Whilst I have played in some awful conditions, I believe it really helps to develop mental toughness and encourage a wide range of skills, particularly the ability to control ball flight. High winds often mean knock-down shots are required, or using the wind off the tee to your advantage. Having played over in the US a few times, I notice the style of golf is very different, and I would encourage a student coming to play in Scotland to embrace the Scottish style of golf to help broaden their skillset.
