Today’s entry brings us a new canine correspondent, black lab Rory (supported by his persons Sue and Dean), who brings us tales of Norfolk courses. We’ve only made it our east there once (Southwold).

Rory is a very energetic 2½ year old black Labrador who loves exploring and sniffing. He likes to accompany us on the golf course and is very observant and keen to know what is happening on the other fairways. He was fairly easy to train to sit by the greens, stay out of bunkers and off the tee boxes. It took a little longer to convince him not to pull to chase after squirrels, rabbits or deer but he has finally accepted this is not allowed. Having easily been trained not to touch the golf ball he is a little reticent to help us hunt for the ball when we have lost it in the bushes!

On our way to Suffolk my owners Sue & Dean and their son, Matthew, played at Bishops Stortford golf club which is close to the M11. Being a very energetic black Labrador named Rory, who loves exploring and sniffing, I was pleased to accompany them. I was made very welcome by everyone I met (although being a little nervous of new people I did keep my distance) and since the large clubhouse was being renovated, we went to the temporary outside bar which suited me well where they had water for me and a few dog biscuits.

The course is parkland with trees so not a lot of sniffing for me although I did spot a few rabbits scurrying into the bushes around the 18th. The signature 8th hole was over a pond, and I heard a couple of our balls splash into it but sadly I wasn’t allowed in for a swim. The course was nicely undulating with narrow fairways which made for an interesting walk with quite a bit of ball searching as Matthew, who is fairly new to golf, hits the ball a long way but not always in the right direction!

A very pleasant round,unrushed with nice members who pointed us in the correct direction when we didn’t spot the signs.

The only downside was that it was very busy day going into Stansted with the planes flying low overhead. However, more importantly for me they did have my sausage at the halfway house.

We didn’t stop for a drink afterwards as we were heading on to stay at Tuddenham Mill a very nice dog friendly hotel, with lots of space for me to exercise and where I was allowed to accompany my owners to dinner and breakfast and they cooked me my own sausage for breakfast!

Dog Golf is blessed with another fine contribution from Bertie (and Steve) on a another Scottish gem:

Britain’s most northernly golf course is Whalsay’s claim to fame. So if you have gone as far as Lerwick why wouldn’t you travel further north, catch another ferry to the island of Whalsay and play it?

A quick email a couple of weeks before confirmed dogs on leads no problem (Scotland is different from England when it comes to dogs, people in Scotland look at you like your daft when you tell them dogs are not allowed on course in England).

Now this truly is a golf course on the edge of world, lost golf balls are on their way to Norway!! Set high on cliffs overlooking the North Sea gave this course a real end of the world feel. Parked up, paid £30 each online, there was one car on the car park and the clubhouse was open but no one in, all the facilities were open such as the changing rooms etc. A quick scan of the visitors book revealed golfers from around the world had travelled to take on Whalsay.

Whalsay has a wonderful clubhouse, the changing rooms were well equipped, and they had club covers for people to take, junior clubs etc and waiting for someone if they needed them. The function room was adorned with one of the best trophy cabinets I have seen, the silver really clitters in Whalsay!!

The first tee is around the back and we had a quick chat with an elderly chap who was doing a bit of maintenance, he had a dog and he didn’t blink once at Berties presence.

So off we set with quite a wind blowing off the North Sea. We had just finished the first hall when a man appeared on the horizon from the clubhouse, obviously he wanted to speak to us so waited for him. Turns out it the guy that built the course, just wanted to welcome us, answer any questions and offer some advice about some tricky holes. So Whalsay started as a 7-hole course and gradually built up.

Now there were plenty of sheep on the course, and in the bunkers, this isn’t a Jack Nicklaus designed course with USPGA approved greens but I’ve paid a lot more money than £30 and had a lot less fun on other courses. There were some challenging drives across open sea and quirky holes with hidden water obstacles. It’s a fair test.

What did Bertie think of Whalsay? Well he was good around the sheep and he helped himself to a smorgasbord of sheep droppings, I was on the unlucky end when he had a world champion poo which was just regurgitated sheep droppings. Thanks Bertie!!

If you are tempted by the remoteness of the Shetland islands I would say go for it, we had a great time, and the two 18 hole courses justify taking the clubs with you.