MJ Abbott

Construction of new 18-hole championship golf course

The Carrick on Loch Lomond, Scotland

Project summary

A new championship golf course on the banks of Loch Lomond

In 2004 MJ Abbott Limited were appointed by De Vere Hotels to construct the Carrick Golf Course on the banks of Loch Lomond to complement their Cameron House Hotel and Lodges.

The course was designed by award-winning international golf course architect, Doug Carrick of Carrick Design based in Toronto, Canada.

As well as the inclement weather on the west coast of Scotland, the project threw up many challenges including significant archaeological interest and many preconditions to meet the requirements of the newly formed Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority. Resort ownership lodges were also built on the periphery of the golf course throughout the construction.

The complete construction ran through 3 years from spring 2004 to autumn 2006 and included the following works:

  • Site clearance of all vegetation
  • Stripping and storing of all on site topsoil and reuse on the golf course
  • Cut and fill earthworks, approximately 230,000 m³
  • Construction of greens and tees to USGA specifications
  • Construction of 125 no revetted pot style bunkers
  • Primary and secondary drainage to all fairways
  • Automatic irrigation to all greens, tees and fairways
  • Construction of maintenance paths
  • Relocation of wetlands
  • Construction of timber boardwalks
  • Cultivation and seeding of all areas
  • Growing in maintenance for the first 6 cuts prior to handing over to the client.

The stunning completed course uses every inch of the dramatic landscape straddling the fault lines between the Scottish lowlands and highlands. Nine holes stick to classic Scottish Lowland along the banks of Loch Lomond, while the other nine make the players climb to tackle Highland heath and tee off on sloping fairways. The elevated holes offer spectacular views of Loch Lomond to the west and Ben Lomond to the north.