Stranraer Golf Club
The final design of the great James Braid, opened in 1952 at Creachmore above Loch Ryan. A par 70 parkland of around 6,308 yards on gently rolling ground, Stranraer carries a unique distinction in the game and rewards the visitor with golf of real quality and views to Ailsa Craig, Arran and beyond.
Photograph: Stranraer Golf Club, via Google
The verdict
Stranraer holds a singular place in golf history: it is the last course James Braid ever designed. The five time Open champion and master architect was called out of retirement to lay out a new course at Creachmore, on rising ground above Loch Ryan in the far southwest of Scotland, and the result opened in 1952, two years after his death. That pedigree alone makes it a course worth seeking out, and the golf more than justifies the journey.
For the traveling golfer this is the headline round of Dumfries and Galloway, a region that rewards those who venture off the beaten track. The par 70 layout of around 6,308 yards runs over gently undulating parkland with sweeping views over the loch to Ailsa Craig and the Isle of Arran, and it carries Braid's hallmarks of clever bunkering and strong, well defended par 4s. Play it as the centerpiece of a southwest trip, a quiet corner of Scotland where the welcome is warm, the golf is good and the great Braid signed off his life's work.
Stranraer at a glance
- Opened
- 1952
- Type
- Parkland
- Par
- 70
- Yardage
- Around 6,308 yds
- Designer
- James Braid
- Access
- Visitors welcome
Course history, designer, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the club and course directories. Stranraer at Creachmore was the last course designed by James Braid, who laid it out before his death in 1950; it opened in 1952 as a par 70 parkland of around 6,308 yards. Indicative 2026 visitor green fees are in the region of 45 pounds for eighteen holes in high season from mid March to mid October, with a two round consecutive day ticket around 90 pounds; fees change each season, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Stranraer is classic Braid, asking for position, judgment and a steady nerve on the par 4s. The course rises and falls over gently undulating ground above Loch Ryan, and the architect made full use of the slopes to set greens at testing angles and to position his bunkers where the careless drive will find them. The views are a constant companion, the loch and the hills of Galloway in one direction and the unmistakable hump of Ailsa Craig out to sea, but the golf demands your attention.
The strength of the layout is its par 4s, several of them requiring a precise drive to the correct side of the fairway and a controlled approach to greens that fall away or sit above you. Braid's bunkering is intelligent rather than penal for its own sake, rewarding the player who plots a line and respects the contours. The short holes are well varied and the par 5s give a chance to make ground, but the scoring sits with the golfer who keeps the ball in the right places and putts well on greens that read with the land.
What stays with you is the sense of occasion. To play the last course laid out by one of the towering figures of golf, in a setting of real beauty far from the crowds, is a privilege that the round repays. Stranraer is not a famous name on the tourist trail, and that is part of its charm: a genuine Braid design, well kept and warmly run, in one of the most overlooked golfing corners of Scotland.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Visitors welcome through the season, with tee times booked through the club; a friendly and uncrowded round in the southwest of Scotland |
| Green fee | Indicative 2026 around 45 pounds for eighteen holes in high season mid March to mid October, with a two round consecutive day ticket around 90 pounds; fees change each season, so always confirm directly before booking |
| Handicap | No strict handicap barrier for general play; the course rewards a controlled, thoughtful game in the Braid tradition |
| Walking and trolleys | A walkable parkland on gently undulating ground; trolleys and buggies can be arranged through the club |
| Season | Mid March to mid October is the main visitor window, with the loch and island views at their finest on a clear day |
| Getting there | At Creachmore near Stranraer in Dumfries and Galloway, in the far southwest of Scotland, close to the Cairnryan ferry port for Northern Ireland |
Access and fees verified June 2026 from club and directory sources; they change by season, so always confirm directly before booking. Ask about a southwest Scotland golf trip.
Where to stay nearby
Stranraer and the nearby Rhins of Galloway offer hotels, country houses and guest accommodation, and the wider region of Dumfries and Galloway is one of Scotland's quietest and most rewarding to tour. Its position by the Cairnryan ferries also makes it a natural staging post for golfers combining Scotland with the great links of Northern Ireland.
Stranraer is best played as the headline round of a southwest circuit. The natural pairing in the region is the fine links of Powfoot on the Solway coast, while the championship links of Ayrshire to the north, anchored by the great courses near Troon, are within reach for a wider trip up the coast.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts around Dumfries and Galloway.
Build a southwest Scotland golf trip
Stranraer is the headline round of Dumfries and Galloway, the last course James Braid ever designed, set above Loch Ryan with island views. We plan trips through the southwest and up into Ayrshire, secure the tee times, arrange caddies where you want them and handle the lodging and the logistics. Tell us roughly when and who is traveling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Stranraer questions
Can visitors play Stranraer Golf Club?
Yes. Stranraer welcomes visitors through the season, with tee times booked through the club. It is a friendly and uncrowded round in the southwest of Scotland and an easy addition to a Dumfries and Galloway trip. Always confirm directly before booking.
Is Stranraer really James Braid's last course?
Yes. Stranraer at Creachmore is recognized as the last course designed by James Braid. The five time Open champion laid it out above Loch Ryan before his death in 1950, and it opened for play in 1952 as a par 70 of around 6,308 yards.
What is the green fee at Stranraer?
Indicative 2026 visitor green fees are in the region of 45 pounds for eighteen holes in high season from mid March to mid October, with a two round consecutive day ticket around 90 pounds. Fees change each season, so always confirm directly before booking.
Where is Stranraer Golf Club?
The course sits at Creachmore near Stranraer in Dumfries and Galloway, in the far southwest of Scotland, close to the Cairnryan ferry port and within reach of the Ayrshire links to the north.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course history, par, yardage and fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.