I’ve played ALL of Scotland’s 572 golf courses – there’s one that tops the lot

A GOLFER has celebrated playing all of Scotland’s 572 golf courses – over the course of 20 years.

Phil Booth, of Aberdeen, spent two decades visiting  every registered green across the country.

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And on Sunday, the retired paediatrician toasted his incredible feat with a glass of champagne as he putted on the last at the  nine-hole Vaul course on Tiree, Inner Hebrides.

The 69-year-old said his wife Anne gave him the idea after the pair visited Arisaig, Lochaber,  back in September 2004.

He told the BBC: “She came with me to the nine-hole course at Traigh and we walked up the hill to be greeted with this amazing view of Rum, Eigg and Mull.

“She said we never would have seen that if I had not been golfing. We basically used it as an excuse to see parts of Scotland we might have otherwise missed.

“Anne even got me a big map of Scotland to stick pins in at all the courses I hadn’t played, so I could choose my entire route.”

Phil, who is a member of Cruden Bay and Royal Aberdeen, then set out to play at least 90 courses before he picked up an old Visit Scotland golf guide to tick off the rest.

He would use work trips to Edinburgh and Glasgow to stop off at sites – as well fitting in rounds between visits back home to see relatives in his native Teeside.

Overall, Phil has visited 159 nine-hole courses, 412 eighteen-holes and one twelve-holer.

His favourites include Carnoustie, which hosted the Open Championship for the eighth time in 2018, and Loch Lomond.

But Kingussie, situated in the Cairngorm National Park, is his ultimate round.

He added: “I remember finishing the ninth and turning round and seeing just the most spectacular view of the mountains.

“I got back to the clubhouse and there was a pint sitting on the bar waiting for me.

“It was perfect, the people that you meet through golf, their generosity is amazing.”

In 2006 it was thought amateur golfer Ernie Payne became the first player to tackle every course in Scotland for the first time.