Overlooking the famous River Clyde, JA Mar Hall has undergone a transformation in recent years as it aims to establish itself as one of the country’s finest golf destinationsInside the ‘hidden gem’ golf hotel, just outside Glasgow
If you were asked to name a famous golf hotel in Scotland, you’d probably say Gleneagles. With three courses in the stunning Perthshire countryside, the luxury location hosted the 2104 Ryder Cup.
Pushed further, and you’d maybe pick the Old Course Hotel in St Andrews, which acts as a hazard on the notorious ‘Road Hole’ of the Old Course, or maybe Carnoustie, home of the toughest course on the Open Championship rota. Yet, when it came to picking the best golf hotel in Scotland at the recent Prestige Hotel Awards, none of these were selected as the country’s best.
Instead, the accolade went to JA Mar Hall Golf & Spa Resort, located on the banks of the River Clyde, just 15 miles west of central Glasgow. It might be a push to describe Mar Hall as a ‘hidden gem’ of a hotel, especially in Scotland.
But as a golf hotel, it perhaps does not enjoy the reputation it should, giving it a claim to be Scotland’s ‘best kept golfing secret’. I arrived to visit on a grey but mild June day to see what the fuss was about for myself – and try out the course, which you can read more about here.
I had played Mar Hall before, 10 years ago. I had left underwhelmed in all honesty, although that might have been more to do with the fact I was nursing a post-wedding hangover. A decade later, and the feeling could not have been more different.
The course was in incredible condition and the views across the still waters of the Clyde to Kilpatrick Hills were wonderful. The huge Erskine Bridge dominates the east side of the course, and with a variety of holes, each one was a memorable experience. The third hole seems to cascade down towards the river with the bridge as its backdrop, while at the fourth, you tee off from practically underneath the structure.
The Gallery offers a great place to relax(Image: JA Mar Hall)
Later on, the short par three 10th sits right underneath the hotel, while the 14th plays down towards the rivers, with the hills behind acting as an imposing backdrop. “It’s hard not to be distracted by the beauty we are surrounded by at JA Mar Hall while focusing on your game,” Chris McQueen, the hotel’s head of golf, told me afterwards as we chatted in the relaxing surroundings of the The Gallery dining room.
He picked out the “risk-and-reward” 14th hole as the signature, but added: “Another personal favourite is the short par three tenth hole, which is situated directly in front of the hotel.” Mar Hall has hosted events on the PGA EuroPro Tour, a feeder tour to Europe’s Challenge Tour, and course architect Dave Thomas has sculpted the course perfectly into the slopes that rise from the riverbank.
With two distinct nines, you’re never too far away from the main hotel building, a stunning mansion house, created in the 19th century as a country estate. The hotel came under new ownership over two years ago, and everyone you speak to identifies that as the point its fortunes changed.
There is more to Mar Hall than golf, with the spa offering facilities like a swimming pool(Image: JA Mar Hall)
Members praised the work of Chris and his team, but he made it clear that he sees the job as only half done. The golf side of the business has three distinct strands: members, corporate days, and visitors, both hotel guests and one-off players.
If it has perhaps been in the shadow of other golf destinations, then Chris and the team are eager to change that perception. “I think what sets us apart is the experience beyond the course,” he says. “Our personalised hospitality is at the heart of everything we do.”
He argues the combination of five-star service, championship golf and the “unique character of a historic Scottish estate,” offers “a truly distinctive experience”. While other golf hotels benefit from multiple courses, Mar Hall needs to offer something different away from the links.
The spa and leisure facilities include a swimming pool, sauna, steam room and gym, while guests can take advantage of a range of restorative treatments. The dining options are varied, while for something more sedate, there are 240 acres of grounds to explore.
JA Mar Hall has been named the best golf hotel in Scotland(Image: JA Mar Hall)
Perhaps its most valuable asset is its location. Mar Hall is just a 25-minute drive from the centre of Glasgow on the M8, and a mere 10 minutes from the airport. But it is the golf that is Chris’s focus.
He described winning the Prestige prize as “incredibly satisfying,” adding: “To receive this recognition in Scotland, the home of golf and a destination with so many world-class courses and resorts, makes it even more special.” But he is determined not the rest on his laurels.
Mar Hall aims to be “constantly evolving and investing in the golf experience,” he explains. Now considered among the best courses in the country, it also offers top quality golf at a more affordable price than some comparable locations across the country.
“We’re committed to ongoing improvements across the course, ensuring it continues to challenge and inspire players of all levels,” Chris concludes. “The course is now consistently featuring within the top 100 rankings, which is a huge achievement for the team and only motivates us further.”