Orkney landmarks made into crazy golf course

The Old Man of Hoy hole on Orkney's new crazy golf course

The 12-hole course is being officially opened in Burray at the weekend, marking the culmination of a year-long effort by an island community.

As well as the Old Man of Hoy, the course also depicts Skara Brae stone-age village and Scapa Flow.

Pam Woodcock, secretary of the Burray Community Association, said: “This has been a community-wide effort from the start and we’re all absolutely delighted to see the park completed.

The new crazy golf course on Burray, Orkney

“We wanted to create an area in the village that could be enjoyed by all ages, with ‘pushchair to pensioner’ our mantra throughout the design and construction processes.

“We were also determined that it should be as accessible as possible, with no economic barriers.

“The project has really pulled our community together over the past year, with everyone in Burray contributing towards its success.”

She added: “We’re certainly confident there’s not another crazy golf course like this in the UK. It’s something that reflects our home, its history and its landscape, while also being lots of fun.

Britain's most northerly golf course to be opened on Orkney

“Activities for families, even here in Orkney, can sometimes be expensive, so we hope we’ve created a place where people can come and enjoy a few hours of relaxation, or a bit of exercise, for free.

“It’s also a new focal point for the village and the island of Burray and we’re sure it’ll encourage more visitors to spend time in this beautiful part of Orkney.”

Travel: Orkney

The course is part of a new £74,000 community park development in Burray village, which includes a trim-track, custom made slide, swings, picnic area, barbeque and toilet block.

The park is free to use and accessible year round.

Funding has come from Orkney Islands Council, Sport Scotland Legacy 2014, Awards for All and Scottish Sea Farms.

The 400-strong Burray community has raised over £8,000 towards the project costs, with local people stepping in to provide expertise, labour and materials.

A number of businesses in the area have also contributed to the project.

A competition was held last year for local schoolchildren to design holes and obstacles for the crazy golf course using an Orcadian theme.

Orkney based architect Paul Green incorporated the 12 winning entries into his plans for the park, with the local community consulted at every stage of the design process.

Orkney Islands Council convener Steven Heddle will officially open the crazy golf course and park on Saturday.

Local musician Douglas Montgomery will formally open the trim-track.

All the youngsters in Burray Primary School are being presented with a golf putter and ball to encourage them to use the new facility.

Putters are also available to hire locally for a small fee, with community leaders hoping the new park will become popular with holidaymakers, and people from other parts of Orkney.

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