Golfing YouTuber Liam Harrison has published a new film in which he names Whalsay Golf Course as the “best in the world”.
Liam runs the Golf Mates YouTube channel, which has 225,000 subscribers, and visited Whalsay in September as part of a visit to Shetland and Orkney.
He was blown away by the UK’s most northerly course including the trip to Whalsay, the stunning views, challenging holes, and the story behind the golf course. Those factors combined to make it his favourite course anywhere.
“Honestly have you seen this place? It’s absolutely mind-bogglingly crazy,” he says in his film, which has been viewed over 20,000 times in its first 24 hours.
Asked why he loved it so much, Liam said: “I liked the journey to Whalsay be honest, and the people there were just brilliant. If you get it on the right day, you’re not going to find anywhere better than Whalsay for views. What they have done with it is cracking.”
If you get it on the right day, you’re not going to find anywhere better than Whalsay for views. What they have done with it is cracking.
While in the Bonnie Isle Liam met former fisherman Graeme Sandison – one of those who pursued the idea of creating a golf course in the 1970s. In the film Graeme explains how the late shopkeeper’s son-in-law brought the first set of golf clubs to the island in 1972, sparking the idea of finding land to create a course, which opened four years later.
“There’s golf holes everywhere, you just had to find them,” Graeme explains.
It’s fair to say that Liam is impressed with the result, telling Graeme that Whalsay is his favourite course.
“What you’ve got for the community around here, it’s close to one of the best courses in the world. It’s my favourite course, end of. Look at it. It’s just absolutely awesome and the people I’ve met here are great.”
Liam’s trip to Shetland also saw him take in a round at Dale, with another film to be released soon about his experience tackling that course. He also visited Orkney and enjoyed his time golfing there.
His trip helps show would-be tourists they can use the NorthLink ferry service to visit both Shetland and Orkney and play four exceptional island courses in four days.
Promote Shetland supported the Shetland part of Liam’s trip and head of content marketing Adam Civico said the service was pleased he had enjoyed his trip so much.
“Liam’s Golf Mates’ channel has a huge following of golf enthusiasts, and we are delighted to see him speak with such enthusiasm about his time in Shetland, and especially his round at Whalsay.
“For him to call Whalsay Golf Club the ‘world’s best course’ is exceptional and a huge credit to the committee, greenkeeper and members. If some of Liam’s viewers are inspired to make the trip to the island that will be an excellent result.
“Any golfing visitors will also spend on other activities in Whalsay and around Shetland on things like tours, car hire, accommodation, and meals.”
Liam caught the NorthLink ferry to Kirkwall from Aberdeen on Tuesday evening before playing Orkney Golf Club and Stromness. He then caught the ferry from Kirkwall to Lerwick on Thursday evening. In Shetland, he played Dale Golf Course and Whalsay, before departing on the ferry back to Aberdeen on Saturday evening.
Read more about Britain's most northerly golf course and why it is such a unique golfing challenge.