The Hollow
Played across a natural hollow to a well-bunkered green — the 3rd is the hole Cawder members argue about first. The green is smaller than the approach suggests, and the bunkers are positioned exactly where instinct says they wouldn't be.
Glasgow
Cawder Golf Club
Bishopbriggs, Glasgow
Plate II — Parkland course — tree-lined fairways, year-round play
Holes
18
—
Par
71
—
Type
Parkland
Glasgow
Walkability
★★★★☆
Walkable for most
Best Season
May–Sep
Year-round
Visitor Access
Open
Mid-week ideal
Two full eighteens, a thriving society trade, and the kind of pace-of-play you only get when the membership runs the place properly.
From the Notebook
Cawder Golf Club operates two 18-hole courses on the Cawder estate in Bishopbriggs, north of Glasgow — the Cawder Course (the main championship layout) and the shorter Keir Course. Founded 1933, the club is one of the principal society golf venues for the Glasgow business community: well-managed, well-conditioned, and capable of handling large groups without the quality of the experience deteriorating. It is a genuinely private club that operates with the visitor-awareness of a venue that depends on society trade.
The Cawder Course is par 71, around 6,295 yards, through parkland that uses the estate's mature tree cover and the Bothlin Burn as it runs through the property. The routing provides variety — not all corridor parkland — with some open sections on higher ground and the burn defining the hazard on the lower holes. The par-3 holes on the Cawder Course are the most discussed: the 3rd, played across a natural hollow to a well-bunkered green, and the 17th, a longer iron over a dip in the terrain, are the two that regulars return to.
The Keir Course is par 68, shorter, and offers a second-round option without repeating the Cawder layout. For societies wanting 36 holes in a day, two full courses on one estate is the practical appeal. Visitor green fee for the Cawder Course is £45–65; the Keir is available at a lower rate. Cawder is 7 miles from Glasgow city centre — 20 minutes by car on the Bishopbriggs Road, or accessible by bus from the city.
Two Holes Worth Talking About
What the members talk about.
The Dip
A longer iron over a dip in the terrain. The 17th punishes the player who leaves the approach short: the ground falls away just in front of the putting surface, turning a comfortable approach into an awkward chip.
The Full Scorecard
Everything else you might want to know.
Course
- Designer
- Contact club
- Founded
- 1933
- Style era
- Contact club
- Yardage (W)
- Contact club
- Yardage (Y)
- 6,295 yards
- Yardage (R)
- Contact club
- Course rating
- Contact club
- Slope rating
- Contact club
- Bunkers
- Contact club
- Greens
- Contact club
- Walking time
- Contact club
- Open season
- Year-round
Visitor
- Dress code
- Smart casual, collared shirts
- Spikes
- Soft only
- Booking
- Contact club
- Twilight
- Contact club
- Winter rate
- Contact club
- Senior
- Contact club
- Junior
- Contact club
- Buggy
- Available, ask pro shop
- Trolley
- Contact club
- Caddie
- Contact club
Practical
- Address
- Bishopbriggs, Glasgow, G64 3QD
- Phone
- 0141 772 7102
- Nearest train
- Glasgow Central
- Nearest airport
- Glasgow (GLA) (25 min)
- Parking
- Free
- Wi-Fi
- Yes, clubhouse
- Card payment
- Yes
- Membership
- Contact club
- Joining fee
- Contact club
- Waiting list
- Contact club
Fields marked “Contact club” aren’t public-facing in a way we’ve been able to verify. Call the club directly for these — we’ll update the entry when we have it from source.
Conditions This Week
What's the weather doing?
Fetching conditions…
Scored 0–10 for golf — wind, rain, conditions · Full 7-region forecast →
Location
Cawder Golf Club on the map
Bishopbriggs, Glasgow · G64 3QDOpen in OpenStreetMap →
While They Golf
For the non-golfer in the party.
Glasgow isn't only for the golfers. Walks, drives, distilleries, castles, a long lunch — five picks within thirty minutes of the first tee.
The Glasgow companion guide →Plan This Round
Three things to sort before you tee off.
Where to Stay
Beds in Bishopbriggs
Hotels, lodges and self-catering near the first tee. Map-style search via Stay22 covering Booking.com, Expedia, Airbnb and Vrbo.
Hotels & lodges nearbyfrom £89/ntSelf-catering & cottagesfrom £140/ntBed & breakfastfrom £85/nt
via Stay22 / Booking.com
How to Get There
From Glasgow Central or Glasgow (GLA)
Glasgow (GLA) is 25 minutes away by car. Train + onward taxi works for the carless visitor.
Train to Glasgow CentralLNER / ScotRailHire car at Glasgow (GLA)25 min driveLocal bus from towncheck timetable
via Trainline & airport hire
Insure Your Round
Cover for clubs, cancellation, hole-in-one
Most home contents policies don't cover golf clubs in transit. The picker matches you to the right kind of cover in two minutes.
Played here? Consider
Three things worth packing.
Picked for parkland rounds in Scotland.
Outerwear
Galvin Green Aldous jacket
The mid-weight option for parkland — fully waterproof but lighter than the wind-spec links jackets. Packs into a back-pocket pouch when the sun comes out.
Layer
Castore performance polo
Scotland's premium sportswear name. Cut for a swing rather than a jog; the moisture-wicking suits warmer parkland rounds where the wind isn't doing the work.
Tech
Bushnell Tour V6 rangefinder
Tree-lined parkland holes are exactly the situation where a rangefinder pays for itself. The V6's slope mode is allowed in any non-tournament round.
Stays Nearby
Where to stay near Bishopbriggs
Hotels, B&Bs and self-catering within easy reach of Bishopbriggs. Tap any property to check rates.
Rates and availability via Stay22. We may earn a small commission if you book — at no extra cost to you. How affiliate links work.
Frequently Asked
Visitors usually want to know.
- Can visitors play at weekends?
- Visitors are welcome but mid-week is markedly easier and quieter. Confirm a weekend tee time as far ahead as you can — popular Saturdays book up first.
- How early can I book a tee time?
- Phone or email the pro shop to confirm. Most Scottish clubs accept visitor bookings 7–30 days ahead; group bookings of 8+ can be arranged further ahead.
- Is there a dress code?
- Smart casual, collared shirts. Soft only.
- Are buggies allowed?
- Yes, available at the pro shop. Most members walk with a trolley though — the course is genuinely walkable.
- What's the best time of year to play?
- May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep for full conditions. Late May and early Sep are quietest with fair value. Year-round.
Nearby courses
Glasgow & the West golf hub
Browse all Glasgow & the West courses →
Twenty-eight parkland and moorland courses ringing the city — from Glasgow Golf Club at Killermont (founded 1787) to £6 municipal golf at Littlehill. Championship-grade rounds most visitors drive straight past on the way to Ayrshire.
While they golf — Glasgow
For the non-golfer in Glasgow →
Kelvingrove Art Gallery is free and takes four hours — Spitfire overhead, French Impressionists below. The Burrell Collection in Pollok Park reopened in 2022.
Getting there by train
On TripSCOTGlasgow Queen Street station
About 20 minutes by bus or taxi from Cawder. Glasgow Queen Street is the hub for north, west, and Highland services.
Read more about Glasgow
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