Cardrona Hotel, Scottish Borders

Dave Thomas will have left the Borders with a definite smile on his face after being introduced to the landscape on which he was to design Cardona's golf course.

The renowned architect who will forever be linked with his sculpting of The Belfry can rarely, if ever, have had such wonderful, natural terrain with which to work. The historic River Tweed cuts through the course with picturesque wooded hillsides framing what is a typically breathtaking Scottish scene.

It's the kind of landscape which has inspired a hundred paintings, a thousand photographs and a million American visitors.

Not surprisingly therefore, Thomas has produced a layout which challenges and soothes in almost equal measure.

While scoring well requires fine course management and crisp ball-striking, the surroundings somehow make even a missed four-footer almost bearable.

The magnificent countryside is helped in this way by the incredible tranquillity which envelopes the Cardrona complex.rnrnIf it wasn't for the link road at the front of the hotel which itself isn't busy all you would hear as you make your way round the course is the fizz of a flushed drive and perhaps occasionally voices or laughter from another fourball.

Those sounds apart, it is as peaceful and serene an environment in which to play as I have ever witnessed.

Enjoying this heaven-sent scenario are the many members of Cardrona Golf Club as well as guests of the pristine Macdonald hotel.

If that sounds like a recipe for five-hour rounds, you're not exactly a million miles from the truth.

The quality of the course obviously means tee-times are at a premium and it's easy to see why; once people are on there, they are likely to be simply absorbed in their enjoyment with no thought of rushing round in under four hours.

It's golf Caribbean style, just with overcast skies, heather and bracken instead of sun, sea and sand. Having said that, there is plenty of sand on Cardrona's 521-yard 1st, eight bunkers lying between tee box and green.

Two traps eat into the right-hand side of the fairway at the 230-yard mark, on the opposite side after 300 yards and around the green itself. Accuracy is immediately essential on this tough opener.

The par-four 280-yard second offers a dilemma. Go for the shallow green tucked away behind a bunker and a grassy mound off the tee or lay up and back yourself with a chip up the green.

The first par three comes at the 5th yet in no way is this a gimme par. A yard short of 200 off the whites, an intimidating arm of water dissects the fairway as well as lying to the left and behind the green.

The 6th is a beautiful par five, initially requiring an exacting tee shot threaded between the trees and over a burn. Bunkers line the fairway up near the green while out of bounds lurks down the left.

A splendid hole with more than a hint of Gleneagles' new PGA Centenary course about it. Like the 2nd, the 7th is a risk and reward hole.

It's worth trying though as little more than a chip awaits if you are successful. With the heather-capped Peebleshire hills as a backdrop, this is another stunning hole.

After the relatively straightforward 8th, it's a lengthy stroll over to the other side of the Tweed, where the Pro's Tip in the yardage book which advises taking one more club than you normally would for a 189-yard shot is worth following.

The start of the back nine offers little respite with an accurate and long drive required to give yourself a chance of finding the green in regulation. Trees line the left side and water lurks on the right so a positive mental approach is essential.

The 11th is another long par three and this time the introduction of links-like mounds ready to divert your ball away from the green are a further complication.

Another spectacular par five lies in wait at the 12th, with the smart route down the left providing the best opportunity to clear the glistening water in front of the green with your second.

This leads you to the farthest end of the course, where a picturesque loop is completed with the memorable 16th, an exquisite dog-leg par four.