The attention of the sporting world will turn to the Augusta National this week as The Masters is currently taking place. This will be the first men’s major of the year, and it is arguably the most iconic competition in the sport.
Rory McIlroy will be aiming to defend his title 12 months on from when he became the sixth golfer ever to complete the grand slam of golf majors.
The Northern Irish golfer will aim to become only the fourth golfer to win consecutive Masters titles, joining an elite list of Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods.
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Many may not know that the famous American course in Augusta was designed by Bobby Jones and British course architect Dr Alister MacKenzie.
MacKenzie's parents were Scottish but he would only design six courses in his ancestral nation and for those golf lovers they will love to know they all still exist today.
While the iconic Augusta National will be seen by many as the most iconic course he ever designed there will be one that fans will need to visit to test that theory with several being able to argue that the most unique course is in Scotland, as reported by the Daily Scottish Express, the Duff House Royal Golf Club, located on the Moray Firth coast.
There are certain similarities between this Scottish golf course that MacKenzie redesigned in the 1920s and Augusta due to the importance water plays.
The River Deveron has an important role to play on the Scottish course as it runs its way through the course with it playing a part on five of the 18 holes.
Another significant similarity is the two-tiered greens that were a feature of Dr MacKenzie's work and are still in evidence at Augusta.
Duff House’s website describes the green design as the "forerunner" to Augusta, which may entice fans of the American course who want that feeling of playing at the iconic golf club for an affordable fee.
A round at the Scottish golf club will cost you only £35 till the end of April before the prices rise to £55 in May before jumping to £75 for the summer season.
Olfers may be interested to know that the course was honoured by the Royal Family when Princess Louise, daughter of King Edward VII, expressed an interest in becoming the patroness of the club.
The uniqueness of the course not only comes in its physical attributes but also in its name, as the club would use the term 'Royal' as a suffix rather than a prefix, the only such example anywhere in the world.
So, for those who are captivated by the Masters this weekend and diehard golf fans, they should look to make a trip to Duff House to get that unique feeling of being McIlroy or Tiger Woods on the course.
Topics: Golf, Rory Mcilroy
Brendan McGilligan