Hole 10 | Califer
The longest and trickiest of the par 3s, from a raised tee to a fairway that slopes left to right and down from the last ridge, towards the green. Unless you are reaching the green with a high carry it can be difficult to hit and hold. Most players would happily take 3 here and walk on.
It takes quite an errant tee shot to find trees although too far left and the crop between 9 and 10 can snag your ball early. On both sides of the fairway there are well placed and tricky bunkers. A drive short of the green down the right has a tendency to end up in the bunker or the semi-rough to the right of the green. Top tip – it is likely better to miss short right than left. The green slopes left to right and you could be left with a tricky chip or putt down hill to a green that can be fast and runs away from you.
|
Tee |
Yards |
Par |
Index |
|
White |
248 |
3 |
7 |
|
Yellow |
224 |
3 |
7 |
|
Red |
212 |
4 |
17 |
Califer Hill
From the 9th green, take a moment to enjoy the sweeping vista north toward Findhorn Bay and the distant Moray Firth. Then, as you step up to the elevated 10th tee — a challenging par 3 — your eye is naturally drawn to the horizon beyond the green, where Califer Hill rises in the distance.
This prominent hill gives the hole its name and has long held strategic importance. As the highest point in the surrounding landscape, Califer has served as a natural lookout for centuries. Climb to its summit today, and you’ll understand why — the views stretch across the Laich o’ Moray, the region’s broad and fertile plain that runs from Brodie in the west to Fochabers in the east, before meeting the coast.
Historical records suggest royal residences once stood atop Califer, dating as far back as the 13th century. By the 1770s, the final remnants of these buildings were partly demolished, with stone from the site repurposed for the construction of Blervie Mains, just down the hill.
Today, the Califer Viewpoint offers one of the most spectacular panoramas in Moray — a full sweep from the rich agricultural lands of the Laich, across Findhorn Bay, and over the waters of the Moray Firth to the distant hills of the Black Isle and Cromarty and beyond.
Image courtesy of Visit Forres