ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GOLF LOCATIONS IN SCOTLAND.
The Highlands is, without question, the most beautiful region of Scotland. There are snow-capped mountains, rushing trout streams, Loch Ness and its resident monster, bracken-filled glens, superb malt whisky, and cheerful inhabitants. All of which makes The Highlands an ideal destination for golfers looking for a bit of adventure between rounds.
In addition to the exceptional good Life, The Highlands is home to a plethora of peerless links courses. The best of these is Royal Dornoch Golf Club, the home of Old Tom Morris and his appreciative Donald Ross who learned his craft as Keeper of the Green. Royal Dornoch is a main stay with the top-10 rankings in the world and a recognised venue for any visitor to Scotland.
The game of golf has been played on the ground which is home to Royal Dornoch since at least 1616. A known fact thanks to the documented purchase of new clubs and balls for play on the Dornoch links by the Earl of Sutherland in that year. The club itself formed in 1877 and King Edward VII granted his royal patronage in 1906.
18
Holes
6799
Yards
70
Par
CAREFULLY CRAFTED BY OLD TOM MORRIS.
In 1886, Old Tom Morris extended the original 9-hole course to a full 18-holes.
Just a few years later, Donald Ross was appointed as the first golf professional and keeper of the green at Royal Dornoch. Ross was a Dornoch native, and spent several years perfecting his craft on his home links, before setting his sights on golf in America. During World War II, several of the original holes were lost to the construction of an airfield. At the conclusion of the war, the club commissioned George Duncan, the 1920 Open champion to restore the golf course. Duncan’s restoration extended the course over newly acquired land and introduced the present 6th through 11th holes. Throughout the decades that followed, Royal Dornoch was considered a far-flung destination by most golf visitors. But as more golfers made the journey north, the notoriety of Royal Dornoch and The Highlands of Scotland enjoyed a steady climb.
The 2ND - ORD
The par-3s at Royal Dornoch are quite possibly the best collection on the plant. One of golf’s most famous holes calls for an imaginative approach to a raised green which surrounds its self with steep roll offs and two eye catching pot bonkers which protect the front of the green. Respect the hole that can rapidly become a nightmare.
The 6th - WHINNY BRAE
This par-3 is the finest of them all. When the gorse that lines the left side is in bloom, there can be no more beautiful scene in golf. In contrast, the tabletop green is a fearsome sight from the tee. Long is dead, right is dead, left is mostly dead. Find the green, two putt, and gently walk to the next hole.
The 13th - BENTS
The final par three at Royal Dornoch comes all too soon, it also happens to be the easiest of the four. Guarded with seven intimidating pot bunkers it requires a precise tee shot to an expansive green. Make a par and gently walk to the next tee and don’t look back.
The 14th - FOXY
What the island green is to Sawgrass the Foxy is too Royal Dornoch. In many ways, this hole has come to define the experience at Dornoch, and it lives up to its notoriety by protecting par without the use of a single bunker. Instead, the golfer faces a daunting uphill approach to a green that repels anything but the perfectly struck shot.
A REAL GOLF HOT SPOT.
The Highlands offers one of the most beautiful settings for golf anywhere on the planet. Besides Royal Dornoch, there are several other courses in The Highlands that shouldn’t be missed.
Perhaps the best putting surfaces in Scotland are found on the links at Nairn Golf Club, host of the 1999 Walker Cup. Castle Stuart (Cabot Highlands) has hosted the Scottish Open 4 times, with Phil Mickelson winning in 2013. Meanwhile, squeezed onto the tiny Chanonry Peninsula is Fortrose & Rosemarkie; a delightful James Braid course that is as fun to play as it is visually stunning. And then there’s Brora, which spellbinds golfers with its wild links, roaming livestock, and spectacular views. For both golf at its finest and life at its best, it is difficult to top the Highlands and it starts at Royal Dornoch.
“The hardest shot in golf is the 2nd shot to the 2nd green at Royal Dornoch….a par three measuring 184 yards. When you inevitably miss this green, you’ll see why.”
Tom Watson (5 Time Open Champion Winner)
ACCOMMODATION
Links House at Royal Dornoch, Dornoch
0 Mins
Dornoch Station Hotel, Dornoch
2 Mins
Royal Golf Hotel, Dornoch
2 Mins
Dornoch Castle Hotel, Dornoch
2 Mins
Kingsmill Hotel, Inverness
70 Mins
RESTAURANTS
Mara
1 Min
Luigi’s
3 Mins
The Eagle
3 Mins
The Mustard Seed
70 Mins
Rocpool
70 Mins
PUBS
Coach House Bar & Restaurant
1 Min
The Eagle
3 Mins
The Castle Tavern
70 Mins
Johnny Foxes
70 Mins
Hootananny Bar
70 Mins
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