Golf Highland, Scotland - Royal Dornoch Golf Club

Despite its northerly latitude, some 45 miles North of Inverness and nearly 200 miles from Edinburgh, improvements to roads help Royal Dornoch to continue to be one of the most popular golf courses in Scotland. So well is it regarded that magazine polls across the world regularly have it in their top twenty, it is well worth the extra miles it takes to get there.

Old Tom Morris orginally laid the course out in 1891 and John Sutherland - Dornoch's club secretary from 1882 through to 1935 - made subsequent changes. After World War II the course was again considerably altered by George Duncan who designed five new holes: Nos 7 through to 11.

The opening hole at Royal Dornoch, a simple par 4, is no indication of the joy - and trouble - to come. It is not until golfers walk over the headlands to the third tee that they get a sense of this striking golf course. Wondrous swards of fair way and greem, with clusters of players dotting the beach-front, unfold a mile in each direction. The embankments of the old dunes on the landward side of the course, from late April until early June, are a carpet of flaming yellow gorse.

The course is just over 6,500 yards, but this is no reflection on the degree of difficulty to be found on many holes. It is classic links with the first 8 holes following the natural slants and humps of old dune embankments while the rest flank the sandy beaches of Dornoch Bay. Raised or sloping greens are characteristic as well as elevated tees so the target is well presented although rarely easy to reach. Dornoch, perhaps more than most, is a thinking golfers course where it is not enough to simply keep the ball on the fairway. A position has to be sought on most holes where the green can be accessed to your advantage.

Events:

2008-04-20 - 2008-04-20
Junior Open Junior (18 holes)

2008-05-03 - 2008-05-03
Burghfield 3 Man Team Gents (18 holes)

2008-05-04 - 2008-05-04
Open Medal Gents (18 holes)

2008-05-10 - 2008-05-10
3 Lady Team Ladies (18 holes)

2008-06-14 - 2008-06-14
County Championship Royal Dornoch Gents (18 holes)

2008-07-05 - 2008-07-05
Robbie Grant & Duncan Murray Senior Men (18 holes)

2008-07-12 - 2008-07-12
Sinclair Cup 36 Hole Gents (36 holes)

2008-07-13 - 2008-07-13
G K Mackay Foursomes Mixed (18 holes)

2008-07-24 - 2008-07-24
Captains Mixed Foursomes Mixed (18 holes)

2008-07-31 - 2008-07-31
Lady Captain's Mixed Foursomes Ladies (18 holes)

2008-08-06 - 2008-08-06
Ladies Open Ladies (18 holes)

2008-08-10 - 2008-08-16
Carnegie Shield Gents (18 holes)

2008-08-24 - 2008-08-24
Whyte & Mackay 13-28 Handicap Gents (18 holes)

2008-09-06 - 2008-09-06
Gardner Farser H'Cap 12 and better Gents (18 holes)

2008-09-29 - 2008-09-29
Ladies Senior Open (50+) Ladies (18 holes)

2008-10-15 - 2008-10-15
Donald Ross Invitational Junior (18 holes)