Golf in Dornoch
Golf in the The Highlands and Dornoch
The Highlands and Dornoch are the most picturesque region of Scotland. With snow-capped mountains and leaping trout streams flowing into deep Lochs and glens. There’s great malt whisky, welcoming inhabitants and of course the Golf.
We are ideally situated for the best golf links in the highlands On our doorstep is the is Royal Dornoch Golf Club, which celebrates over 400 years of golf. Donald Ross perfected his craft here as Keeper of the Green, and it’s continued ranking in the top top-10 rankings in the world have made this the first place to visit while you are in Dornoch. To the south, is Castle Stuart Golf Links (Cabot Highlands), named, in 2009, the best new course in the world and host to the Scottish Open on four separate occasions.
Besides Royal Dornoch and Castle Stuart, there are many other courses worth a mention. The best putting can be found on the links at Nairn, which hosted the Walker cup in 1999. And then there’s Brora, which enchants golfers with its windswept links, amazing views, and the occasional sheep on the green!. For golf as its meant to be played and the finest site seeing, you can’t top Dornoch and The Highlands.
Check out our recommended golf courses below.
Royal Dornoch Golf Club
Royal Dornoch is spellbinding and many golfers from all over the world make the pilgrimage to this natural links at some point in their lives. It is often quoted as one of the must-play courses.
It’s the timeless setting that makes Royal Dornoch such a pleasing place to play golf. It’s wild, isolated and, at the same time, absolutely beautiful; there’s the blaze of colour in early summer when the gorse is in flower. The pure white sandy beach divides the links from the Dornoch Firth and it all feels very humbling.
Formed in 1877, Royal Dornoch has exceptional standards and always aim to exceed the expectations of their frequent visitors and loyal members. However, they do this in a relaxed, informal environment, with an emphasis on traditional highland hospitality.
It is not just the Championship course that presents golfers with the challenges of links-land. Their second 18 hole course the Struie is enjoyable and entertaining for the whole family at a modest green fee, and it can also test the lower handicap player.
Brora Golf Club
As Brora Golf Club enters its 132nd year, there are many reasons why the golf club has been so successful.
The golf course design is recognised as being one of James Braid’s finest pieces of work. The green staff work tirelessly to preserve the original design, whilst presenting a course that is regularly acclaimed for its quality. The perfect balance between challenge and fun, and in a breath-taking setting.
Their clubhouse provides a spectacular view of the golf course and surrounding links land, and trained staff are on hand to make your visit to Brora Golf Club comfortable and enjoyable.
Refreshments are available from the bar, food is available from the restaurant and their Professional Shop will take care of all your golfing needs.
Tain Golf Club
Tain Golf Club in Ross-Shire, is a traditional Scottish Highland links course designed by Old Tom Morris situated 9 miles south of Dornoch and 31 miles north of Inverness.
The Championship length links overlooking the Dornoch Firth arguably offers one of the best settings imaginable in the highlands for a round of golf. With sea on one side and the backdrop of the mountains behind, every day brings a different aspect to this challenging and beautiful course and the layout of the holes guarantees an interesting round for beginners or experts.
The sheltered location of the course ensures favourable weather for most of the year. With a clubhouse offering an excellent selection of drinks and fine dining at Old Tom’s Restaurant we are confident that you will want to return time and time again.
Golspie Golf Club
Golspie Golf Club is a varied and challenging course, the most spectacular views in Scotland.
With a design influenced by the great James Braid, this 6021-yard course embodies the true spirit of Scottish. golf. Great views to both sea and mountains make it a delight to play for all abilities. But it’s also a course where links holes lead to heathland with unforgettable pin placements and bunkering throughout.
When it’s game over, the clubhouse will ensure you experience the highest standards in Highland hospitality. Sit back and enjoy the stunning outlook over the Moray Firth and the friendliest welcome in the whole of Scotland. Situated on the North Coast 500 route, come and find out all that makes Golspie Golf Club that extra bit special.
Cabot Highlands
An experience you won’t forget, Cabot Highlands (Castle Stuart Links) harkens back to a simpler era of the game.
Hugging the shoreline of the Moray Firth, the rugged and natural landscape is comprised of vast expanses of gorse, broom, heather, and sea marram. Tightly framed vistas combine the immediacy of natural surrounds with far-stretching views, creating at once a sense of grounding and grandeur. Manicured playing surfaces and natural rugged vegetation come together in a design reminiscent of golf’s transitional period from 1890 to 1935. Truly a great golf links.
Nairn Golf Club
The Nairn Golf Club, traditional links course dates from 1887 and the original design by Archie Simpson was later developed by Old Tom Morris, five times Open champion James Braid and Ben Sayers. Every hole on the Championship course offers extraordinary views of the Moray Firth and the Black Isle beyond, as well as tricky greens and cunningly angled short holes that will challenge the mettle of any golfer.
Visitors are welcome on both the Championship Course and the 9-hole Cameron Course, a gentler course that is perfect for a fun family round of golf and for practice sessions. Visitors are welcome to reserve tee times, participate in a range of open competitions, and purchase golf passes for the area.
Durness Golf Club
If you have been on the North Coast 500, Durness Golf Club lies right on this famous route 57 miles north west of Lairg; with the closest main airport south east of us at Inverness.
Designed by three local golf enthusiasts – Lachie Ross, Ian Morrison and Francis Keith – and opened in 1988, Durness Golf Club nestles on Scotland’s north coast and is Britain’s most north westerly golf course on the mainland. A 9 hole links, but with a second set of tees that provides a fine 18 hole experience, set against some of the most stunning landscape backdrops.
Recently voted in 2020 by Golf Magazine USA – in its first ever World’s Top 50 / 9 Hole Courses (12th) and in Golf World UK’s Top 100 Courses 2021 in GB and Ireland (65th) – your unforgettable golf journey can now begin.
Book your next golf trip
Balloan Self Catering offers extremely spacious and flexible accommodation, especially for golfers in Dornoch. The properties are 5 minutes by car to Royal Dornoch, and are perfectly located for the main road that leads to Tain, Castle Stuart outside of Inverness, and Nairn Golf Club. Golspie and Brora are 15 minutes and 25 minutes away respectively. It’s a 90 minutes drive to Durness, which is the most north westernly golf course on mainland UK, and should be on every golfer’s bucket list. It’s an hour to Castle Stuart Golf Course, and 70 minutes to Nairn Golf Course.