Golf Road,
Dornoch, Sutherland IV25 3LW
Office
+44(0)1862 810 219Pro shop
+44 (0)1862 810 902Fax
+44 (0)1862 810 792Website
Visit websiteGolf pro
Andrew Skinner (PGA, Head Professional).Academy
The Links Academy at Royal DornochThe Course:
18 holes. Seaside links. Undulating terrain - a few slopes to climb.
Surroundings:
Coastal duneland.
Designer:
Original nine-hole layout dates from 1877. Extended to 18 holes by Old Tom Morris (1886). Later improvements made by John Sutherland, Donald Ross (born in Dornoch) and J.H. Taylor.
Above distances are for the Championship course. Also at Royal Dornoch is the 18-hole Struie course (par-70, 6,084 yds from back tees).
57.879109
-4.022675
o.2 mi E of Dornoch centre / 45 mi N of Inverness.
From the A9, 3 mi north of Dornoch Firth Bridge, turn right onto the A949 direction Dornoch. After 1.9 mi turn right direction Beach/Hotel. After 200 yds turn left into Golf Rd. After 300 yds golf car park is on your left.
Royal Dornoch (Ch'ship)
Royal Dornoch Golf Club (Championship course): For four hundred years (it is said) Dornoch has been weaving its spell on all who come to play on these majestic and humbling links. The Championship layout (versus the shorter Struie course) is understandably regarded as one of the world's finest golf courses. In a gloriously timeless setting, you will enjoy stunning sea views onto Dornoch Firth from all parts of this wonderfully natural course.
Dornoch's classic out-and-back layout generally has the back-nine holes running alongside and below the front-nine holes. In close attendance is superb revetted bunkering, abundant gorse bushes and well-defended elevated greens. Here you have all the ingredients for a truly memorable round ... golfing nirvana, especially if the weather is in cooperative mood.
Around the greens you'll find all manner of natural contours, slopes, ridges and hollows ... often tough to pitch from. The greens themselves are typically large and full of subtle slopes and borrows.
Much of the time the good-width fairways stretch out before you, with any trouble (... bunkers, bushes and the Bay) all clear to see from the tee. On a couple of occasions blind drives are needed, most notably as you drop down to "lower level" sections of fairway at the par-4 8th and 17th holes. It's blind again at the long par-4 18th tee, underlining the undoubted challenge of the closing four holes.
In late-spring and early-summer the course is ablaze with the bright yellow flowering gorse, amplifying the year-round picture perfect scenery. If its in flower, the bank of gorse that flanks the leftside of the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th holes is unforgettable. Throughout, Royal Dornoch provides fond and lasting memories; few other courses are its equal in this regard.
Visitors welcome on weekdays, Sundays and Saturdays (after 2pm).
Must book in advance. Proof of handicap may be required.
Contact club for full details, discounts, day & combination tickets, packages, etc. [Last updated: 2024].
Players generally walk this course. Golf carts available for hire on medical grounds. Caddies available (if pre-booked).
Limited
There is clear documentary evidence that golf was played in Dornoch as long ago as the early 1600s, although a properly laid out nine-hole golf course was not established until 1877. Donald Ross, at one time the professional and green-keeper at Dornoch, incorporated many of the layout's features into courses he later designed in the USA, among them Pinehurst's legendary No.2 course.
The original Royal Dornoch emblem of 1877 featured a Scottish wildcat ... similar to the family crest of the Earls of Sutherland. At some time, the cat acquired a horseshoe, which references the Battle of Embo, fought in the 1260s (Embo is a village just north of Dornoch). During the battle, Earl William of Sutherland reputedly slew the invading Danish leader with the leg of a horse, which accounts for the horseshoe on Dornoch’s present emblem.
Through the influence of Her Grace the Duchess of Sutherland, King Edward VII conferred the Royal prefix on Dornoch GC in 1906. By royal prerogative, 10 Scottish golf clubs use the "Royal" title, namely: Aberdeen, Royal & Ancient (St Andrews), Burgess, Dornoch, Duff House, Montrose, Musselburgh, Perth, Tarlair and Troon.
Championship course:
Scotland's 3rd best course (Golf World, 2023).
Britain & Ireland's 4th best course (Golf World, 2024).
World's 10th best course (GOLF Magazine, 2021/22) and 5th best public access course (Golf World, 2023).
Struie course:
Scotland's 95th best course (Golf World, 2022).
The First Tee, Dornoch, Sutherland IV25 3LG
+44 (0)1463 796 111
Visit websiteThe Royal Golf Hotel is situated right on the first tee of the world renowned Royal Dornoch Golf Club. From April 2010 the hotel will offer 22 four-star bedrooms, cosy log fires, a golfers’ bar, plus informal wining and dining in the conservatory overlooking the first tee.
Royal Dornoch
No
Golspie; Brora; Tain; Skibo Castle
Castle Street, Dornoch, Sutherland IV25 3SD
+44 (0)1862 810 216
Visit websiteSteeped in Scottish history and fascinating legends, the 15th century Dornoch Castle Hotel firmly stands its ground opposite the inspiring 12th century Dornoch Cathedral. Set in private and beautifully manicured gardens.
No
Royal Dornoch (Championship & Struie courses)
Golspie; Brora; Tain; Skibo Castle (private).
The Sentry: known for many years as the Tournament of Champions, the PGA Tour’s 2025 season-opener gets underway on Kapalua’s Plantation course (Jan 2-5). Chris Kirk defends.
Tournament of Champions: the LPGA Tour’s 2025 season is launched at Lake Nona with the their Tournament of Champions (Jan 30-Feb 2). The 2024 edition gave Lydia Ko her 20th LPGA Tour title.
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Rory McIlroy: scooped the 2024 European (DP World) Tour season-long Order of Merit title, joining Seve Ballesteros as a six-time winner of this prestigious award.
Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.
Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
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