Golf in the Highlands

Nairn. Home of the 1999 Walker Cup, this seaside course is not for slicers. A traditional Scottish links course, this is a fine test of golf for amateur and professional alike. Abundant heather, a great sea of gorse and the distant mountains provide a spectacular backdrop.

Tain. This course just might be the best-kept secret in Scotland. Designed in 1890 by Old Tom Morris, this is a beautiful, fun-to-play course that should be on everyone's must-play list when visiting the North. For our money, this ranks right up there with Royal Dornoch. "The Alps" is just one of many spectacular holes on this course. We can't wait to play it again.

Royal Dornoch. This is the course that makes the trip north worth it. One of the great natural links courses in the world. Donald Ross grew up playing this course. The table-top greens are now seen across America, especially at Pinehurst #2.

The Carnegie Club. Located at Skibo Castle, the summer home of Andrew Carnegie, it is possible to play this course as an outside guest. Not difficult.

Golspie. Located north of Dornoch, an unheralded links course worth visiting. Heather and the Lochy Pond provide the hazards.

Brora. Presenting all the attributes of the traditional Scottish seaside links, there is bent grass, gorse, juniper and thyme contributing to the challenge. This course will ensure that you use every club in your bag. The greens are renowned for their texture, seaside fescue.

Everyone loves Royal Dornoch, the links, the beautiful sea, the beach, the mountains. The golf is some of the best in Scotland, but many don't play it thinking it's too far north. It is only 4 hours north of St. Andrews; only 2½ hours west-northwest of Aberdeen. It is on the same latitude as Juneau Alaska which means you could have as much as 20 hours of daylight during the summer.

Although golf has been played here for over 350 years, the Dornoch Golf Club was not founded until 1877. King Edward VII bestowed the royal title in 1906. John Sutherland was secretary of the club for more than 50 years. Old Tom Morris left St. Andrews briefly to lend his design talents to the course. Donald Ross was born nearby and learned the game here before studying golf course design in St. Andrews under Old Tom. Ross immigrated to the U.S. and went on to become one of the most famous golf architects in the world. Pinehurst #2 is probably his most famous design, much of which he patterned after Royal Dornoch.

The most famous hole is the 14th, Foxy, a completely natural design. The hole follows the natural landscape. There are no bunkers. None are needed. To reach the green in two requires two long shots with a slight draw on the tee shot and a slight fade on the 2nd. This could very well be the best par-4 in golf.