|
 |
 |
Royal Dornoch (Championship), Scotland |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Royal Dornoch Golf Club
Golf Road
Dornoch
Sutherland
IV25 3LW
Scotland |  | Old Tom Morris, John H Taylor |  | Andrew Skinner |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
| |
|
 Royal Dornoch Golf Club is spellbinding. It seems to mesmerise amateur and professional golfers from all over the world and many make the pilgrimage to this natural links at some point in their lives. Let’s be honest, for most people, it takes a concerted effort to get to Dornoch. For those who live in Glasgow, the drive by car will take about five hours!
In 1630, according to the Guinness Book of Golf Facts and Feats, Sir Robert Gordon described the course in glowing terms. Dornoch… “doe surpass the fields of Montrose or St Andrews”, he wrote. There are also written records showing that golf was played at Dornoch in 1616, long before its first nine-hole golf club was founded in 1877. This makes Dornoch the world’s third oldest golf course (behind St Andrews and Leith). In 1886, Old Tom Morris “updated” the original nine holes and came back three years later to extend the course to 18 holes. John H Taylor later made changes to Old Tom’s layout with guidance from the club’s secretary, John Sutherland.
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.
Ostensibly the course itself is pretty straightforward: it’s an out-and-back layout. Many of the greens, though, are built on natural raised plateaux making approach play especially challenging. It’s the raised domed greens that became the trademark of Dornoch’s most famous son, Donald Ross. Born in 1872, Ross became the club’s head green-keeper and professional. He later emigrated to the States and became one of the greatest golf course architects of all time. Many of his designs, most notably Pinehurst No.2, bear the hallmark of Royal Dornoch’s greens.
There are plenty of great holes to choose from at Royal Dornoch. The 4th is in the middle of a stretch of three excellent par fours. The line from the tee is the statue of the Duke of Sutherland. “Whinny Brae” is the par three 6th that signals the change from the low-lying holes to the more elevated ones. It requires an accurate tee shot across a swathe of gorse that wraps its way around the plateau green. The 14th, called “Foxy”, is a long par four, measuring almost 460 yards, and it is one of the most simple and natural holes in golf featuring a classical Donald Ross domed green.
The town of Dornoch is steeped in history; there has been a human settlement in the area for over 4,000 years. The witch’s stone stands in a local garden, commemorating Scotland’s last “witch” burning. The stone says 1722, but Janet Horne, the alleged witch, was tried and condemned to death in 1727.
|
Royal Dornoch is the No.1 course in the Britsh Isles according to visitors' reviews posted on this website. We published our first Top 100 list in our Top 100 Golf Courses of the British Isles book and, based on visitors' reviews posted up to April 2005, Royal Dornoch was your favourite course. | Most people know about Dornoch and many have this course on their must-play list. All we can say is that you shouldn’t leave it too late (as did Bernard Darwin), this course must be played sooner rather than later. "And then, alas! - worst of all the deficiencies in my education - there is Dornoch. I never seem yet to have enough time or enough money to get so far north." | |
|
| |
If the above course review article is not accurate, let us know by clicking here |
|
|
|
|
|
 |  | | Average Reviewers Score: |  | | | My favourite golf course anywhere. Is it the whole experience, from the scenic travel north, the wonderful Dornoch town, the friendly people. Royal Dornoch is the complete package a wonderful golf course in a setting the will take your breath away. Enjoy this is "as good as it gets" |
|
|
| 06 November 2012
|
Reply
|
| | Obviously great location and great green designs but half the holes pretty mundane really. Poor finish, 17 & 18 longish and very plain. 16 in dry conditions pretty much unplayable with anything more than a 6 iron off the tee. 15 half decent, Foxy nice approach but bland tee shot. 13 Excellent. 11 & 12 Ordinary. 10 when downwind the ball just goes over the green but good hole into the wind. 9 Great location but not a stunning golf hole. 8 nice approach boring drive. 7 worst hole on course. 6 & 5 great. 3 & 4 too similar to each other. 2 great. 1 ok ish. Sorry, a little over rated. The Struie was immense fun though, we were going to play Tain, Brora and Golspie but got a weekly ticket for the Struie and played the Championship twice and had a great time on the Struie, Great weeks golf. |
|
|
| 02 October 2012
|
Reply
|
| Response: | | | Sd | 02 October 2012 | | Dornoch overrated. You are nuts. The 17th and 18 poor holes , you are nuts. Your whole review loses credence when you say you played the Struie repeatedly rather than go to Tain Golspie or Brora. Your taste in golf courses is all betwen yor toes. | | | Harry | 03 October 2012 | | SD. Is there any need for a personal attack, I merely gave my opinion, am I not allowed to do that your opinion clearly differs from mine, now would you mind moderating your response and give your reasons why you think Dornoch is so good, Thank you. | | | jd | 06 October 2012 | | Sorry have to agree that your review of Dornoch lacks any depth and any knowledge of course architecture.For example the drive at the 14th(Foxy) may seem to be bland to you but is recognised by most as brilliant because the bail out area on the safe right hand side of the fairway makes the approach to the elevated green much more difficult /nigh on impossible.By just dismissing holes as similar/bland and 'half-decent' you really have missed the point of courses like Dornoch.Time to get back to the parkland courses. | | | dan | 10 October 2012 | | Harry, unwittingly you have strayed into dangerous almost religious territory - wonderful Foxy's "bland tee shot", was called the greatest natural hole in golf by Harry Vardon. I do acknowledge your right to an opinion and would respectfully advise that Dornoch Championship is a wonderful golf course, and that whilst the Struie is certainly fun you definitely missed out on one of the truly great golfing experiences by not going to Brora. I would strongly advise this next time. | | | tom | 02 November 2012 | | Played here some weeks ago for the first time in many, many years. Still the wonderful course I remember. Long and tough, great bunkering, terrific raised/plateau greens and splendid views. Friendly and helpful staff in the clubhouse too. A really strong and challenging test of golf. The course condition was not great however, certainly not what I expect from one of the UK's premier clubs (no better, maybe even worse, than nearby Brora, Tain and Golspie), and certain aspects were concerning, for example, the standard of play and etiquette of many of the visitors was really, really poor (eg men who wouldn't get a 36 hcp even on a good day) so pace of play was an issue (like 5-6 hour rounds). I also noticed that players seemed to be allowed to wear trainers and even lightweight walking boots on the course. I'm not convinced that this is a good thing. Other premier clubs, and many clubs not even near the premier league, insist on inspecting hcp certificates before visitors are let onto the course. There may be a message to Dornoch here from your peer courses, don't let the search for £$£$£$ take precedence over quality, you may well live to regret it in the longterm, and that would be a great shame, as the layout is just fantastic, only exceeded by a rare few in the UK, such as the likes of Muirfield and Carnoustie. | | | Michael | 04 November 2012 | | Dornoch is a better course than Brora but Brora is the most magic place to play especially on a late summers evening. | | | Pyt | 16 March 2013 | | I played in Scotland in July of 2012. Crail, Kingsbarns, Carnoustie, St. Andrews Old and New, and Gleneagles King. As great as they all were, there was nothing like the combination of look, feel, challenge, pleasure, and awe of Royal Dornoch. Simply stunning and absolutely thrilling golf. |
| | | There is nothing more to add about this magnificent course - just go. I do regret we didn't play it twice, so as to have a better idea of the lie of the land and the hidden problems. This is a very demanding course into and around the greens, and weak iron players will really struggle. And find the deepest bunker on your home course and practice hitting it just a few yards out.
I wouldn't bother with the Struie, it's not terrible but I'm sure there are better courses in the vicinity as a warm-up or cool down. |
|
|
| 26 September 2012
|
Reply
|
| Response: | | | BGD | 27 September 2012 | | I thought I might use this most recent review of Royal Dornoch as an opportunity to make a comment. Our group is planning its fourth golf trip to Scotland next June and our first to the Highlands where we are scheduled to play Dornoch twice, in addition to the other fine courses on our itinerary. This web site has been invaluable to us. It is superbly organized and easy to use, and the reviews are diverse, interesting and so very helpful. Thanks to all involved. I might add for those who are planning a visit that Golfnook.com is also a very valuable resource. |
| | Well, what can I say. Once I was said from Giles Greenwood from IAGTO that Royal Dornoch was the best course in the UK. And in my opinion this is very close with Royal Aberdeen and Carnoustie. This year after 11 days between East Lothian, Turnberry, Gleneagles and St Andrews I took the 3hs car ride from St Andrews to Inverness to see what was it about and played Royal Dornoch and Castle Stuart. First of all, the car ride to Dornoch and the small town are maybe the nicest landscape I have seen in The Saltire, simply breathtaking, with Firths along it, very dense green in the land and buildings that can have more than 200 years, really something different and that should be done not only by golfers, but also by non golfers. Once I arrived (early, of course, to have time to enjoy the entire visit),  I went to the proshop and smashed it buying lots of things as the variety and quality is really high and prices not that bad! Then lunch at the Club House and I can say quality and hospitality can describe service there, I really enjoyed it! Then came something really special, as in the Starter's House they have a special wall where they put ball markers from all the Clubs from where they receive visitors (if you go, take one from yours!) and was able to leave my Golf Club Argentino ball marker there, only club in South American, a big honor for us! And finally the golf round, WOW!!! The Golf Course is so good that maybe words and pictures are not enough, you have to go. Course design, difficulty, fairness, landscape, maintenance and history make it all a perfect combo, which I must say I loved and promise to be back. We played the first 8 holes into the wind and I found really tough conditions and some holes can be killers: par 3 2nd, par 4 4th, par 3 6th and par 4 th 460 into the wind (Driver and 3 wood towards 6-feet for maybe the best birdie in my life). When we started easy par 5 9th difficulty was not that bad, although par 4 16th and 17th are not only nice but very tough again. Finishing hole is long but with wind helping was not that bad. And the pin was honoring The Jubilee Celebration, which was that day. It is a course that leaves you with the adrenalin of wanting to play it again and again, and I would have done it if an invitation to Royal Aberdeen had not arrived to my email inbox!! The course has more than 200 members from USA (mostly from Donald Ross's Courses) and shows it, together with Scottish tradition to maybe be the best Golf Experience you can imagine. If you consider yourself a devoted golfer, Royal Dornoch has to be in your must list. And if you can afford it, play more than one round, you will not regret it! |
|
|
| 17 July 2012
|
Reply
|
| | I have been using the Top 100 courses website for years but never written a review. However, I have just returned from a golf trip to Inverness and feel compelled to comment. We played at Castle Stuart on Sat and the setting there was amazing but the greens very disappointing! At Royal Dornoch there was absolutely nothing to complain about. The setting and condition of the course - everything was excellent. As good as any links I have played, and that's a lot. The upturned saucer greens are very difficult. Practice your pitching if you are coming here! The wind is a BIG factor. I have never played in stronger winds. Normally expect a three club wind this was a seven club wind! It's also a bit brutal in that the front nine goes out, all downwind and then you turn into it for the back nine. It was SO difficult but an experience never to be forgotten. Also worth mentioning that we played Nairn the next day and it was equally great! Inverness is a great golf destination - GO! |
|
|
| 17 May 2012
|
Reply
|
| | Royal Dornoch is absolutely marvellous. On the first tee not much of what is to come is revealed. But as soon as you are on the green you start to sense that something special awaits you. On the next tee you know you're in good hands and from then on it is one joyous hole after another. I played Royal County Down earlier this year and I think Dornoch is better. |
|
|
| 05 May 2012
|
Reply
|
| | The best links course in Europe and in my top 3 in the world. Make the trip... |
|
|
| 11 March 2012
|
Reply
|
| Response: | | | Boab | 19 March 2012 | | This was my second game at Dornoch and this time I brought 3 friends who I have been telling them that Dornoch was the best course in Scotland. On a bright sunny March day the course was superb a joy to play stunning.My three friends agreed that it's better than Kingsbarns and The Ailsa. We will be back | | | Tony | 02 October 2012 | | Steady on old boy, it's good but not that good. You've got the Irish courses, the Open courses and have you played Saunton, Westward Ho!, Burnham & Berrow and St Enodoc, although Dornoch has got a great location it's not as well designed as these 4 courses in S.W.England. I could spend 2 weeks playing Saunton but I made the great pilgrimage to Dornoch and was disappointed, Sorry. | | | dan | 10 October 2012 | | Tony, I bow to no man in my love for St Enodoc, but I would say that after the church hole there are a few fields with flags, entirely unlike anything at Dornoch. Plus the blind drive over the ridge with out of bounds if you hit it too well is not great design... |
| | | I cannot add much more than others will have said with greater detail and eloquence. An absolute and incomparable gem of a links. A very fair test of golf for all handicap levels and a delight to the eye. If you haven't played this course and have tastes and opinions for others then cleanse your palate by drinking in this one. One slight caveat is the glacial pace of play that is understandable with so many visitors on course. Some polite enforcement of the slow play rules would have increased the enjoyment even more. Very highly recommended to the point of being 'essential'. |
|
|
| 24 October 2011
|
Reply
|
| | My pilgramage to Dornoch coinicided with a reasonbly fair day with a bit of wind (the locals called it a wee breeze)-it felt a bit stronger than that to me.
The anticipation in our group was immense.The course didn't disappoint although the visual feast if you paly in early summer when the gorse is in full bloom must be something special.
My God this course is diffiicult and must veer towards impossible in a strong wind with the group of par 3's fiendishly difficult especially no 2 (where I got into the front right bunker-put me down for 0 stableford points from there-if you have played theer you might know what I mean) and hole 6 where the pin was cut about 2 yards over the front plateau.
It was a wonderful day-the starter was really friendly and it was good value for £85 - thoroughly recommended |
|
|
| 13 September 2011
|
Reply
|
| | Played early August and it would go straight into my top 5 courses played. Absolutely loved it. So many great holes which demand your best shot making skills. The 2nd hole was playing over 185 yards towards a green you cannot afford to miss. The course gets better and better with holes 3 and 4 needing good shots but equally important a good touch to get the ball in the hole. Holes 6 & 14 are some of the most natural holes you will play anywhere. I could go on and on about this place. Having toured all of the British Isles playing so many great courses this place along with Castle Stuart is the place I would revisit time and time again. |
|
|
| 15 August 2011
|
Reply
|
| | Apologies since it's superfluous really, but this is a review of our return visit to Dornoch this April on the play and stay at the Royal Golf Hotel. Combined with playing Castle Stuart twice, I really can't think of a better value, quality golf trip anywhere. Especially since we stayed an extra night for the odyssey up to the stupendous Durness which is, for me, the ultimate golfing day trip.Anyway, once again the Dornoch weather was wonderful...but I still haven't parred Foxy ! dan |
|
|
| 26 July 2011
|
Reply
|
| | I played this course two years ago and can still remember every single hole as if i played it yesterday. I have also been luckily enough to play numerous other top courses in GB&I and this one still stands out head & shoulders above the rest. I cant recommend this course enough, even for the remoteness and scenery...its fantastic. |
|
|
| 16 July 2011
|
Reply
|
| | Best golf course played in the UK! Best staff and clubhouse. A must for every serious golf player! |
|
|
| 27 April 2011
|
Reply
|
| | One of the real gems - the course where everything is top notch - design, condition, environment. That is any true golfer's paradise. |
|
|
| 24 April 2011
|
Reply
|
| | I played Royal Dornoch last week on a twighlight rate and enjoyed my round. As an 18 handicap I found the course very difficult overall, but I did manage a few pars in amongst some big scores. The problems for me in particular were the difficult, heavily bunkered and raised, par threes which really punished a wayward tee shot. This is not a complaint but an observation. As expected the course was in excellent condition with immaculate fairways and greens. I would not pay full price for a round there again but thought the twighlight rate was good value to play at such a prestigious course and very accessible/welcoming. It isn't my favourite course and I didn't fall in love with it on this occasion, but I can see why some people do. |
|
|
| 23 April 2011
|
Reply
|
| | Played for a second time this June, a truly outstanding golf course which sits comfortably in my Top 10 in GB&I. |
|
|
| 11 October 2010
|
Reply
|
| | Love the track and the quaintness of the course and the town. That special feel that's hard to explain - which I also felt at Royal County Down and Pinehurst #2. For me second best course in Scotland behind Turnberry. I lived in Scotland 4 years so also had the privledge to play most other top courses including Muirfield, Old Course, Carnoustie, Royal Aberdeen, Kingsbarns, Troon, etc. For me better than all of them. |
|
|
| 18 August 2010
|
Reply
|
| | Played the course in mid-June. Tee to green probably the best course I played on my visit. The greens were slow and not up to par with the rest of the course. A wonderful links that deserves the world-class reputation it has. However, the high handicapers in our group found the course very difficult. We were treated well by all at the club. If the greens were smoother and better, it may be the best course I've ever played. |
|
|
| 12 July 2010
|
Reply
|
| Response: | | | David McIntosh | 14 August 2011 | | I played at Dornoch this morning and the greens were fantastic-best i've putted on in years. Think they maybe try and peak them for their golf week which had just finished. |
| | | That I found Royal Dornoch to be a fantastic course will not be a surprise to anyone. The quaint town that you drive through to get there only builds the anticipation that you are heading for a superb golfing experience. The course is effortlessly stunning and you can imagine that this course has looked more or less as it does now for the previous 100 years or so. The ghosts of legends seem to accompany you down each majestic and serene fairway (I should point out here that I played it on a calm day!!). The front 9 is superb, with each hole a very good test of links golf. The par 3 6th is so stunning it is only rivalled by the 11th on the Old Course at St Andrews. The second 9 is not as good for me as the 1st nine, although it does finish well with demanding, if untraditional, hilly holes 16 and 17. The 18th is a great finishing hole in the mould of the 18th at Royal Aberdeen, although not quite as good. The much talked about signature hole ‘Foxy’ was a disappointing hole for us, - it was difficult to really make out what was going on. Maybe playing it for the 1st time didn’t help and future attempts to play this hole (and there will be future attempts) may be slightly more enjoyable. Although I had a great day there is one serious black mark – having travelled over 200 miles and paid £75, we were not allowed to play from the whites as not all of our group were 5 handicap or below. Next time we go I think the starter might find that our handicaps are all less than 5!!!! |
|
|
| 12 May 2010
|
Reply
|
| | What more needs to be said. From the hospitality to the remoteness to the quality of the design, this is one of the greats. You needs to play here at least once. Find out where Donald Ross got his inspiration. This is in my top three Scottish courses and may be the most enjoyable. |
|
|
| 11 May 2010
|
Reply
|
| | We played Royal Dornoch for the second time this year, on April 2. they had just cut and ironed the greens and were playing over 10 stimp. i shot 82 previously when the greens were slower, i didnt play much worse but this time by the end i could hardly make myself make a putt, they were so fast yet true with drop offs waiting for an over hit putt or chip. a chastening experience. However, staying at the newly reopened Royal Golf Hotel made this a sensational experience. Dornoch village is like a mini St Andrews and if like me you have been beaten up by the Championship Course the Struie is a salve to the spirit, what a 36 hole day ! Sheer joy and a must play. The wonderful Brora is just up the way too ! dan |
|
|
| 09 May 2010
|
Reply
|
| | This is an exceptional course, its taken me a few months to write this review but i can still remember all the holes vividly. RD is great from the start, but i think it really comes on fire at the 6th. This short par three, played to a green with gorse on the steep dune on the left of the green and bunkers and a sharp slope down from the green on the right. My favorites were the 6th, 14th (foxy) and the 17th. The course is fantastic and the refurbished clubhouse is great and provides a warm welcome.
The struie course isn't half bad either and well worth a game. |
|
|
| 18 October 2009
|
Reply
|
| Response: | | | Jesper Aspegren | 03 November 2009 | | Fantastic! The best course ever I´ve played(including many of the worlds most famous).
Every shot brings happiness to your heart, even if your bunkerlie is close to a disaster. |
| | | I had waited in great anticipation for a good while to play Royal Dornoch and can now appreciate what all the fuss is about. It is a wonderful setting to play golf and we hit very lucky with a warm calm sunny day in September, the overall condition of Royal Dornoch would take some beating with fairways a greens in immaculate condition. The round opens with a short par 4 of 331 to lull you into some thoughts that Dornoch may be easy, well you could not be more mistaken with a devilish par 3 of 177 at 2 followed by 2 par 4’s of 400 yards+ and a tricky short par 4, there is then a little relief in a par 3 of 161 in the signature hole Whinny Brea then 2 more pars 4’s of 479 & 434 with the 9th a 529 par 5,the back 9 seems a little tougher with 5 par 4’s over 400 yards. I for one loved every minute of the round and would play it again at every opportunity; I have played The Old Course, Muirfield, Turnburrry, Carnoustie, Kingsbarns, and many of the other top courses in Scotland and this rates right up there with the very best. I know it can be a long way to travel for some but believe me it is more than worth the effort. |
|
|
| 18 September 2009
|
Reply
|
| | Played it on 29th July 09. The condition of the course was immaculate , one of the very best Links courses on the planet . Stand out holes were the 5th par 4 surrounded by bunkers , the gorgeous 6th and the 14th "Foxy" with no bunkers at all . Those were my favourite holes but there was not one bad hole on the course and the welcome i received was excellent. The pro shop is well stocked and the food in the clubhouse was tremendous. |
|
|
| 03 August 2009
|
Reply
|
| | I visited Dornoch back in June for my 50th. Have t say the course was excellent and it lived up to up my expectations. Links golf does not come any better in my book and I have played quite a few course including several major courses.
The staff at the Club house were really friendly and if you like high quality meals there Chief dishes out exceptional quality meals (don't miss them). If you like a wee dram the club malts are worth trying.
Don't miss out on Struie (dornoch 2nd course) which was great fun.
Already planning areturn visit in October |
|
|
| 12 July 2009
|
Reply
|
| | A great course, played at the end of March (only £55 !) and it was in great nick. Some lovely holes and superb views.
Very historic clubhouse full of members who were proud of their course, and extremely welcoming to us.
We will be back. |
|
|
| 11 June 2009
|
Reply
|
| | Played this course on Good Friday - thought it was stunning. Great test of golf and worth the £75 a round. It must be played. Would definitely have hosted the Open if it wasnt in the middle of nowhere. |
|
|
| 15 April 2009
|
Reply
|
| | When I played Royal Dornoch, the gorse was not shining. Nor was there wonderful weather. But Dornoch still fascinated me so much. I've only played it once but I know that I will come back, it's just a matter of time. I haven't played many of the famous layouts in the U.K but I think I can say that Royal Dornoch is the most perfect mix of history, naturalness and spectacular beauty in the world. |
|
|
| 28 November 2008
|
Reply
|
| | Played the course twice July 13th and 14th. This was the course we were most looking forward to playing our entire trip. We were not disappointed. No two holes were alike and a great links layout. Could not recommend more highly. |
|
|
| 21 July 2008
|
Reply
|
| | For any visiting golfer to Scotland, it is more than worth the trip to go north to Dornoch. I have played the course several times and each time it improves. Royal Dornoch has everything a golfer could desire; a true, fair test of golf, amazing scenery, a wonderful setting and friendly staff and members. All in all, RD is my favorite golf facility in the world (no offense to Pine Valley, Pebble Beach, etc.)!!!!!
The 5th is a true beauty, from the elevated tee to the well bunkered green. The walk to the 7th tee seems the entire world opens for your viewing. Enough has been written about Foxy (14th). The 17th and 18th can be monsters and can ruin any scorecard.
You are missing the crown jewel if you don't travel to Royal Dornoch! |
|
|
| 30 June 2008
|
Reply
|
| | I left Royal Dornoch GC last week, having played a competition round on the Championship Course, feeling frustration, resentment and disappointment. Frustration - at my perennial inability to hit it straight and my lumberjack-like touch. Resentment – against the jammy so-and-so’s who pay less than £300 per year to be members of this informal but classy club. Disappointment – the bitter variety- at the realisation that it is likely to be some considerable time before I pit my (dim) wits against this beguiling links again. Royal Dornoch has got to me like no other course I have played. As a golfing “experience” (the course, the setting, the club and the people) it now tops my own personal chart, nudging Carnoustie and Kingsbarns into joint second and leaving Muirfield, Turnberry, the Old Course and others in its wake. There are loads of great holes at Dornoch. My personal favourite is the 5th – a short par 4 from an elevated tee with gorse left, fairway bunkers right and a deceptively long, narrow, raised green. A classic links hole that tricks you on the tee into thinking “birdie chance” and, a few minutes later, leaves you wondering how you manufactured a five from the middle of the fairway. The four par 3s deserve a special mention too. These holes are all relatively short but miss these treacherously raised targets and you need the touch of a bomb disposal expert to give yourself a chance at par. My Dad, Jim, who is well into his “seniors” career, shot a very respectable nett 75 from a handicap of 8, despite two sixes (!!!) at par 3s. Dornoch is unremiitingly intriguing, quirky, challenging, alluring, striking and wonderful.Off course, the clubhouse is remarkably unpretentious. I would like to give a mention to the club steward (Andrew?) who took time to chat to us about the club’s history, membership, events and so on - a nice wee touch at the end of a tremendous experience. When, at the predicted age of 119years, my sex-addled, drink-soaked, golf-worn body can take the agony of this game no longer I will head for Royal Dornoch for my valedictory round. What a way to say goodbye! |
|
|
| 13 May 2008
|
Reply
|
| | Royal Dornoch is golfing paradise. Played here in June on a sunny and windless day. The location is unique the course is excellent und views are stunning. My favorite linkscourse on a level with RCD. An absolut must play. For warming up try the Struie as well. |
|
|
| 09 January 2008
|
Reply
|
| | What a golf course! I'm stunned.
This is simply Scottish Links Golf at its very best.
Everyone who is interested in the game should play here at least once.
It beats all others hands down! |
|
|
| 26 November 2007
|
Reply
|
| | Wonderful. The definitive Scots links, and a true test of golf without shattering the morale of all but the most talented golfers. It is not too long, but tough, demanding and stimulating. We used every club in the bag and were round in just over three hours.
The greens were slick, the course in great condition and it did not rain, well not much which given our experiences elsewhere in September made it truly memorable. Peter de Savary is buying the closed and almost derelict Golf Hotel and Dornoch desperately needs some decent accommodation.
Another minor quibble is that the assistants in the pro shop are taciturn at best and downright unhelpful at worst. This course deserves excellence everywhere. |
|
|
| 19 November 2007
|
Reply
|
| | Royal Dornoch may be my favorite course in the world. I played it two weeks ago and was astounded. There is not a bad hole on the course. Every hole is a test. Number 1 is probably the easiest hole on the course. But, in my opinion that is good. It helps to get people off the tee and keep play moving along to have a relatively simple opening hole. I have played many of the top courses in the world and I sincerely think that this course deserves a higher rating than 30 in the world. It is a much stronger course than most ranked above it including Carnoustie. Location and lack of lodging I'm sure are the only reason it is not on the OPEN rotation. This course is a must for the golf purist and those who regard the history of the game. I could play it everyday. The only other course in the world I have said that about is Teeth of the Dog in the Dominican Republic.
Don Kramer, PGA |
|
|
| 11 August 2007
|
Reply
|
| | Played in October 2006. Excellent course that both rewarded and punished. The views are great, the greens were great, even the weather was kind. Probably felt better as I was three down with three to play and ended up drawing the game on the last. Would recommend to all who love the game of golf. |
|
|
| 23 April 2007
|
Reply
|
| | What a wonderful course, right up there at the top!! Best holes are probably 5th and 6th in my opinion…Par 3 2nd not bad either, how on earth can you stop the ball on that green in side winds ?? The yellow gorse gives a real unique atmosphere to the place. A real world class venue which location is probably the only reason why they are yet to organise an Open …Fantastic clubhouse too! I completely forgot about the 1st hole though…And the reason is a bossy starter(don’t know if the man was the actual official starter though) who was completely out of his place and role. Such brilliant places don’t need those persons…Will return any time though!!Cédric |
|
|
| 21 April 2007
|
Reply
|
| | Tremendous!!! Hole number 1 a bit average but the rest of the holes are great. Very natural layout and doesn't have the hustle and bustle of the Old Course and some of the other better known courses. Great, great, great and hard to explain the feeling you get up there. |
|
|
| 06 January 2007
|
Reply
|
| Response: | | | Chris Jones | 06 January 2007 | | Agree with these words totally...difficult to really explain Dornoch but this place is very special - hard to beat. |
| | | It is hard to describe the beauty of the Dornoch experience. I played there on a perfect day in September 2006, and the whole round was just one terrific hole after the other. It is quite frankly the most beautiful course I have ever played. The best holes for me were 3 to 5, 9, and 13 to 18. I know that that covers more than half the course, but leaving out favourite holes is difficult. Compared to the Open venues, the green fee is very good, and while you are in the area, make sure to play a round or two at nearby Brora! Kem Westdyk, South Africa |
|
|
| 26 September 2006
|
Reply
|
| | Arguably, one of the most subtly difficult courses I've played, but in a beautiful setting. Some of the greens are like up-turned saucers, so if you draw or fade the ball in and don't hit the right spot on the green, you'll be playing your next from a greenside bunker. Outward nine slopes left to right towards the sea and if you're a fader you'll be in the fairway pot bunkers. I played well over my handicap, but enjoyed it all the same. One minus point, the course marshall can be intrusive, even if you haven't lost a hole. Overall though, I'd go back tomorrow. |
|
|
| 21 September 2006
|
Reply
|
| | this is the best course i played in scotland not just because i played my best round ever but i it is a magic place to play, it is beautiful you feel like there is no one else on the planet(except for the jets) and the course was perfect and the holes were so all different that you can use your imagination so much. that is great thing about links golf the surrounds just make you feel there is nthing wrong in the world and the people are so friendly that they must get tired of it maybe once a year, surely not. this was the first pure links we played and i found out the secret to links golf, STAY OUT OF THE FAIRWAY BUNKERS and your day will complete. |
|
|
| 10 September 2006
|
Reply
|
| | I had the chance to play Royal Dornoch last week. Even the weather was not to good, i had so much fun to play this course. Some really unforgetable golf holes. Great Design of the greens. A really perfect links course. |
|
|
| 21 August 2006
|
Reply
|
| | Played Dornoch three weeks ago in warm sunshine and showers and what a treat it was, living up to my high expectations of the course. With the gorse in bloom and the aquamarine sea ever-present, there can be no finer place on earth to play golf. Pure theatrical magic. Dornoch goes directly into my personal Top 10. |
|
|
| 16 June 2006
|
Reply
|
| | WOW just about captures it! Played the course today, weather was beautiful and course was even better than 'advertised'. We made the trip to Scotland from the U.S.A. and of the big name courses we played - St. Andrews (New), Carnoustie (Championship) and Royal Dornoch (Championship), RD came out on top for all four of us. While we aren't going to be playing alot of the other name courses it's hard to imagine that others would measure up. Links golf at it's finest. Will definitely come back and play again!!! |
|
|
| 05 June 2006
|
Reply
|
| | Struck it lucky with the weather - a calm, bright day at the end of March. Played Struie in the morning (most enjoyable) then RD after lunch. Stunning run of holes from 3-6 and an amazing feeling standing on the 9th tee. Overall I was slightly disappointed by the back 9 especially the featureless 16th and 18th. I would rank Dornoch behind Cruden Bay (probably the nearest comparison) and it's not as great as Carnoustie, Turnberry or Muirfield. But a fine golfing and scenic experience. |
|
|
| 01 May 2006
|
Reply
|
| Response: | | | Hugh | 23 July 2008 | | It's all about opinions I know and I like both Cruden Bay and Carnoustie but Royal Dornoch is, in my view, better than those two courses. I found absolutley nothing to be disappoineted about at Dornoch. It's one of the few courses in the world that completely met my high expectations. |
| | | This is definitely my favourite of all the courses I have played. The course itself is very challenging, but rewards good shots (and punishes bad), and the location is fabulous, so if you are not playing well, just look around and take in the scenery and sense of calm and isolation. One thing I REALLY like about Royal Dornoch is that the course plays really well from the RED tees, with all the trouble off the tee being at a similar range from both mens and ladies tees, given the difference in average driving distance. The main concession to the ladies is that the course is a par 76, sss 76 from the red tees, compared with par 70, sss 73 from the white. This also means that it is a fair course for a mixed event, where it is the guys who get the courtesy shots! The layout is traditional links, out and back following the curve of the bay, so the wind direction changes as you progress around the course. Like the other reviewers, it is difficult to choose a few favourite holes, but the following deserve mention: 2nd – a great par 3 with a green that repels all but the best shots, 5th – a short par 4, but you need your two best shots to have any chance at a birdie putt, 14th – par 5 for the ladies, but still requires two good shots and then an accurate approach to the green or you run back down off the elevated green, 17th – elevated tee so your tee shot should roll further, but you need to take advantage of this extra distance to have any chance of getting on the green in two. The course has been in excellent condition each time I have played here (last time was April 05), with greens that run true and bunkers with perfect sand. |
|
|
| 01 April 2006
|
Reply
|
| | #20...you have to be kidding me!!
Royal Dornoch is an awesome and special place. The journey to the far reachs of Scotland is extremely rewarding. The ambience, the setting, the quality of the course are hard to match anywhere.
At every difficult crowned green one can imagine Donald Ross making mental notes for his future work.
I highly recommend this course and I plan to get there in 2006.
Kelly Conway |
|
|
| 18 December 2005
|
Reply
|
| | Royal Dornoch is magnificent. I would rate this course substantially higher than 20th, probably in the top 5 or 10 in the UK. The only two courses I"ve played that compare are Muirfield and Ballybunion (old). Although the first hole is somewhat average, from there the course proceeds from one magnificent challenging hole to another. The holes have a great variety of twists, turns, and doglegs, and there is enough elevation change to give you the sense of never quite being able to find your balance or your game.
The greens are unique and it is easy to detect the influence that they had on Donald Ross. I play at Holston Hills in Knoxville, Tennessee, a classic Ross course, so I recognized a number of features in our course from Dornoch. The greens at Dornoch, however, are severly sloped and approach the difficulty of Pinehurts #2.
This course is very demanding but straightforward. My highlights were to eagle the par 5 ninth with an 80 foot putt and to birdie the famous Foxy (I believe #14).
This course should be sought out and played by anyone who wants to know what links golf is all about.
As an aside, the Struie course is really not much to talk about. If you can get a day ticket to the championship course I would skip the Struie. It is short and uninteresting, but is a nice course for kids and beginners. |
|
|
| 20 November 2005
|
Reply
|
| | Both par 3 holes at 2 and 6 are a challenge, you will see what I mean when you play! The views from third on are amazing. Playing the back nine along that wonderful coastline you will be in heaven. Royal Dornoch is one of the best experiences in golf. You will love it. |
|
|
| 24 September 2005
|
Reply
|
| | Played this great course several times on a Scotland journey in 2000, wish we could have gotten there again on this years trip. I kept finding myself comparing the great courses we played this year to RD. The course has a fabulous natural layout, and the view from the 3rd tee with the gorse in bloom in late spring is incredible. The par 3's are all great holes, along with "Foxy". It challenges every club in the bag..tough but fair.
This will be a must play on my next trip. |
|
|
| 23 August 2005
|
Reply
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
