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Nairn (Championship), Scotland |
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Nairn Golf Club
Seabank Road
Nairn
IV12 4HB
Scotland |  | Archie Simpson, Old Tom Morris, James Braid, Ben Sayers |  | Robin Fyfe |
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 | +44 (0) 1667 453208 |  | 16 miles east of Inverness. |
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Golf Club Website
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 | Contact in advance – Not Sat/Sun am |  | Yvonne Forgan |
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Nairn Golf Club is located on an elevated, rumpled piece of linksland on the Moray Firth coastline, close to the historic fishing port. It’s one of Scotland’s lesser-known gems.
This is a course which has been touched by many great architects. The club was founded in 1887 to an original design by Archie Simpson. A few years later Old Tom Morris extended the layout and, prior to the Great War, James Braid made further alterations. Directly after the Great War, Ben Sayers added his mark to the course only to find James Braid itching to polish off the design. It is no wonder that Nairn is such a detailed masterpiece.
One of the most spectacular seaside courses in Scotland, Nairn boasts sea views from every hole. If you are a right-hander and you’ve got a slicing problem, you could find the beach from your very first tee shot. The sea is in play on six of the first seven holes; make sure you’ve got an adequate supply of balls.
When the sun is low in the sky and the shadows are long, you cannot fail to appreciate the undulating, bunker-pitted moonscape that is Nairn. It’s a delightful links with fast, firm but narrow fairways, a number of which are framed by gorse bushes and heather, heaping further pressure onto a nervous drive. The greens are sited in the trickiest places – some are raised and others are nestled in hollows. Most are well protected, either by bunkers or natural hazards, and all of the greens are fast and true, a Nairn trademark.
 There is a plethora of good holes at Nairn and the 5th is one of the best. It’s a great 390-yard par four called “Nets” which requires a straight solid drive avoiding the beach on the right. This will leave a short approach shot to a small, elevated green that is well protected by bunkers and a sharp bank sloping off to the right. The 9th, named “Icehouse”, is a lovely par four to close the outward nine. A tough long drive from the tee is required, avoiding the whin bushes on the left and the bunkers on the right. The green is located to the right of the white cottage which is, in fact, a Salmon Bothy Keep your eyes peeled for the Icehouse which is covered in thick grassy turf where salmon was kept on ice for up to two years.
Nairn is a very long way north. However, you may be surprised to hear that despite Nairn’s Highland latitude, it is located in one of the driest places in Britain. So, why not follow in the footsteps of Peter McEvoy? In 1999, here at Nairn, he lead the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team to a resounding 15-9 victory over the USA. | |
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If the above course review article is not accurate, let us know by clicking here |
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 |  | | Average Reviewers Score: |  | | | I played Nairn in Mid May and thoroughly enjoyed the round. This is a great course, with excellent greens, good course condition and the feeling of a proper golf club (we watched a number of juniors that played the 18th at the end of a club competition when we were enjoying our lunch in the clubhouse post our round). Nairn is visually less stunning than Dornoch or Castle Stuart but the three courses together make the Highlands a great place for a golf break. We stayed in Inverness for a few days which is a great location if you are looking for easy access to three excellent golf courses in combination with a fun town to stay in and enjoy some restaurants and pubs in the evening. Our group rated Nairn probably a touch ahead of its neighbour Castle Stuart but certainly behind Royal Dornoch, nevertheless it deserves a 6 ball rating in my view. As an aside: I disagree with some reviewers who stated that the holes around the fir tree complexes in the middle of the Back 9 are less attractive, I found that Nos. 13 and 14 are very strong holes, even if they are somewhat parkland like holes. |
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| 09 June 2013
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| | We played the course on a cold windy but mostly dry day in September, and as I suspect many others do as part of a trip to play Royal Dornoch. Nairn is a fine, fair, links course with many testing holes and few gimmicks. It offers fine sea views. Although of similar length it's far easier than Dornoch, largely because the greens are much simpler to hit and hold. Although the greens were in excellent shape, the fairways were inferior to RD.
For the average golfer Nairn is a playable championship course, and I think most would enjoy it. £90 could be argued to be a little steep as a green fee, but all our party were happy with their day. |
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| 25 September 2012
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| | We found this to be a well kept course with nice views.Many holes were enjoyable but we were not bowled over.A pleasant outing,yet we all felt it lacked something -rather flat perhaps overall. Nice to play once but doubtful if we would return or over recommend it to friends given the price .We visited several nearby courses which compared very well in all but reputation ,and were considerably cheaper (Spey Bay ) But all in all a pleasant course,nice setting and clubhouse |
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| 22 June 2012
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| Response: | | | T Rou | 06 July 2012 | | We enjoyed our recent outing at Nairn without being bowled over.There does lack a wow factor perhaps due to the flatness.A pleasant enough track,but we opined that we would return.Nice clubhouse,nice views and a nice course. | | | Javier | 18 July 2012 |  I was there the same week I played Royal Dornoch and Castle Stuart, but could not play Nairn as the course was closed for the 2012 Curtis Cup (Ladies Amateur Ryder Cup) but I felt it necessary to walk it if as a Tour Operator I wish to be able to tell my customers what it is about. I walked it all after an interview with Captain and Vice Captain and the course is very nice and despite being a links one has some added features that give it a nice touch for newcomers: some holes in the back 9 go apart from the Firth and are elevated, offering very nice landscape views. And tee boxes on the last three have dense forest on the right side, which is not so common in links courses. And the Club House offers a very nice place for a coffee and a view to the finishing hole and the ocean, so overall Nairn is nearly another must in Scotland. I need 5 more trips to play all the courses I would like to! |
| | | Played it for first time end May. Spectacular. Started and finsihed with pars and pared all the par 3s but some of the par 4s are long and not reachable in 2 unless you are a big hitter. Loved it. Beautiful condition and cannot wait to come back. |
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| 03 June 2012
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| Response: | | | J Igger | 22 June 2012 | | On our recent trip north we were fairly disappointed in Nairn perhaps as expectations were too high.A pleasant enough course but none of the group raved about it .we preferred Moray and were recommended by a local player to try Spey bay---a true gem at a fraction of the price. |
| | | I have just returned from a golf trip to Inverness and Nairn was supposed to be the weakest of the courses. Little did we know. This is a great links golf course. I would compare it to Hillside in that it has a few treelined holes away from the sea. Some people don't like that. I love it! The mix of holes adds to the experience for me. Nairn is the reverse of Royal Dornoch in that the first nine is all into the wind. I had a hard time going out but made up for it coming home (downwind). The beaches are lateral hazards and a friend took a picture of me on the beach hitting my 'rescue' back onto the green stuff - I shall treasure it! Nairn is great - superb condition, great views, great holes, great people! |
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| 17 May 2012
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| Just over four years after I first played here, when I was distinctly underwhelmed, I returned to reappraise the course at Nairn. The main difference this time was that I had my long term trusty golf partner with me - a man with 97 of the Scottish Top100 under his belt - so I knew he would confirm or dispel my feelings for the course without fear or favour. What was the verdict this time around?  Well, put simply, not since we played the wonderful Balgownie at Royal Aberdeen have we both been in such a state of bliss on a links layout! The course was simply in brilliant condition with wispy rough bounding the opening shore side fairways and beautifully fast, smooth greens taking the art of putting to an altogether new level. I’d forgotten how effortlessly the routing rises after the 7th, past the wonderful “Icehouse” buildings on the 9th, up the hill to the 13th green before plunging back down to finish on the flat after the 15th. Some golfers don’t like the inland holes at 13 to 15 but I absolutely love them. And if I confess to maybe harbouring one or two doubts about Nairn’s Top 10 position in a golf magazine’s recent Scottish Top100 chart, then I can honestly say they were dispelled within ten minutes of teeing it up at the 1st – and the quality I sampled from tee to green on the opening hole lasted through each and every hole for the remainder of the round. I wonder if the arrival of another potentially world ranked course along the coast at Castle Stuart has been the impetus for Nairn to up its golf game? Make no mistake about it, Nairn is more than worthy of hosting the Curtis Cup next year and I look forward with great interest to watching how the top amateur ladies fare from the championship markers here. Jim McCann |
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| 16 August 2011
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| | Played Nairn during a tour of the Highlands in early August. While it is ok I didn’t get too excited about the course. There seems to be too much lush grass for a Links course. Whether the club are doing that for a reason I don’t know. Simply over shadowed by what we found at Royal Dornoch and Castle Stuart. Pleasant would be best to describe it and I would certainly add it to your list of courses should you be planning a 4-5 day trip but don't miss out Royal Dornoch. |
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| 05 August 2011
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| | Agree with some of the comments below, not as good as expected, high greenfee and the two parkland holes were out of place. The course conditions were good but will not return. |
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| 21 January 2011
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| Response: | | | M Oyen | 28 July 2011 | | We found this course acceptable but did not come away with any great feeling for it.Doubtful if we would recommend it ,especially at the price.Tried some of the other unsung course round about eg Hopeman and especially Spey Bay where we found great links golf at a fraction of the price and more entertaining. |
| | | A very good test of golf. Found the course in excellent condition this June and thoroughly enjoyed my round. Criticism below seems to be more than a little harsh in my opinion. |
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| 11 October 2010
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| | We quite liked our round at Nairn,but wouldn't get too excited.There are nice views and pleasant holes which drift along without any great wow factor.We were unsure whether it was value for money and would probably not rush back ,although we all had a nice day out in August. |
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| 10 February 2010
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| | I feel the need to stand up for this course’s reputation. Playing Nairn for the second time this year, I feel certain it’s a top 10 course (Scotland). Yet I look at the rankings – at time of writing – and of the courses above it I would only really make claims for it to be (just) better than Western Gailes, Cruden Bay and North Berwick. And even then, it’s marginal matters of opinion: probably just that it’s more of a serious championship course than those three guys. And in honesty, I might rather play Cruden Bay (so wild) and North Berwick (the perfect Scottish holiday) and Western Gailes (so short and sweet and what about that opening nine…) So, the impossibility of making accurate comparisons aside, I guess when I say Nairn should be a top 10 course what I mean to say is this: the greens – September 11, 2009 – were as fine as any I’ve played on, probably stimping at a perfectly playable 10 which should be the goal of all Scottish links!; the first two holes are flat, lengthy and ideally into the prevailing breeze; then come some easier holes; there’s then some more length, then short par 4s for balance; a three shotter which is reachable in two; and then up onto the hill (long par 4) and back down (long par 3), two holes which are amongst the best in Scotland, still played on sandy soils but with evergreen trees around reminding the player of north west England’s seaside courses, perhaps even south east England’s inland courses; then back to the clubhouse, over burns and bunkers and with birdie chances to be taken. Also, the changes afoot, proposed by Martin Hawtree, almost all look great. To be brief about them some new bunkers will be added and some new back tees built but many gorse and whins will be cut back. I guess the aim is to keep it tough for the best guys but make sure it’s not narrow and awful for the lesser player, something the Kingsbarns and Castle Stuart teams worked out long ago. I first played Nairn in a winter storm, January this year – from forward tees – and I really wasn’t fussed. I believe I’ve now seen its true colours. The course conditioning was supremely good, not just the putting surfaces. ANGLOSCOT |
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| 16 September 2009
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| Response: | | | frosch | 05 November 2009 | | Methinks Angloscot doth protest too much. We (8 of us) also thought it was an attractive course, but not an out-standing one, to which we would hurry back. The natural links we were to stumble on later at Spey Bay (at a fraction of the price), despite its short-comings, retain for us a more pleasant memory. | | | Johnson | 05 November 2009 | | I played Nairn in Sept 99 and like many of the comments, I was a little dissapointed in Nairn. I think part of the problem, at least on my part, I read alot about these courses prior to playing so at points, I think I get myself too worked up over how "good" a course is going to be and sometimes I get let down. Believe it or not, I was very worked up to play Machrihanish but ended up dissapointed because of the build up. Looking back, I fell too much in love with The Machrie prior to playing Macrihanish that it skewed my rating of it. Nairn is good and I would play it again to see if my first rating was not accurate but I shouldnt play Royal Dornoch, Cruden Bay or Royal Aberdeen during the same trip. |
| | | A pleasant enough course which unfortunately failed to excite myself or partners as much as we had hoped.We would have to say we found its reputation rather over-rated.Perhaps we had been spoilt by playing Cruden Bay the previous day. |
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| 12 September 2009
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| Response: | | | Allan Rodger | 13 September 2009 | | I have to agree with you, nice track but for me overated.The 2 parkland holes are very strange mixed in with the rest with the one up the hill being an awful golf hole. Played many courses that I would prefer to go back to before Nairn. | | | sr | 15 May 2010 | | The 13th an awful golf hole? I am intrigued by your reasoning. |
| | | What is supposed to be the big deal about this course?
This is the most unlinkslike " links" that I have ever played and is a seriously boring and repetative track.
Don't waste your money, there are dozens of alternatives from world class to hidden gems in the vicinity.
Give it a miss. |
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| 06 August 2009
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| Response: | | | Jim McCann | 06 August 2009 | | DOZENS of better alternatives in the area is more than an exaggeration but I take your point as I too was more than a little underwhelmed by The Nairn when I played it, even accounting for the fact it was in April and the famed greens were very poor. | | | KtotheU | 09 August 2009 | | "Unlinkslike" - Please define in more detail.
"Boring and Repetative" - Please define in more detail.
"Dozens of alternatives" - Name them.
You must have a severely skewed view of links golf to hold the aforementioned oppinions. Nairn is a world class links kept in the best condition of any course in the UK or anywhere else for that matter. | | | dan | 09 August 2009 | | Many courses can be unfavourably compared to other courses in the vicinity on occasion - Nairn is clearly a quality course, and was playing very well when I was there, and seasonal issues in March were addressed with a £30 green fee. What do you expect exactly ? | | | ron | 13 October 2009 | | Obviously written by a non golfer with absolutely no appreciation of what a links course should look like. Nairn has some of the finest fescue dominated greens you will find anywhere on the planet. | | | Gimme ma four iron | 14 January 2010 | | I have played Nairn several times and underwhelmed is about it. Not bad but ..... Now Lossiemouth old course, thats a real test and of course the hidden gem Spey Bay. Yes memories are made of this |
| | | I played Nairn at the end of March in a howling gale (3 different flags had been blown out of the holes) but on an almost empty course we loved it. A typical Scottish links course, similar to North Berwick in its geography, and a very friendly welcome in the Visitors' bar. Bear in mind when reading unflattering reviews of off-season golf that it was only £30 to play, much cheaper than the high-season tariff and given the quality of the course and its history, a steal. Recommended. |
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| 11 June 2009
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| | Played Nairn on a windy late March morning and the opening 3 holes proved extremely difficult being straight into the wind. Having reached the greens however imagine our disappointment at finding the fabled putting surfaces in a terrible condition. They were heavily sanded and cored and frankly a disgrace. The course itself was an ok layout but without enough standout holes to make it a great one. Have played getting on for 2/3's of the top 50 in the UK & Ireland and in this condition Nairn will be lucky to hold on to its current position. |
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| 01 April 2009
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| | Nairn is a great course that deserves it's position among scotlands top 15 courses. I think that the holes 1 and 2 have a very special character. They lack big dunes but they do symbolize classic and natural links golf golf. Holes 3 to 7 are a great stretch of beatiful links holes with great views. Holes 8 to 12 are probably the weakest spot of the course, still fun to play, though. At the 13th the course takes on another character and reminds of surrey's heathland courses but here you have spectacular sea views on top of that! 16 and 17 are fun to play and the 18th is one of the greatest finishing holes in scotland in the style of the first 2 starting holes. I don't know whether to give it 5 or 6 stars, but in terms of conditioning this is one of the best-maintained courses I have ever played so I'll give the links 6 little golfballs. |
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| 16 December 2008
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| | A brilliant golf course. I absoloutely loved it. Great views, great condition and great layout. I preferred it to Royal Dornoch. Played 18 holes at Nairn Dunbar in the morning, and then 18 holes here in the afternoon. What a great day. |
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| 26 September 2008
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| | Probably the best clubhouse and club atmosphere of any of the 14 courses we have played in Scotland. A very enjoyable day but not a great golf course. Sitting here a week after playing, I can only think of one or two really good holes. Worth playing for the quality of the club and the conditions but not in the league of Dornoch, Cruden Bay and Brora. |
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| 21 July 2008
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| | A perfect golf course. Very sportive to play, fantastic views and the best conditions you can find on a links course. Enjoy the 14th and 15th hole. An absolut 'must play' and withe a very warm welcome. |
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| 09 January 2008
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| | Played recently on a cloudless and windy day. A superb links course in great condition with the greens being some of the best I have ever putted on, super quick and very true. There are no dunes but anything straying from the reasonably generous fairways will be gobbled up by well positioned bunkers or heather and gorse, or the sea on the first 7 holes. A good, fair test of golf combined with a first class, welcoming clubhouse and stunning views over the Moray Firth and Highlands make this must visit if in the area. |
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| 19 September 2007
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| | I was very enthousiastic about playing this course. Reading the 19/20 on the Peugeot book made me expect a Dornoch like experience... Well it wasn't. It is definitely a good course,but no to the standard of Dornoch or other places which also get that 19. No really memorable holes,no poor hole either to be fair... Uneven bunkers and greens which even in late april shouldn't happen on a course of that standard. Despite the great views all around the course,something is missing to make this place a truly great one. Our time there started superbly at the starter's (the exact opposite of the one at Dornoch, see my review) but went decrescendo to finish at the nice looking clubhouse offering quite poor service. Maybe a place I would need to revisit in the summer months to change my opinion? Cédric |
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| 21 April 2007
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| Nairn is a very fine golf course but it lacked a little something that I am unable to put my finger on - maybe I am being too critical  as it was the last course I played in a couple of days in the Highlands and championship golf fatigue may have set in by then! Or maybe it has suffered from the input of too many classic course architects? The famed greens were not of the standard – even for mid April – that I was expecting so that was a very big letdown for starters. Bunkers looked a little rough around the faces and sand in the traps was hard pan in places and too soft in other parts. The general feeling I got – and I must be brutally honest here – was of playing holiday golf on an overpriced course that has punched above its weight in attracting so many national and international championships down the years. There, I’ve said it. Sorry to offend anybody who rates Nairn as one of their favourites. I loved the “Icehouse” buildings on the 9th and thought the three inland holes from hole 13 to 15 were very interesting for a links but overall I just never got enthused about the place – lovely big clubhouse too (despite the poor after round service) so maybe I’ll need to play it again – if they let me back – to understand why it’s worth shelling out the same sort of money that gets you onto better Scottish courses north of the central belt. Jim McCann |
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| 16 April 2007
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| | Enjoyed my round at Nairn. Played off the whites and only 3 over h/cap due to 3 x 3 putts. Greens were true but slower than Royal Dornoch & Royal Aberdeen. Got the feeling that Nairn was a manicured links, even a couple of parkland style holes that turn inland on the back nine. Overall it was enjoyable, but rate the course below the two courses above and Cruden Bay. Therefore, £75 green fee was high - more of a £50 - £60 course in my opinion. |
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| 21 September 2006
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| | A classic links course with great very fast greens. The course were in perfect condition. I think a must play in that region. |
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| 21 August 2006
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| | If you only have enough time to play two Highland courses, then you should chose Nairn alongside Royal Dornoch. Nairn is a truly magnificent links course which is maintained impeccably (best conditioned course in the Highlands). The greens are like billiard table velvet and as true and as fast as you could ever wish for. Fantastic series of opening holes which hug the Firth, in fact there is not a single weak hole on the course in my view. Excellent bunkering and masterful design… it’s well worth the trip. |
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| 28 May 2006
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| | Absolutely outstanding first class links course. The first few holes run along the firth, and then the course turns slightly inland to some magnificent holes. The only distraction is the pig farm located on the back nine, and our caddies never could explain how each pig knew how to go to their own little pig house (I'm not making this up!). The gorse is as challanging here as any course I've played, and this includes the Old Course. I actually birdied the par 5 18th after bouncing by second shot off the clubhouse, so my last memory of this course was quite pleasant. I'll always remember my caddie, a young college lad from the town home on holiday. On one hole he handed me my 1 iron, while all of my partners hit their drivers. When we got to my ball I was 25 yards behind everybody, and there were no hazards in site. When I asked the caddy why he had me hit the 1 iron he said "Because I like the way you hit it". One of the greatest compliments anyone ever paid me on a golf course. I can't wait to get back to Nairn. Richard Smith
Knoxville, Tennessee |
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| 10 May 2006
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| | In that group of first-class Scottish links just behind the greats you will have a fine time at Nairn. The first stretch of holes along the shore are links golf at its finest, especially the magnificent 5th. There is a brief let-down when the course incongruously moves inland for a couple of holes but the finish is testing and the whole experience exhilarating. |
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| 04 February 2006
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| | Good stopover on the way to Dornoch. Golf course is decent but greens are great and fast. Nice clubhouse. |
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| 31 December 2004
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| | Superb greens and the remainder of the course is also in good condition. Holes 1 to 7 are outstanding in their design and the views out to sea are classic links. In fact this course has just about the lot. Great par 3's of differing distance and direction, short and long Par 4's and the same with the Par 5's. As with all links courses if the wind is blowing then the course changes character in a matter of minutes. The staff were also friendly and the clubhouse is nicely welcoming. Well worth the visit, although the price for a days golf is quite steep at £100. |
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| 22 September 2004
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| | My favourite links course anywhere. The course condition is unbelievable any time of the year, during the Kings Trophy (Nairn's Open competition) the tees are true enough to putt on, never mind the greens! How fast can they be after a few days without rain?!! I would challenge anyone to find a true links course in better condition with this quality of holes. I'm contemplating retiring to Nairn so I can play it everyday - only 30 years to go! |
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| 08 September 2004
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| | Overall very good, enjoyed the feeling of being so close to the sea (especially the first 7 holes). Nice clubhouse and was made very welcome by members and staff. If in the area this is a must play. |
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| 28 June 2004
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| | There must have been some mistake - move it up the rankings immediately! Nairn featues the best greens I have ever played on in my life. Period. Generally, it's the best-conditioned links imaginable, so if there is a criticism for the ultra-traditionalist it would be that it's too manicured for a course of its type. That said, I can assure you that you won't be complaining as you tread its velvet fairways and carpet greens. Although tough in places, in terms of length it's generally manageable from the yellows, so it's a course the average player can enjoy as much as a low man. There are stunning views from every hole, and, just for good measure, the 13th and 14th look as if they should be at Sunningdale. All in all, quite an experience. |
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| 07 June 2004
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