2-fore!-1 Golf in Scottish Highlands
25 Courses in Rothes, Thurso, Scotland, Ross-Shire, Ross-Shire, Banffshire , Orkney, Oldmeldrum, Muir of Ord , Aberdeenshire, Keith, Garmouth, Fort Augustus, Brechin, Scotland, Durness, Moray, Scotland, Crieff, Scotland, Brechin, Isle of Benbecula, Alness, Inverness-shire
The Highlands of Scotland cover around two thirds of the country. In the north the Highland region spreads the full width of the land, reaching from coast to coast. Here in this rugged wilderness are the highest mountains and the most breathtaking scenery. And, here you will find some of the most beautiful, most unforgettable golf courses in the world.
Here are six of the best.
Royal Dornoch
The Royal Dornoch Golf Club, in the far north, is one of the truly great golf courses in the world, and is one of the first places where golf was played in Scotland. As early as 1616 the townspeople played golf on links along the seashore. The Golf Club began in 1877, and today the championship course is in the top ten of world class golf courses. The Club was accorded the title "Royal" in 1906 by Edward VII. Set in wildly beautiful countryside, to reach it you will need to allow for a five hour drive from Glasgow.
Castle Stuart Golf Links
Castle Stuart Golf Links is easy to access, being only a few minutes drive from Inverness Airport. A warm welcome awaits green fee players, with range balls for practice. Driving range, putting green, rental carts, trolleys, caddies, club hire and teaching pro are all available, and facilities include restaurant, lounge and locker rooms. The views from the clubhouse, which extend to Chanonry lighthouse, and from every hole, are inspiring and invigorating. Completed in 2009, many a visiting golfer has commented that Castle Stuart Golf Links "feels like it has been here for 100 years!" The club has twice hosted the Scottish Open.
Nairn Golf Club
Founded in 1887 along the shores of the the Moray Firth, Nairn Golf Club invokes the presence of the sea throughout your game. A championship classic links course that has been developed and improved over time by several golf architects, the sea is visible from every hole and is in play for the first six holes. Despite the traditional "straight out, straight back" layout, some intricate challenges await you here - not least from the wind! Greens and fairways are "fast and true", and maintained in perfect condition. Nairn Golf Club has hosted many tournaments, including both the Walker Cup and the Curtis Cup.
Boat of Garten Golf Club
Boat of Garten Golf Club in the Inverness Shire is set in true Highland country, 1,000 feet above sea level in the Cairngorms National Park. Boat of Garten village is also known as Osprey. The name is from the ferry that once crossed the River Spey, still flowing by the golf course. Established in 1898, then remodelled in the 1930s, the Boat of Garten golf course has a quality of timelessness, with echoes of ancient times resounding in the silence of the mountains, and broken only by the whistle of theStrathspey Steam Railway running along the golf club's western boundary. The Boat of Garten golf course has a complicated layout set on different elevations, and as you play, you will find yourself in among the silver birch forests, the broom, gorse, heather and pine trees. The Clubhouse is warmly welcoming and offers a bar, restaurant and you'll find a well stocked golf shop.
Brora Golf Club
Just 20 minutes drive from Royal Dornoch is Brora Golf Club. This beautiful seaside links course was designed in 1891, then redesigned in the 1920s. A classic layout with wide sweeping views, this golf course embraces the ever present the ocean, which can be seen and heard from every tee. You follow the shoreline for the first holes, while further along, the 17th is aligned with the lighthouse. You'll need to watch out for the wind, and it will need to be factored in to many a shot. Your golfing skills will be tested on this traditional links course. And, to make it more interesting, a flock of sheep roam around from the centre of the course! Electric fencing is used to protect the greens and some tees.
Skibo Golf Course
On the Dornoch Firth, with views to the Struie Hills, is Skibo Golf Course. Located at the Carnegie Club at Skibo Castle, this recently reconstructed championship links course offers you an outstanding game of golf with wonderful views. The luxurious clubhouse features a bar, dining room, lounge, terrace, and a library stocked with books on golfing history. As the Carnegie Club is a private members club, you may visit just once, as a guest. For any visiting golfer, this experience is most memorable.
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