Royal Dornoch

Situated in Dornoch, North Scotland the Royal Dornoch Golf Club is one of the oldest clubs in the world.

History of the course

There is written record that golf was played at Dornoch in 1616. The Royal Dornoch Golf Club was born in 1877 as the Dornoch Golf Club. Old Tom Morris designed the links course and initially it had only nine holes. In 1880, another nine holes were added to make it a 18-hole course. With the turn of the century, as the rubber-cored ball replaced the gutta ball, the course had to undergo modifications making it the fifth longest course in Britain for a short while. The club got its present name in 1906 when King Edward VII granted it the Royal Charter.

Royal Dornoch is located at a secluded place away from the hustle and bustle of the large towns. The atmosphere is calm and serene making it a unique experience. In the evening local folks are seen walking their dogs on the golden beaches, while others traverse a path above the links overlooking the holes and the Dornoch Firth which empties into the North Sea.

At 6,514 yards, it is not long by modern standards but you have to keep in mind the bunkers, sandhills, hummocks, knolls and swales that can penalize you for any mishit.

Course Trivia

Set on the Irish coast the Royal Dornoch golf course holds the No. 5 spot on Golf Digest's list of Top 100 Courses outside the US As we continue on this tour we will learn about the other top-100 golf courses in the world.