For golfers visiting Scotland, Royal Dornoch is one of the most sought after courses for the itinerary.
But this hasn’t always been the case.
For most of the 400 years that golf has been played here, Dornoch was considered a remote destination.
Only the most enlightened golfers made the journey to The Highlands of Scotland in search of this hidden treasure.
And yet, author Herbert Warren Wind once proclaimed that “No golfer has completed their education unless they’ve played and studied Royal Dornoch.”
If you’re planning to complete your education, this complete guide to Royal Dornoch will lead the way.
The game of golf has been played on the ground which is home to Royal Dornoch since at least 1616.
A known fact thanks to the documented purchase of new clubs and balls for play on the Dornoch links by the Earl of Sutherland in that year.
The club itself formed in 1877 and King Edward VII granted his royal patronage in 1906.
In 1886, Old Tom Morris extended the original 9-hole course to a full 18-holes.
Just a few years later, Donald Ross was appointed as the first golf professional and keeper of the green at Royal Dornoch.
Ross was a Dornoch native, and spent several years perfecting his craft on his home links, before setting his sights on golf in America.
During World War II, several of the original holes were lost to the construction of an airfield.
At the conclusion of the war, the club commissioned George Duncan – the 1920 Open champion – to restore the golf course.
Duncan’s restoration extended the course over newly acquired land and introduced the present 6th through 11th holes.
Throughout the decades that followed, Royal Dornoch was considered a far-flung destination by most golf travelers.
But as more golfers made the journey north, the notoriety of Royal Dornoch and The Highlands of Scotland enjoyed a steady climb.
Today, Royal Dornoch is a mainstay on Scotland golf trips.
It also finds itself near the top of every list of the Top 100 golf courses in the world.
6th Hole – Whinny Brae
The par-3s at Royal Dornoch are quite possibly the best collection on the planet, and the 6th hole might be the finest among them.
When the gorse that lines the left side is in bloom, there can be no more beautiful scene in golf.
In contrast, the tabletop green is a fearsome sight from the tee. Long is dead, right is dead, left is mostly dead.
Find the green, and call it a victory.
The Royal Dornoch links with the 6th hole at bottom right.
The New 7th Hole
The 7th tee at Royal Dornoch delivers one of the most unforgettable views in the game of golf.
Until recently, the hole itself was a bit of a letdown. No more.
The new 7th capitalizes on the same stunning panorama as the tee box, while also opening up the ocean views for the entire hole.
To say the approach to the new 7th at Royal Dornoch is now one of the great shots in Scotland is an understatement.
But the new hole isn’t the only beneficial change at this corner of the course, as explained by Neil Hampton, General Manager of Royal Dornoch, in the video below.
13th Hole – Bents
The last of the par-3s at Royal Dornoch also happens to be the easiest.
If you hit the green on the 13th hole, walking away with par is all but a certainty.
So why does it make our list?
A new tee debuted recently which was raised some ten feet higher than the original.
It also happens to have inched closer to the beach, yielding yet another unforgettable view at Dornoch.
Credit: Royal Dornoch
14th Hole – Foxy
What the island green is to Sawgrass the Foxy is to Royal Dornoch.
In many ways, this hole has come to define the experience at Dornoch, and it lives up to its notoriety by protecting par without the use of a single bunker.
Instead the golfer faces a daunting uphill approach to a green that repels anything but the perfectly struck shot.
Play for a five, or you’re likely to find far worse.
Credit: Royal Dornoch
Glenmorangie Distillery
The history of Royal Dornoch and Glenmorangie go hand in hand.
Glenmorangie serves as the official whisky of Royal Dornoch and the duo forms one of the best combinations of whisky and golf travel in Scotland.
In addition, the 18th hole was recently renamed “Glenmorangie” in honor of this long standing partnership.
Perhaps a subtle reminder of what waits inside the clubhouse after a memorable day on this incomparable links.
Of course, the best way to experience Glenmorangie is by booking an H&B Personal Guide for a day of sightseeing in The Highlands of Scotland.
H&B Personal Guide, Gavin, ready for a tour at Glenmorangie.
Luigi
Those looking to enjoy a little of the Good Life in Dornoch should look no further than Luigi.
Contrary to the name, Luigi doesn’t specialize in Italian cuisine, but rather continental fare with an emphasis on fresh seafood.
The wine list is creative, and the langoustines are divine.
More importantly, it receives rave reviews from our travelers year in and year.
Head inside… You won’t regret it.
Brora Golf Club
Just half an hour north of Dornoch lies perhaps the most delightful links in Scotland.
At the Brora Golf Club, roaming sheep and cattle keep the rough cropped to a playable height, while the greens are protected from their intrusion by thin electric wire.
If you’ve made the trip to Dornoch, we advocate going just a little further to discover this James Braid links.
Just remember that all animal droppings are played as casual water.
Credit: Brora Golf Club
Royal Dornoch Tee Times
Royal Dornoch accepts visitor play 7 days a week and tee times generally become available in the spring of the year prior to play.
Tee times in the peak summer months sell out rapidly. As a result, we suggest beginning the planning process at least a year in advance.
Royal Dornoch Location
Royal Dornoch is located in The Highlands of Scotland, approximately 1 hour north of Inverness.
The closest airport to Royal Dornoch is in Inverness, offering service to a number of cities in the U.K. and Europe.
Royal Dornoch Caddies
Caddies are available at Royal Dornoch and they are an essential part of your visit.
In many cases, your caddie at Royal Dornoch will be a member of the club, which adds even more value to the experience.
The cost is the club’s prevailing caddie fee plus a recommended gratuity of £20-£30.
And there you have it… Our complete guide to Royal Dornoch Golf Club.
We trust that the info above will be helpful when the countdown to your visit comes to an end.
But if you desire more intel, we invite you to tune-in to our interview with Royal Dornoch General Manager, Neil Hampton.
Our free guide includes over 40 pages of valuable insight, plus links to nearly 50 additional resources, on Golf and the Good Life in Scotland.
For more insight on planning Scotland golf trips, visit the pages below or have a look through our Yardage Book, where you’ll find answers to many of our most frequently asked questions.
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