The Dornoch Golf Club was established in 1877. The design of the Championship Course at this golf club is attributed to Old Tom Morris. The club was awarded its Royal status in 1906 by King Edward VII and was renamed the Royal Dornoch Golf Club, which is located in the Scottish seaside village of Dornoch.
The Royal Dornoch GC is so far north that it is closer to the northern tip of Scotland – John O’Groats – than it is the England-Scotland border to the south.
Geographically, the Royal Dornoch GC overlooks the Dornoch Firth which feeds into the adjacent North Sea. Golf has been played on this piece of property since early in the 17th Century. Work done by researcher Wade Cormack has uncovered evidence that John, the 13th Earl of Sutherland, played golf on this property in 1616, more than 400 years ago.
The Royal Dornoch GC has two 18-hole golf courses: the par-70 Championship Course and the par-71 Struie course. Both courses are exceptional links golf courses. The existence of both courses makes the Royal Dornoch GC one of the more popular 36-hole golf destinations in Great Britain.
The Championship Course is truly one of golf’s all-time treasures and best designs. When you play the Championship Course’s back nine, relish the seaside views of the Dornoch Firth on your left. You should always play the Championship Course twice. Your first round will be an experience. During your second round, you’ll have a better idea of how to play it.
Again, Old Tom Morris is credited as being the designer of the 18-hole Championship Course. In 1886, Morris was hired to extend the original nine holes to 18 holes. He did just that. During World War II, several of the original holes were lost due to the construction of an airfield on the property. After WWII, 1920 Open Champion George Duncan was hired to successfully restore holes six, seven, eight, nine, ten, and eleven on newly acquired land.
Since Duncan’s work was completed, Royal Dornoch has hosted a few major amateur tournaments such as the British Amateur Championship in 1985 and the Scottish Amateur in 1993, 2000, and 2012. In 2022, the Women’s and Men’s Senior British Amateur championships were also held at Royal Dornoch.
The quality of Duncan’s restorative work and Old Tom Morris’ original work continue to draw rave reviews from visiting golfers and journalists. In 2007, Golf Digest ranked the Championship course at Royal Dornoch as #3 on its Top 100 International (outside the U.S.) golf courses. Golf writer David Brice of Golf International referred to Royal Dornoch as “the king of Scottish links courses.” And, the Championship course was listed No. 1 in the world by Golfscape, the online golf reservation service.
While the front nine on the Championship Course at Royal Dornoch is a brilliant design, the back nine is beyond compare, mainly because of the close proximity of Dornoch Firth which is on the golfer’s left, starting with the tee shot on the tenth hole. By the way, the tenth tee of the Championship Course is not adjacent to the clubhouse as it’s ‘out in the country’ – as far away from the clubhouse as you can get, while still on the property of the golf club.
If you want a referral about the Championship Course from a pro golfer, ask five-time (British) Open Champion Tom Watson, who is an honorary member at Royal Dornoch. Watson says that his experience of playing golf at Royal Dornoch on the Championship Course was memorable and well worth the trip to northeast Scotland.
“It’s the most fun I’ve ever had on a golf course,” said Watson.
The Championship Course is just as appealing to regular weekend golfers.
“My overall memory of the Championship Course at Royal Dornoch was that it was the most fun and happy round of golf I’ve ever played,” said Patty Gates of Worcester, Massachusetts. “The course layout is stunning and our caddie, Mike, was fabulous. The unpretentiousness of the place was perfect — nothing fancy or stuffy to be found! It was a privilege to play there, and it deserved my best effort, which I was happy to give. I could not have had a better day. Just a fun day.”
To add to the lore of Royal Dornoch GC, it is also the home golf course of well-known golf course architect Donald Ross. This is where Ross learned his trade as a club maker and golf professional. Ross also developed many of his ideas about golf course architecture by working alongside Old Tom Morris and John Sutherland before he emigrated to the U.S. in 1899. It’s worth noting that Ross was an accomplished golfer who actually played in the Open Championship on one occasion. He played in the 1910 Open at the Old Course at St. Andrews where he finished in a tie for eighth.
The Championship Course at the Royal Dornoch Golf Club awaits your arrival.
At Royal Dornoch, make sure you stop at the Halfway House which is located at the 10th tee on the Championship Course. The shop is filled with a wide variety of drinks and snacks. It’s an ideal place to enjoy a quick refreshment before you play the back nine. And, there’s a toilet facility at the Halfway House.
Link: RoyalDornoch.com
The Struie Course
A Pearl Along the Dornoch Firth
Despite being in the shadow of the more famous Championship Course, the Struie course is a popular and well-maintained destination at the Royal Dornoch GC.
The Struie course is ranked as one of Scotland’s top-50 links golf courses. The Struie course, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2023, has been nicknamed “The Low Course.”
The Struie course is a classic out-and-back links golf course, set along the Dornoch Firth with gorse-covered hills that provide many inspiring views. It’s a remarkably natural setting that takes maximum advantage of the breathtaking landscape. The remote location adds to its charm. The greens on the Struie course run true and are in tip-top shape.
The existence of both courses makes the Royal Dornoch GC one of the more popular 36-hole golf destinations in Great Britain.
A witch’s stone stands in a local garden by the 18th tee of the Struie course which commemorates Scotland’s last “witch” burning. The stone says 1722, but, actually, Janet Horne, the alleged witch, was tried and condemned to death in 1727.
Link: RoyalDornoch.com/Struie
Dornoch Town
Dornoch is an ancient small town with settlements dating back 4,000 years.
A traditional Scottish sea-side town with a quiet location, it enjoys spectacular scenery and an award-winning sandy beach. Besides the two golf courses, Dornoch offers a wide range of shops, cafes, restaurants and hotels and is a popular resort for tourists, golfers, walkers and nature enthusiasts.
There are many attractions nearby, including the ancient Cathedral, the HistoryLinks Museum, numerous distilleries, The National Nature Reserve at Loch Fleet and spectacular Dunrobin Castle, home to the Duke of Sutherland.
Link: VisitDornoch.com
Accommodations
Dornoch and the surrounding villages offer a wide range of accommodations to suit every budget and taste, from castles and hotels to cottages and bed & breakfasts.
Dornoch Castle Hotel
The Dornoch Castle is located only 5 minutes walk from the Clubhouse in the center of Dornoch. There are 25 en-suite bedrooms situated within the original 15th Century building and the modern extension.
Family owned and run, Dornoch Castle Hotel has been carefully refurbished to maintain the character of the Castle as a historic and comfortable residence.
The Garden restaurant has been awarded an AA Rosette for culinary excellence.
Parking is available on the street directly outside the hotel.
Link: DornochCastleHotel.com
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Links House at Royal Dornoch
Links House at Royal Dornoch is the only 5-star hotel in Dornoch, located close to the 1st tee of Royal Dornoch Golf Club, is rated the Golf Hotel of the Year for 2015, 2016, 2017 & 2018 by the Scottish Hotel Awards as well as TripAdvisor’s 2015 Travelers’ Choice award as “#7 Luxury Hotel in UK”.
With fifteen uniquely styled suites, decorated and furnished with the finest antiques and fabrics, each room offers the high levels of comfort you would expect from one of the world’s best luxury small hotels.
Link: LinksHouseDornoch.com
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Royal Golf Hotel
Located just 30 metres from Royal Dornoch’s first tee, The Royal Golf Hotel is a Scottish golfers’ paradise providing a traditional Highland welcome.
Many of the 22 en-suite four-star and individually styled bedrooms overlook both the world renowned golf course and Dornoch Firth beyond. Also: 16 luxury 2 bedrooms, 2 bathroom apartments available on a self-catering or fully catered basis, ideally located for golfing or leisure breaks.
Link: RoyalGolfHotelDornoch.com
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Woodlands
A 4 minute walk to the first tee at the Royal Dornoch, Woodlands is a small, friendly, family-run B&B which is peaceful and super conveniently located, close to the Golf Course and Cathedral in the center of Dornoch.
Bedrooms are ensuite double, twin or single with self catering an option with your own fitted kitchen in two rooms. The secluded tree lined garden has private parking and tables and chairs for residents use.
Link: DornochWoodlands.co.uk
Dining & Drinking
Royal Dornoch Golf Club offers informal dining, with the bar and lounge overlooking the first tee of the Championship Course, providing spectacular views of the links and the Dornoch Firth.
Most of the dishes are sourced locally and all the menu items are freshly prepared in-house. Signature entree is Fish (Haddock) and Chips.
A trip into town will provide a wealth of options for food enthusiasts and casual diners alike.
A popular spot is the Coach House Bar & Restaurant (formerly the Dornoch Inn) where a warm welcome and locally sourced ingredients await you. The extensive Bar Menu includes farm-sourced burgers, steak pie, all day breakfast, and sandwiches. Upstairs in the restaurant, starters include ham hough terrine, crab cakes, pork spare ribs and breaded brie wedges. Main courses include slow braised blade of beef, lamb shank, haddock and chips, slow cooked belly pork, steaks, and chicken. After dinner, try their homemade puddings such as pear crumble or sticky toffee pudding.
Another can’t-miss place is the Eagle Hotel, Dornoch’s only Bar with rooms. Centrally located, the busy pub and restaurant is the perfect spot after a day on the links. The Eagle is a classic friendly Scottish pub.
They off a wide range of real ales to choose from and more than 50 Malt whiskies available to try, a few of which are even locally distilled.
Credit/Sources: Visit Dornoch, Dornoch Golf Club
