The Highlands of Scotland Off the Beaten Path

Lesser Known Courses to Play on Your Golf Trip

There was a time when The Highlands of Scotland as a whole was a journey off the well worn path for golf travelers. But golfers are an intrepid bunch, as proven by the number of far flung destinations which have emerged over the last two decades.

The debut of Castle Stuart, the long held respect for Nairn, and the ascent of Royal Dornoch into the top-10 courses in the world has helped transform The Highlands into a mainstream destination for golf. And while these three courses are sufficient reason to plan a Scottish golf tour of The Highlands, there are many other courses that are worthy of place on the itinerary.

If you’d like to venture off the beaten path during your golf trip to The Highlands of Scotland, here are several golf courses near Royal Dornoch to explore along the way.

Moray Golf Club

In 1889, a group of gentlemen, largely composed of whisky distillers, formed the Moray Golf Club and commissioned Old Tom Morris to layout a course which opened in March of that year. The links, often known as “Lossiemouth,” was built between the town of the same name and the picturesque Covesea Lighthouse. Today the ties to both distilling and Morris are ever present at the club. Old Tom’s famous words “Far and Sure” are emblazoned on the club’s crest, and each year barrels full of Glen Moray whisky are laid down for its future use. Be sure that you allow extra time after your round to reap the reward of their forward planning.

Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Club

Records indicate that golf has been played on the tiny Chanonry Peninsula since 1793, making Fortrose & Rosemarkie the 15th oldest golf club in the world. Although James Braid completed the task with ease, squeezing 18-holes onto such a small finger of land was no easy feat. The same can be said of keeping your ball off the beach and out of the abundant gorse for an entire round. But the inspired setting is sure to make such adversity easier to handle. As the saying goes, good things come in small packages. Fortrose & Rosemarkie has been proving it for over two centuries.

Brora Golf Club

In recent years, Brora Golf Club has gained a relatively large cult following. One that has grown so much of late, the bucket list golf courses in The Highlands may soon have a little company. But for most golf travelers, Brora remains the enigmatic golf course near Royal Dornoch, where sheep and cattle roam the fairways and the greens are protected by an electric wire. If you’re debating whether to add Brora to your upcoming Highlands of Scotland golf trip, our advice is not to wait. The secret of Brora is most definitely out.

Golspie Golf Club

The Golspie Golf Club was formed in 1889, however it wasn’t until 1925 that its members enjoyed the benefit of a proper 18-hole course. In that year the club invited James Braid, the five-time Open champion and prolific golf course architect, to design their new links along the banks of the Dornoch Firth. The result is a course which blends both links and parkland style holes, with Ben Bhraggie and the firth providing a stunning backdrop. At just over 6000 yards, Golspie may at first seem like a pushover, but if you’re battling a wayward driver, your scorecard may also take a trip north.

Tain Golf Club

The Tain Golf Club was founded in 1890 and originally opened with just fifteen holes designed by Old Tom Morris. The course was later extended to a full eighteen by John Sutherland, who served as Club Secretary at Royal Dornoch for 58 years and saw to it that much of Old Tom’s original work should remain intact. The course at Tain provides a delightful combination of links and heathland style holes, in a glorious setting along the Dornoch Firth. If you’re in search of the Good Life after the round, you won’t have to travel far… The Glenmorangie distillery is right next door.