Classic Scottish golf courses in The Highlands

Brora Golf Club

Located just 16 miles north of Dornoch and set in a breathtaking position. Very few courses anywhere feature so many holes played so close to the sea. The most northerly of James Braid’s designs is fully deserving of its regular high praise from those prepared to make the pilgrimage. If you are planning to visit Royal Dornoch, make sure you include Brora on the itinerary.

Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Club

Visiting golfers should not be fooled by a course length around 5,900 yds. Constructed on a narrow peninsula (Chanonry Point), protecting the entrance to the Moray Firth, the course is very well defended through a combination of its exposed location, small greens, clever bunkering and a number of intimidating blind shots.

Castle Stuart Golf Links

Heading east of Inverness sits the Castle Stuart Golf Links which although only ten years old has already hosted the Scottish Open on four occasions. The course is set over a fabulous stretch of coastline with a number of the most striking holes played right along the water’s edge. On the Moray Firth with views eastwards towards Chanonry Point, north to The Black Isle and west towards the Kessock Bridge and the mountains beyond, this is an exhilarating setting for golf. The course has been designed to be playable by golfers of all standards.

Royal Dornoch Golf Club

Situated just an hour’s drive north of the Highland Capital Inverness, Royal Dornoch Golf Club boasts two fine courses (Championship & Struie) with the Championship course ranked second in Golf Digest’s 2018 World’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses. There is certainly no layout on earth that has a more natural feel than this incredible northern links. Royal Dornoch delivers a selection of highly individual golf holes flowing across the most exquisite playing surfaces.

The golfer on the Championship course is presented with 18 holes each of character and challenge that can be recalled to mind long after the round is completed. Raised or sloping greens are characteristic as well as elevated tees so the target is well presented although rarely easy to reach. The Struie holes are typified by greens smaller in size and the fairways generally narrower than the Championship course but this is a fair test of golf where accurate drives struck to the correct side of the fairway will result in easier approach shots to the green. This is golf in its purest form.

Nairn Golf Club

Further along the Moray Firth from Castle Stuart, Nairn Golf Club is recognised as one of the most spectacular seaside courses in the country with sea views from every hole. During the summer months fairways are fast running and covered in humps and hollows; patience is certainly required to accept the odd cruel bounce. Nairn is a delightful links with its fairways framed by gorse bushes and heather on many holes, heaping further pressure on to the tee shot.

The greens are sited in some tricky places with most well protected by bunkers or natural hazards and all of them fast and true; a Nairn trademark. Founded in 1887, it is now one of the best courses in Scotland and has hosted a number of important championships including both The Walker Cup and The Curtis Cup.

Boat of Garten Golf Club

“The Boat“ was established back in 1898 before its upgrade to a full 18 holes in 1930 under the design supervision of celebrated Scottish golf architect James Braid. Boat of Garten Golf Club is situated alongside the River Spey in the heart of The Cairngorms National Park. The location is stunning. Featuring tight fairways and significant changes in elevation the course may be fairly short but remains a demanding challenge and a golf course of the highest quality.

Golspie Golf Club

A beautiful location on the Dornoch Firth set between Brora to the north and Dornoch to the south, the James Braid designed Golspie offers a fascinating combination of classic links, heathland and parkland. For many golfers this diverse terrain makes a round of golf at Golspie such a special experience.

Tain Golf Club

A classic Old Tom Morris Highland creation, Tain Golf Club enjoys superb panoramic views across the Dornoch Firth and features a combination of links and heathland. Demanding accurate tee shots carries over heather and gorse to crumpled fairways composed of crisp turf and on to firm, fast undulating greens. Tain is a golf course of fascinating history, great beauty and a lasting demanding challenge.

Carnegie Golf Links

A stunning setting; a stunning golf course. The modern fully upgraded Carnegie Links , part of the very private Carnegie Club at Skibo Castle Estate now extends to 6,800 yds but is always set up to be great fun as well as a fair and challenging test. The course itself is always maintained to an immaculate condition. This really is a very special place. As Mr Andrew Carnegie himself would say “Heaven on Earth“.

Moray Golf Club

Enjoying a fine location on the southern shore of the Moray Firth and neighbouring RAF Lossiemouth, Moray Golf Club boasts two fine courses; the original one Old Moray was laid out by Old Tom Morris and is recognised as one of the best traditional links courses in Scotland. Moray has played host to many national championships as this fine 6,700 yds par 71 links provides a stern challenge to even the best players.