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LINKS FROM OUR SITE
Golf Courses in the locality
- Dornoch www.royaldornoch.com
ASK any knowledgeable golfer to name his top 10 courses in the world
and it`s almost certain that Royal Dornoch will feature high among
them. This outstanding links, originally the work of Old Tom Morris,
is a championship course of the highest order and encapsulates
everything a golfer seeks in the most satisfying of rounds – a
beautiful setting, a tough but fair test of skill and fast, tricky
greens. Bordered by the Dornoch Firth with views of the mountains of
Sutherland and the gorse ablaze with yellow in early summer, the
purity of the air and the surroundings ensure you feel good, no matter
your score. At 6,514 yards, it is not long by modern standards but you
have to think your way around the bunkers, sandhills, hummocks, knolls
and swales that can punish the unfortunate shot.Imagine a saucer and
upend it and you have a typical Dornoch green. If you manage to keep
your ball on the putting surface, then you are undoubtedly faced with
a putt that will have to take account of a host of subtle contours.
When we last played it on three successive days this summer, it was a
completely different course each time. The first day was still and the
course benign. The next day the wind blew from behind on the first
eight holes and into our faces on the homeward 10 that skirt the sandy
beaches of Dornoch Bay, making club selection difficult. And just in
case we’d worked out how to play it, the wind turned around for the
final day making many a shot guesswork.Much more recently five times
Open champion Tom Watson said: ‘It was the most fun I`ve had playing
golf in my whole life.’ Dornoch`s remoteness has prevented it from
hosting its fair share of major championships but that remoteness adds
to its charisma, and while golfers often kick themselves for sharing
the secret of Dornoch with acquaintances, they can console themselves
that its distance of 600 miles from London and 49 miles from
Inverness, Britain`s most northerly city, prevents many from sharing
its delights. Golf was first played here in 1616 and about that time
Sir Robert Gordon wrote: ‘About this town along the sea coast are
the fairest and largest links or green fields of any pairt of
Scotland.’ Back in 1616, the subscription was two shillings and
sixpence, it costs a bit more nowadays but it’s an experience worth
every penny.
- Golspie www.golspie-golf-club.co.uk
Founded in 1889, Golspie is a mixture of links, heath and parkland,
offering a challenge to all standards of golfer. When the wind blows,
the course offers a true test of shot-making. Stunning views over the
Dornoch Firth on one side and majestic Ben Bhraggie on the other, an
easy-walking course and a friendly relaxed atmosphere in the
clubhouse.
- Brora www.broragolf.co.uk
The club was established in 1891 and this traditional links course was
designed by James Braid in 1923. Australia`s Peter Thomson, five times
Open Champion, says it is `the most natural links anywhere in the
world.` And Today`s Golfer magagine voted it Best Value Course in
Britain. Offers all the challenges of links with host of interesting
and testing holes. Maintained in traditional fashion. Noted for fast,
true greens.
- Bonar/Ardgay Email: BonarArdgayGolf@aol.com
A heath and moorland course. Undulating, narrow, tree-lined fairways
favour the accurate rather than the long hitter, and there are some
small, difficult to read, greens. Rough is not fierce and the course
is suitable for high handicap players and the visitor in search of
family golf. Easy walking, great views and the chance to see and hear
a huge variety of wildlife.
- Ullapool www.ullapool-golf.co.uk
A picturesque new nine-hole moorland course, opened in 1998 by Prince
Andrew, which blends with the surrounding Highlands landscape and
stretches down to the shores of Loch Broom. It can be testing for both
beginner and experienced alike with a variety of holes, some skirting
the shores of Loch Broom, some lined with gorse and others open and
grassy. Outstanding views of Loch Broom and the Summer Isles beyond.
- Wick Telephone: +44
(0)1955 602726. Challenging, typical Scottish links course.Nine holes
out and nine back parallel to the sand dunes.An extension to the
course, which will increase the yardage to 6,200 yards and include
changes to the 2nd, 3rd, 15th,16th, 17th and 18th holes, is planned.
- Thurso Telephone: +44
(0)1847 893807. Parkland course with fine views of Pentland Firth and
Orkney Isles. Tends to be windy and most fairways are tree-lined.
Several holes have tight drives and out of bounds features on 10
holes. The course also has areas of gorse and heather and although
relatively short is a test of straight hitting.
- Reay www.reaygolfclub.co.uk
This beautiful seaside course alongside Sandside Bay is the most
northerly 18-hole links on the British mainland. It has excellent
greens and contoured fairways providing enjoyable golf for high and
low handicappers alike. Many interesting and challenging holes,
including the 4th (`Sahara` 581 yards, par-5), which requires a solid
tee shot and fairway wood to set up an approach to a sheltered green
protected by a burn, and the 7th(see below) Commanding views of the
pentland Firth and Orkney Isles.
Other sites with Local Information
For information on Scottish Golf courses
http://www.theindependentgolfer.com/index.html
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