Golf

Brora has one of the top 100 golf courses in the UK. The Brora golf course is a full 18 hole links course set right on the beach with outstanding views of the coast. As well as the Brora golf club there is also several other highly respected golf courses in the immediate area. This includes the Royal Dornoch Golf Club, Golspie Golf Club and Tain golf club.

It is Brora which is the most northerly golf memorial to James Braid in his native Scotland.

Brora is also the headquarters of the James Braid Golfing Society, and while its President, Peter Thomson, and fellow member Ronan Rafferty annually enthuse, the club golfer, the bedrock of the game, will derive equal pleasure and satisfaction from Brora's 6110 yards.

Given 194 acres of Scottish links land to work on, what in 1923 was entitled "Braid's Plan" is hardly altered. Here the visitor will enjoy the mixture of bent grass and beach sand, burn water and gorse in glorious yellow May bloom. There is even a railway which comes into play from the tenth tee. With the exception of the short sixth, the outward nine holes follow the contour of Kintradwell Bay in the foreground, with a backdrop of the Sutherland foothills from Ben Bhraggie to the west, away to the Ord of Caithness in the north-east.

The inward nine holes follow the fence line of the bordering croft land, with out of bounds to concentrate the mind. Of the two short holes, the delightful 13th, Snake, winds back towards the sea, whilst the 18th contains all the concerns of protecting a score against a bunkered green a two hundred yard carry away and under the scrutiny of the clubhouse windows.

Formed in 1877, Dornoch has now been a Royal club for over 100 years. Records show that the incredible natural landscape that defines golf in Dornoch has hosted golfers since 1616 and we are proud that the tradition has continued into the 21st century.

The responsibility for actually designing the Championship course fell to the legendary Old Tom Morris who used the unique links-land features to create a magical golfing experience – one that prompted Tom Watson, five times Open Champion, to say ‘it’s the most fun I’ve ever had on a golf course’!

Over the years the Championship course has been tweaked and enhanced by greats such as John Sutherland and their own ex-professional and green keeper, Donald Ross. Open Champion, George Duncan added new holes after the war ensuring that the course has remained a challenge in the face of ever improving equipment and continues to be regularly ranked within the top 15 best courses in the world.

And it’s not just the Championship course that benefits from the challenges that links-land throws up. The recent addition of five new holes on the Struie have transformed this course into one that still maintains its role as an enjoyable and entertaining course for the whole family, but one that tests even the lower handicap player.

Set at the foot of Ben Bhraggie in the Highlands of Scotland, Golspie Golf Club offers one of the finest settings for a round of golf. Founded in 1889 and designed by the legendary James Braid. The course offers a refreshing challenge to all abilities of golfer Only 15 miles from the famous Royal Dornoch and within a short drive of the other local courses, Golspie offers a unique blend of seaside links, heath and parkland golf.

Golspie offers a challenge, together with a warm welcome, to all levels of golfer. With a mixture of links, heath and parkland combined with ever-changing views we are sure your visit will be a memorable experience. The club is located at the south of the village about a mile from the town centre. The par of 70 (6021 yds) is not often bettered and even the experienced golfer faces a variety of shot making tests. Newer golfers will also enjoy the chance to work on their game without the challenges of championship length courses. Golspie is an easy walking course which has brought many golfers back to it time and time again.

Tain Golf Club in Ross-shire, a traditional Scottish Highland links course designed by Old Tom Morris, situated 9 miles south of Dornoch and 31 miles north of Inverness.

Their Championship length links enjoys spectacular views over mountains and sea and benefits from a sheltered climate, which allows favourable golfing conditions for most of the year. With there 3rd hole rated as one of the best 18 links holes in Scotland and our 17th acknowledged as one of the top 18 holes designed by Old Tom Morris, they believe that Tain offers one of the finest settings and challenges for a round of golf.