When it comes to Golf in the Scottish Highlands the big buzz today surrounds Castle Stuart, a superb links overlooking the Moray Firth, which recently held the Scottish Open. On opening in 2009 the course debuted at No. 56 in Golf Magazine’s Top 100 global courses. The first Scottish Open held here in 2011 was also groundbreaking as it was first European PGA Tour event ever staged in the Highlands.
Superb Golf Courses in the Cairngorms National Park
To the south the Cairngorms National Park boasts a trio of superb courses. Aviemore’s Dave Thomas designed Spey Valley Golf Course only opened in 2006, but already has won an army of devotees. The fairways are tight and the rough unforgiving at this 7,200yds monster, which features at 641yds the longest hole in Scotland. Carrbridge Golf Club is the venue for the Scottish Nine Hole Open and is a surprising wee test. Boat of Garten is perhaps the most famous of the three. Designed by James Braid this Speyside marvel regularly makes it into lists of top courses and its admirers have dubbed it ‘The Gleneagles of the North’.
Golf Along the Moray Firth
Heading east along the Moray Firth The Nairn Golf Club boasts a testing 18-hole links that allows you to batter the ball into the sea on all seven of the opening holes, as well as more relaxed nine-hole course. Nairn Dunbar meanwhile is a slightly less testing 18-hole course, while Moray Golf Club at Lossiemouth has two treasures. The Old Course was laid out by the seminal Old Tom Morris, a real links test with seven par fours over 400 yards. The New Course is the brainchild of Henry Cotton, shorter but no slouch with its tight greens a challenge.
Golf in the Northern Highlands
Further north still you have the nine-hole courses at Bonar Bridge & Ardgay and Durness, with lovely 18-hole links at Brora Golf Club. Then there is one of Scotland’s most famous clubs, Royal Dornoch, founded back in 1877. It says it all that last year Golf Digest rated the Championship Course fourth and the Struie fiftieth in their UK and Ireland list. The former is as thrilling a links challenge as you will find, while the latter is relatively forgiving. Royal Dornoch is typical of the Highlands, a golf region that boasts diversity and flexibility to go along with its epic scenery.
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