The
great Links of Royal Dornoch is one of golf's finest outposts,
situated almost 200 miles North of Edinburgh, it is more than
worth the journey north to get there. Old Tom Morris originally
laid out the course in 1891, John Sutherland made a number
of alterations in subsequent years. Today Royal Dornoch has
a cult type following from around the globe, fuelled to some
extent at least, by the praises sung by it's luminaries such
as Tom Watson, an honorary Member, and American golf scribe
Herb Warren Wind, neither of whom are bad judges.
Dornoch's opening hole, a simple PAR 4, is no indication of
the joy - and trouble - about to follow. It is not until you
reach the elevated third tee that you get a sense of this
striking golf course laid before you, wondrous swards of fairway
and green unfold for a mile in each direction, the embankments
of the Old Dunes on the landward side of the Course, from
April until June, are a never ending carpet of yellow gorse.
The
course is just over 6500 yrds, but this no reflection on the
degree of difficulty to be found on many holes, the first
8 holes following the natural humps and hollows of the Old
Sand Dunes, while most of the remaining 10 holes flank the
sandy beaches of Dornoch Bay. Sloping or raised greens are
a characteristic of Dornoch along with elevated Tees, so the
targets of Green and fairway are well presented although tough
to find. Dornoch more than most is a thinking golfer's Course,
Tom Watson is on record as saying 'I have played none finer,
it is a natural masterpiece, there can be no finer accolade.
On most holes a position has to be sought from where the Green
can be accessed to your advantage no more so, than on the
445 yard Par 4, 14th hole, with no bunkers to contend with
it relies on it's simplicity of design, the natural feature
of a large sand hill on the right has created a double change
of direction which makes fro some interesting approach angles.
Visitors to Royal Dornoch would be correct if they recognise
elements of the architecture found at the great U.S. Courses
of Donald Ross most notably Pinehurst No. 2. Ross was born
in Dornoch in 1872 and went on to serve his apprenticeship
at St Andrews, before returning to his home town as Professional
and 'Keeper of the Greens' in 1895. Fours years later Donald
Ross was off to America where he would become the Doyen of
American Golf Architects.
Harry Vardon once described the 14th, 'Foxy Hole' as 'The
finest natural hole l have ever played' after finishing your
round at Royal Dornoch you may well describe the course as
'The finest natural Course you have every played'.
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Royal
Dornoch Golf Club
Golf Road
Dornoch
IV25 3LW
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Founded:-
1877
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Type
of course:- Links
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No
of holes:- 18
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Distance:-
5438 yds
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Par:-
69 (SSS 66)
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Designer:-
Tom Morris, John Sutherland, George Duncam
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Location:- Dornoch |
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