The Highlands: Scotland's Northern Gems
Royal Dornoch
The Scottish Highlands offer one of the world’s most dramatic backdrops for golf. With championship courses, classic links, charming 9-holers, and warm Highland hospitality, this region is a must-visit for any golfer seeking something truly special. Here’s your guide to some of the finest places to play, stay, and explore.
Few places in the world can match the mystique and prestige of Royal Dornoch. Consistently ranked among the top courses globally, the Championship Course is a masterpiece of natural links design. With undulating fairways, fast-running greens, and gorse-fringed holes, it’s both a test of skill and a joy to behold. Designed with input from Old Tom Morris and later Donald Ross, who was born in Dornoch, this course offers a blend of history and challenge that is hard to match. The par-3 6th, "Whinny Brae," and the long, sweeping 14th, "Foxy," are highlights of a course filled with character. The Struie Course offers a more relaxed but still rewarding round. With a new clubhouse on the horizon and the 150th anniversary celebrations in 2027, Royal Dornoch's future looks as exciting as its storied past.
Cabot Highlands brings a modern luxury to Highland golf while embracing the region’s traditions. Castle Stuart Golf Links, perched above the Moray Firth, opened in 2009 and quickly rose to global prominence. A four-time Scottish Open host, it offers panoramic views, wide fairways, and strategic green complexes. Every hole frames the scenery beautifully, particularly the par-3 11th with its magnificent backdrop of the Moray Firth and the Black Isle.
The highly anticipated Old Petty course, set for preview play in August and September 2025, is a collaboration between renowned architects Tom Doak and the Cabot team. It promises an exciting new chapter in Highland golf, built on sandy soils with firm turf and sweeping coastal vistas. Together, Castle Stuart and Old Petty will make Cabot Highlands one of the world’s most desirable golfing destinations, combining playability with visual drama.
Nairn Golf Club offers a classic links experience just a short drive from Inverness. With views stretching over the Moray Firth, this revered course has hosted the Walker Cup, the Amateur Championship and this week, the Women’s Amateur Championship. Founded in 1887, Nairn blends strategic design with natural beauty. Its front nine hugs the coastline, often with a sea breeze to contend with, while the back nine turns inland with tighter, more challenging holes.
The course rewards accurate play, particularly on the approach shots. Firm, fast greens demand precision, while traditional pot bunkers add character and risk. The clubhouse is welcoming and steeped in history, with memorabilia celebrating the club’s proud past. Nairn is not just a round of golf; it’s an immersion into the spirit of Scottish golf.
North of Dornoch lies Brora, a course of quiet brilliance and old-world charm. Designed by James Braid in 1923, Brora remains largely unchanged and entirely captivating. The fairways are grazed by sheep and cattle, kept in check by low electrified fences around the greens, a unique and endearing feature.
The layout is traditional out-and-back links, with firm fairways, rolling dunes, and wonderful sea views throughout. The par-3 9th, "Sea Hole," and the 17th, "Tarbertness," are standout challenges. Brora embodies golf as it once was, played in tune with the land and the elements. The course is a proud stop on the James Braid Highland Golf Trail and a true hidden gem.
Further up the coast lies Golspie Golf Club, a course of contrasts and variety. James Braid left his mark here too, and the design cleverly shifts between links, heathland, and parkland styles. The course starts gently but soon reveals its teeth with clever doglegs, bunkering, and changes in elevation.
The views over the Dornoch Firth and Ben Bhraggie are magnificent. Golspie is playable for all abilities but still presents plenty of strategic challenges. It’s often overlooked, yet those who play it are charmed by its setting, diversity, and warmth of welcome. A round here is a must for anyone journeying along the Highland coast.
Tain Golf Club, designed in part by Old Tom Morris, is another Highland treasure. Nestled on the southern shore of the Dornoch Firth, Tain offers a classic mix of coastal and inland holes. The layout uses the natural terrain to full effect, with gorse, burns, and elevated greens making accuracy essential.
The opening stretch is strong, and the closing holes are especially memorable. The 11th, a tricky par-4 called "Alps," and the 18th with the church in view, make for a stirring finish. Tain is often played en route to or from Dornoch and deserves more than a fleeting visit. Its heritage and condition rival many better-known courses.
Neighbouring the more famous Nairn Golf Club, Nairn Dunbar offers a slightly different test, with a mix of links and heathland character. It's flatter and more sheltered, but strategic bunkering and well-contoured greens make for a rewarding round.
Recent improvements to course conditioning and a welcoming atmosphere have boosted its reputation. A number of holes run along the Moray Firth shoreline, offering scenic views and tricky winds. It's an excellent second course if you're in the area for a few days and pairs well with Nairn or Castle Stuart.
Just west of Inverness, Kings Golf Club is a new addition to the Highland scene but built on historic golfing ground. Designed by Stuart Rennie, it opened in 2019 and offers a modern, playable layout with excellent practice facilities and a contemporary clubhouse.
Its generous fairways and risk-reward holes make it fun for a wide range of players, while the elevated tees and large greens ensure it feels grand and dramatic. It’s quickly becoming a local favourite and adds a different dimension to a Highland golf itinerary.
Celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2025, Muir of Ord offers a relaxed and enjoyable round with views of Ben Wyvis. Designed by James Braid, this inland course mixes heathland and parkland features, with burns and trees in play.
The course is short by modern standards but still requires thought and precision. The finishing stretch is particularly strong. For history buffs and those looking for something off the beaten track, Muir of Ord is a delightful discovery.
Just minutes from the city centre, Inverness Golf Club is a beautifully maintained parkland course with a warm welcome and an active membership. Tree-lined fairways, well-protected greens, and subtle elevation changes make it an enjoyable test.
The course is accessible and walkable, with a strong finishing hole back towards the modern clubhouse. For those staying in Inverness, it’s the perfect place to warm up before venturing further north.
Way up on the north coast lies Reay Golf Club, Britain’s most northerly 18-hole links. Designed in part by James Braid, it’s a wonderfully remote and rugged experience. Sweeping views of Sandside Bay and Dunnet Head frame a layout that flows naturally through dunes and moor.
Reay is a true links test with firm turf, ever-present wind, and simple, timeless charm. It’s well worth the journey.
On the Black Isle peninsula, Fortrose and Rosemarkie is one of the oldest clubs in Scotland, dating back to 1793. The course occupies a narrow strip of land jutting into the Moray Firth, with sea views on almost every hole.
Short in length but big on challenge, Fortrose demands precision, especially when the wind blows. Its setting and uniqueness make it a favourite stop on any Highland golf tour.
Highland 9-Hole Gems
Set in the Cairngorms National Park, Abernethy is a Highland woodland gem. Towering pines, crisp turf, and peaceful surroundings define the experience. It’s a great place to unwind and reconnect with the simple joy of golf.
Another Cairngorms delight, Carrbridge is fun, friendly, and quirky. Natural hazards and blind shots make it a real adventure. The scenery is spectacular, and the welcome even better.
One of the most remote and spectacular courses in Scotland, Durness features clifftop holes and breathtaking views. The final par-3, played across a sea inlet, is unforgettable.
This 9-hole course on the iconic Isle of Skye is pure magic. The Cuillin Hills provide a dramatic backdrop, and the layout is both simple and satisfying. Playing here is about the experience, not the score.
Other Honourable Mentions
Aigas, Bonar Bridge, Strathpeffer Spa, and Gairloch each offer memorable 9-hole rounds, each with a unique character and a warm Highland welcome.
James Braid Highland Golf Trail
The Highland Trail celebrates one of golf's great architects. Courses like Brora, Golspie, Reay, and Muir of Ord are part of this informal collection. Playing the trail is a rewarding journey through Braid’s enduring design philosophy and the landscapes that inspired it.
Where to Stay in the Scottish Highlands
Completely refurbished by the Marine & Lawn group, Dornoch Station is a stylish, modern base for golfers. Overlooking Royal Dornoch, it combines classic charm with vibrant hospitality. With an in-house golf simulator, local food offerings, and cosy communal spaces, it’s ideal for groups and couples alike.
Steps from the 1st tee of Royal Dornoch, this hotel offers traditional comfort with a prime location. Many rooms overlook the course and the firth beyond. The bar and restaurant are popular with visiting golfers, and the staff are well-versed in local golf knowledge.
Elegant and welcoming, the Royal Marine is a Highland classic. Its location near Brora Golf Club makes it a perfect base for exploring the northern links. The whisky selection and refined dining add to the charm.
Beyond Golf: Exploring the Highlands
The Highlands offer so much more than golf. Explore castles like Dunrobin, visit distilleries such as Glenmorangie and Clynelish, or take a boat trip on Loch Ness. Hike through Glen Affric or the North Coast 500 for a taste of raw Scottish beauty. It’s a land of legends, landscapes, and lasting memories—perfect for golfers and adventurers alike.
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