Exciting New Chapter at Royal Dornoch

Big changes are afoot at Royal Dornoch. Already one of the most iconic names in world golf, the club is poised to take another major step forward with a £13.9 million investment in a stunning new clubhouse, set to open its doors beside the first tee of the Championship Course next year.

But the story doesn’t end there. In fact, it’s just the beginning.

In parallel with this long-awaited development, Royal Dornoch has also acquired a 50-acre parcel of land adjacent to the Struie Course. With a bold vision for the future, the club has appointed the highly respected US-based firm King Collins Dormer Golf Course Design (KCD) to create a masterplan that promises to enhance the club’s global reputation even further.

“These are exciting times for everyone connected with Royal Dornoch and with the clubhouse on target to welcome golfers from around the world next season, our thoughts are already turning to the next project,” said general manager Neil Hampton.

“Usually, the opening of a new clubhouse which has been mooted for 30 years or more would mark the end of the journey for any golf club but for Royal Dornoch it is about what the next step is going to be.”

The next step, it turns out, is a visionary one, blending world-class design, community benefit, and a commitment to sustainable growth.

“The investment being made will pave the way for even greater economic and employment benefits for the wider community and, hopefully, there will be more good news to come as and when the Coul Links project gets the green light from the Scottish Government,” Neil added.

“Golf has long been the key economic driver in this part of the country and additional, high quality, eco-friendly championship courses created by highly regarded designers can only enhance our reputation as a golfing destination and encourage visitors to extend their stay in the Highlands.”

Following a rigorous selection process, the club's panel, made up of nine members, unanimously chose KCD to help shape this next chapter.

“It is early days in the process, but the nine panel members were unanimous in selecting KCD as the preferred architects we will be working with in the years ahead,” said Neil.

Members were brought up to speed during a recent presentation, which revealed the scale of the club’s ambitions, including the creation of a brand-new 18-hole course and improvements to the beloved Struie.

“KCD have also been invited to create new holes for the Struie Course which will complement those being preserved on the existing course,” explained Neil.

“The parcel of land we have secured provides scope for us to offer three fine courses at Royal Dornoch in the future.”

With the new clubhouse on the horizon and a fresh masterplan in the works, Royal Dornoch continues to push forward — respecting its heritage while looking boldly to the future. For members, visitors, and the wider community, the best may be yet to come.