Links House at Royal Dornoch
Dornoch, Scotland, United Kingdom (UK)[0.3 miles]
A sumptuous honey-hued manse dripping with antiques, overlooking world-class Dornoch golf course and a stunning, dune-backed beach.
Official star rating:
Bucket list experience:
A four-hour drive from Glasgow, Royal Dornoch is a pilgrimage – and worth every effort. Wild, isolated and spellbindingly beautiful, the course – the third-oldest links in the world – bears the authorial stamp of Old Tom Morris, and it’s here that Donald Ross learnt his craft: the turtleback greens at Pinehurst No. 2 were inspired by the devilish domes that make this links a proper challenge.
Everything else about it is straightforward, but perfectly maintained. The humble clubhouse and straight out, straight back layout are deceptive, for this is a truly special place. Forget your score, just soak up the atmosphere and remember that you’re playing in the shadow of golf’s very beginnings.
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Destination Guide >The club is 45 miles north of Inverness (which has an airport), and roughly a four-hour drive from Glasgow. Reserve a tee time through the website as far in advance as you can.
Stay over close by at the delightful Links House, a sumptuous honey-hued boutique dripping with antiques, overlooking the golf course and the stunning, dune-backed beach.
The course is open all year round, seven days a week. April to October are the best times to play, but good weather is never guaranteed as you’re quite far north! Tee times are available 7 days a week and most times during the day (members block a couple of hours in the morning).
Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Dornoch, Scotland, United Kingdom (UK)[0.3 miles]
A sumptuous honey-hued manse dripping with antiques, overlooking world-class Dornoch golf course and a stunning, dune-backed beach.
Official star rating:
Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Scottish Highlands, United Kingdom (UK)
Magnificent mountain scenery slashed by silvery lochs and peppered with brooding castles: all laden with rich Scottish heritage, history and tradition.
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Golspie, Scotland, United Kingdom (UK)[12.7 miles]
A fabulous fairytale castle, designed to resemble a fancy French chateau, with ornate formal gardens, modelled on those at Versailles. It’s the ancestral seat of the Dukes of Sutherland.
Best for ages: 8+ | £14
Round-ups that include this experience
Multiple countries
Spectacular landscapes, impeccable fairways and greens, brilliantly-designed holes and plenty of golfing folklore – we asked golf expert and journalist Fionn Davenport to recommend his top 30 golf courses from around the world.