Royal Dornoch

Well having just returned from a trip back to the UK with 3 new courses ticked off, it was actually a return to the magnificent Dornoch that stole the show. Having last played there in competition and without much appreciation for golf course design etc it was fantastic to catch it on a sunny day in late afternoon. Currently sandwiched between pebble beach and Portrush in the rankings at 13, it has catapulted into my personal top 3 and may well be the best I've played in Scotland along with Kingsbarns and Turnberry.

Below the view as we walk down to the 3rd with the 17th green to the right.

I think its important to start the course with a playable hole and this is absolutely the case here.. only 300 yards and straight away eases you into the round before the second comes in to bite. A 160 yard par 3 that showcases the famous donald ross greens. Miss either side at your peril as a steep 15 foot slope awaits on either side of the narrow green.

3 and 4  are great par 4's though quite similar on the eye. The 5th to me is an excellent short  par 4 and one of the best on the course. starting high on the dunes it plays down to another elevated green with multiple bunkers down the right side of the fairway and guarding the green.

The The 6th carries on the theme of tricky par 3s with penal run offs down the right and back and then its up to the top of the hill to the long par 4 7th ( with the view below)

The 8th is downhill dogleg left with a drive over a post and is a very good hole though again very similar in design to 17, and the front 9 is finished by a glorious par 5 along the coast that really emphasises the beauty of the place.

The back 9 all play closer to the sea and amongst the dunes that are not as pronounced as Turnberry for instance but allow the holes to snake around with a sense of isolation. 13 'foxy' as it is known is the signature hole of the course. A lengthy par 4 without a single bunker but with an enormous green in the typically 'upturned bowl' shape that Ross went wild with here.

14th, the most straight forward ( but still excellent) of the par 3s.

being a fan of short par 4s with a bit of risk/reward, the 15th is another of my favourites, despite getting a double from 30 yards short of the green. Certainly driveable but with a large grassy mound in the fairway that can play havoc and a green that certainly got the better of me with a tight front pin.

Above the driving pole on the 17th, yet another excellent par 4..

Maybe it was the weather, the scenery, the greens, the isolation.. or the fact the opposition was routed 6/5 but Royal Dornoch left a lasting impression. It's far north of course but its an absolute must when playing in scotland and with so many quality courses within an hours drive or so its the jewel in the highland crown.