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 Short 10th Golspie, Golspie Sutherland, Links/Heath 5890 yards SSS 68 Par 68, James braid left his unmistakeable trademark here, Others have been involved since in course changes and the combination of links, heath and a touch of parkland complete an unmatched offering of pleasurable golf just up the road from Dornoch. The eighteen holes occupy a strip of seaside terrain south of the town, having a brief interlude - which creates no end of fun - in the middle of the round among trees and heather, where a cracking par 3 with a big pond needs to be negotiated. Innovation and invention will play a big part in a wonderful adventure.
Day 1 Arrive in Inverness Airport where you will be met by a company representative and escorted to your vehicle. Transfer to Dornoch Day 2 Play Royal Dornoch The first three golf links in Scotland of which there is written record are: 1552, St Andrews; 1593, Leith; 1616, Dornoch.It was in 1877 that the Dornoch Golf Club was founded as the successor of the Sutherland Golfing Society whose members played at Dornoch and Golspie. The course was then only 9 holes long. The annual subscription to the club was 2/6 and the annual income was £3 18s 6d. But changes were in store. The great Tom Morris came up from St Andrews and laid out 9 proper golf holes. Three years later another 9 holes were added and the fame of the Dornoch course started to spread, even across the Atlantic to America. Day 3 Play Golspie Golf Club is situated 50 miles North of Inverness and was founded in 1889 offering a challenge, together with a warm welcome, to all levels of golfer. The mixture of links, heath and parkland combined with ever-changing views from the course offers a unique golfing experience Day 4 Play Brora – one of the most historic links in Scotland – this is a classic James Braid design beside the sea – 9 holes out and 9 holes back. The legendary Scottish amateur golfers Mr Jimmy Millar still plays at Dornoch today. Day 5 Play Nairn What delights the visitor and member alike is the Scottish-ness of the links. Other than in a strong westerly, it leads you in gently before demanding accurate driving and precision second shots. Gorse is a hazard. The par 4 holes tease and confound and all four short holes are cunningly angled, with the 4th a little gem and the 14th simply spectacular. As three of the par 5 holes are over 530 yards long, it is a test for all. Yet, even more challenging than the humps and hollows that lurk in the fairways, is the trickery of the greens. Eighty years ago, having played the Championship Course, James Braid commented on their quality – “The texture of the turf and character of the greens is unrivalled.” Day 6 Play Fortrose and Rosemarkie – a wonderful links course on the north side of the Moray Firth this is a golf course with a rich history. By the latter half of the 19th Century, Fortrose and Rosemarkie had emerged as a favourite place of summer or retirement for men of industry and commerce. In around 1876, the Kennedy family came to live in Fortrose. It was not long before Mr Kennedy, already a member of 5 golf clubs, had cut and clipped 2 holes in the links, one close to where the clubhouse now stands and one by the Witches Stone on the 17th fairway. Before that, others had only knocked a ball haphazardly over rough terrain, in more of a point-to-point rather than tee to green nature. If it was the Kennedys who promoted the idea of a golf club, it was another group of learned and influential men who brought it about and they met to consider the formation of a golf club on 29 September 1888. Day 7 Play Spey Valley Golf Course which is one of Scotland's newest championship golfing venues. This 18 hole layout designed by golf course architect Dave Thomas will measure a total of almost 7200 yards and will prove to be a must play golfing venue for both the amateur and professional golfer alike. Day 8 Depart for home
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