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Playing the course
Stamina
Royal Dornoch is not strenuous to play; as with most
seaside Scottish links, the course is fairly even, although
there are larger than average hills and mounds. The
elements are all important for the enjoyment of playing:
on a tranquil day, it is a gorgeous place to be, but
when the wind blows it can turn into a battle against
the elements - so don't forget those waterproofs.
Skills
The difficulty of Dornoch is critically dependent on
the direction and strength of the wind. If benign, it
is one of the most heavenly places on earth, running
alongside an isolated sandy beach, redolent with a myriad
of wildlife basking in the watery sun of this North
Sea coastline; if the wind is blowing from the north
or east, it can transform into a golfer's hell. The
fairways are narrow and surrounded for the most part
by whins (gorse bushes). Add to this all the subtle
little borrows on these usually quite small putting
surfaces and you have a challenge fit for Tom Watson,
or indeed its designer Old Tom Morris, who thoughtfully
included 88 of those dammed Scottish bunkers.
Links golf has a very definite technique: the greens
are usually small and very firm, so any lofted approach
shots struggle to hold as, more often than not, there
are gullies and hollows containing pot bunkers around
the greens. Unless you are very accurate with your approach
shot it is far better to play little 'chip and runs',
a technique locals have perfected over the last 400
years.
The low punch shot under the wind is far more beneficial
than any high lofted approach. The fairways are generally
quite narrow with many mounds and hollows, so blind
approach shots are common and it is advisable to pay
out for a stroke saver or caddy.
Score Card
Address:
Royal Dornoch Golf Club, Golf Road, Dornoch, IV25 3LW
Sutherland, Scotland
Website:
www.royaldornoch.com
Phone number:
+44 (0) 1862 810219, fax: +44 (0) 1862 810792
Courses and lengths:
Championship: 18 holes, 6514 yards, 6229 yards, 5956
yards (ladies).
Struie: 18 holes, 6276 yards, 6008 yards, 5600 yards
(ladies).
Tee times:
In high season 7am until dark, in low season from sunrise
to sunset
Handicap:
24 for men, 39 for ladies
Green fees:
Range from £69 ($120) to £90 ($160) on the
Championship course and £15 ($25) to £40
($70) on the Struie Course in high season.
Other costs:
Caddies and bag carriers range from £20 ($35)
- 30 ($50) and £12 ($20) to £20 ($35) respectively.
Stroke cards cost £4 ($7) each. Trolleys and club
hire are available from the pro shop. Limited buggy
hire and medical certificate required.
Facilities:
A clubhouse with bar and restaurant, pro shop and lessons
and caddies provided.
Location:
The nearest airport is Inverness (INV), from which it
is a one hour drive on the A9 to Dornoch town. |
