The Highlands & the North East
Boat of Garten Golf Course,
Designed by one of the grand-masters of golf course architecture, James Braid (1870-1950), “The Boat” is set alongside the River Spey in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park. Braid’s design features 18 completely individual holes, cleverly and sensitively shaped fairways lined by birch trees, heather and broom, maximising the natural landscape and producing a beautiful and challenging course. The Boat has been dubbed “the Gleneagles of the North” and has won several awards in recent years including Scotland’s No.1 Hidden Gem.
Yardage 5876 Par 70
http://www.boatofgarten.com
The Highlands & the North East
Brora Golf Course,
A James Braid inspired course which makes excellent use of the natural contours. The backdrop of breaking waves and winding burns make Brora a memorable experience as do the the native fairway mowing sheep. The allure of Brora is best summed up by James Finegan in ‘Blasted Heath and Blessed greens’ – too short to qualify as great, it is no less superlative, there is no prosaic moment, as we relish every hole. Brora is as fine and as pure an example of Braid’s work as you are likely to find.
Yardage 5844 Par 68
http://www.broragolf.co.uk/
The Highlands & the North East
Castle Stuart Golf Course,
Designed by the team that brought you Kingsbarns, Castle Stuart opened in July 2009. Commanding a breathtaking coastal position, the course is built on three tiers ensuring that its golfers rarely lose sight of the dramatic views of the Moray Firth. Ranked 9th in Scotland and 65th in the Top 100 courses of the world last year Castle Stuart is set to only get better.
Yardage 7009 Par 72
http://www.castlestuartgolf.com/
The Highlands & the North East
Cruden Bay Golf Course,
Cruden Bay is a traditional Scottish links golf course, originally designed by Tom Morris and Archie Simpson, and only two hours drive from St Andrews, the “Home of Golf”. Set against a backdrop of subtly contoured greens and magnificent panoramic views, the course truly justifies its position as 70th in the world in the 2013-14 Golf Digest Top 100.
Yardage 6287 Par 70
http://www.crudenbaygolfclub.co.uk/
The Highlands & the North East
Fortrose and Rosemarkie Golf Course,
Designed by James Braid, this course has been skilfully laid out within the narrow Chanonry peninsula. It is instantly admired by first-time visitors and its unique character and charm make it a most enjoyable round. What it lacks in yardage is more than offset by its small deceptive greens and strategically placed bunkers.
Yardage 6085 Par 71
http://www.fortrosegolfclub.co.uk/
The Highlands & the North East
Fraserburgh Golf Course,
Located 40 miles north of Aberdeen, Fraserburgh is the 7th Oldest course in the world and considered one of Scotland’s finest links courses. Its location means it exposed to air currents from both the Moray Firth and the North Sea and consequently Fraserburgh offers a stiff challenge when the wind blows from any source.
Yardage 6318 Par 70
http://www.fraserburghgolfclub.org
The Highlands & the North East
Moray Golf Club,
The old course is considered to be one of the finest links courses in Scotland. A classic links designed by Old Tom Morris with deep revetted bunkers, undulating gorse lined fairways and smooth fast greens. It is a superb test of golf with seven par fours over 400 yards. The start and finish has one of the best settings of any course in Scotland. Also memorable for being very close to a RAF runway. Sometimes the feeling that a low flying aircraft is going to land on your head is not far from the truth!
Yardage 6572 Par 73
http://www.moraygolf.co.uk/
The Highlands & the North East
Murcar Golf Course,
One of the absolute jewels of the east of Scotland, that tends to get overlooked, the testing Murcar links has hosted many national amateur and professional championships. Murcar Links frequently features in the Top 100 courses in the UK and is in the VisitScotland Top 40 Great Scottish Links Collection as evidenced by the fact that in 2005, it hosted pre-qualifying for the British Senior Open. This is a great course to combine with Cruden Bay when in the north east.
Yardage 6303 Par 71
http://www.murcarlinks.com/
The Highlands & the North East
Nairn Dunbar Golf Course,
Opened in 1899. Silver birch, winding waterways, gorse and whin bushes and dastardly ditches prove a constant threat around this course. A series of marvellous traditional links holes gives way a less challenging parkland style section of the course. All in all a splendid venue topped by a friendly, spacious new clubhouse.
Yardage 6765 Par 72
http://www.nairndunbar.com/
The Highlands & the North East
Nairn Golf Club, Inverness,
A stunning links course overlooking the Moray forth Nairn Golf Club is a testing traditional links whose respected status in the world of golf is reflected by the fact that it was selected to host the Walker Cup in 1999. An excellent clubhouse and friendly staff match the quality of the course.
Yardage 6774 Par 72
http://www.nairngolfclub.co.uk/
The Highlands & the North East
Royal Aberdeen Golf Club,
Records go back to 1589 as to golf activity at this club. The sixth oldest club in the world. This is a very tough course with gorse from the 6th onwards compounding the test to golfers. Royal Aberdeen much to its credit has been firm in its efforts to preserve old ways. A true Scottish Links. Hosted to the 2011 Walker Cup and will be venue for 2014 Scottish Open.
Yardage 6861 Par. 66
http://www.royalaberdeengolf.com/
The Highlands & the North East
Royal Dornoch Golf Club,
This spellbinding course would almost certainly be an open championship course if not for its remote location. The course is undoubtedly worth the journey though with its timeless setting and natural plateaux raised greens making this course truly remarkable. Royal Dornoch Golf Club is the third oldest golfing town in the world with records dating back to 1616. Designed by Tom Morris, its reputation is underlined by the fact that it has 200 overseas members from USA alone. The Championship Course was ranked No.6 in the world and No.1 in Scotland by Golf Digest 2014.
Yardage 6577 Par 72
http://www.royaldornoch.com/
The Highlands & the North East
Spey Valley Golf Course,
Has made an immediate impression with many Scottish Golfers who rate it amongst their favourite courses. It is set amongst some of the most breathtaking scenery in the Highlands. It provides a truly memorable experience for the golfer in Scotland, where so much of the golf is played on links courses
Yardage 6846 Par 72
http://www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/our-hotels/macdonald-aviemore-resort/golf
The Highlands & the North East
Tain Golf Links, nr Dornoch,
A fine course laid out by Tom Morris in 1890 and it still reflects his genius. This Championship length links overlooking the Dornoch Firth arguably offers one of the best settings imaginable in the highlands for a round of golf with the sea on one side and the backdrop of the mountains behind, The greens are fast and hard and the course changes direction frequently. Tain is a convivial golf club and great course to combine with a trip to Dornoch.
Yardage 6404 Par 70
http://www.tain-golfclub.co.uk/