Royal Dornoch Golf Club - The jewel in the Highland golfing crown is definitely Royal Dornoch Golf Club. Universally rated as being in the world's top 20 golf courses, Royal Dornoch is unique among the great links of Scotland in that it has never hosted the British Open. Not a reflection of its quality, this is solely because of Dornoch's remote location. However remote it may be though, this links is a "must play" course on any golfing trip to Scotland. After the second hole at Royal Dornoch, you round a corner past a hedge and golfing heaven breaks loose. Holes are visible everywhere, the North Sea frames the right, mountains are ahead and hills lie to your left. You'll see people walking their dogs, cycling or wandering along a path up above. In late April and May the banks of whins are a carpet of yellow.

A stiff but fair test of golf, Royal Dornoch rewards the thinker on top of their game and while the visitor rarely uses the championship layout, the regular 6,514-yard layout is more than a match for most. The greens are large and undulating and while there is room off the tee, the placement of your drive deserves much thought due to the wind and pin positions. In the mold of most traditional links, the course goes practically straight out and back, with the angle changing subtly on each hole. And while little is hidden at Royal Dornoch, it requires a golfer playing at their best to see it all and adjust their strategy accordingly. Royal Dornoch is a very relaxed club. Informality is the order of the day. The people of the Highlands of Scotland are renowned for their hospitality and the clubhouse staff do all they can to make sure that golfers are comfortable and are well fed and watered.

No. of holes: 18
Length: 6,732 yards
Par: 70
Course Type: Links