Journal

Cᴀsᴛʟᴇ Sᴛᴜᴀʀᴛ Gᴏʟꜰ Lɪɴᴋs

It has been a little while since my last post, but I'm picking up where I left off. From Fortrose and Rosemarkie, the next links we come to is Castle Stuart. This was another I was particularly loo...

Fᴏʀᴛʀᴏsᴇ & Rᴏsᴇᴍᴀʀᴋɪᴇ GC

Of Scotland's extensive and varied golfing terrain, Fortrose and Rosemarkie GC might just occupy one of the most unique sites. A peninsula of land juts into the Moray Firth between the adjacent vil...

Tᴀɪɴ GC

In 1895, a write up of the 'St Duthus' club said "the stranger may rest assured that the members of St. Duthus Club will be always ready to extend to him a hearty Highland welcome”. 125 years late...

Tʜᴇ Cᴀʀɴᴇɢɪᴇ Cʟᴜʙ (Sᴋɪʙᴏ Cᴀsᴛʟᴇ)

"Heaven itself", Carnegie declared,"is not so beautiful as Skibo". The hospitality was as good as you'd expect for a club of this ilk. It caters for business leaders and millionaires - a retreat ...

Rᴏʏᴀʟ Dᴏʀɴᴏᴄʜ GC

Dornoch is a subtle test. The greens are generally large and fast - meaning your approach play must find the right parts of them. If not, regularly putting from distance will take its toll.  The o...

Gᴏʟsᴘɪᴇ GC

Golspie is a course in three acts. First you play the links holes. The first not strictly in this bracket, but the next half dozen fine examples. Then, you move to the heathland holes - almost as i...

Bʀᴏʀᴀ GC

The fact it has been saved is one of the good things to come from 2020, but I imagine the relative precariousness of its financial situation remains. Therefore, there is only one thing for it. We m...

Wɪᴄᴋ GC

At the former, the views are better, the holes are more 'interesting' - uphill, downhill, blind etc. But I would go against the grain and take a round at Wick over Reay, any day.

Rᴇᴀʏ GC

The course was extended to 18 after James Braid's visit in the 1930s. The first few are quite benign, but from the 4th onwards, you are in the 'true' linksland.

Dᴜʀɴᴇss GC

Durness truly is a delight. It is probably my favourite ‘hidden gem’ on the West Coast. 100 miles from the nearest International Airport at Inverness, the journey isn’t for the faint of heart. But ...