Highland Links Golf

Course Distances and Par: Blue (6833) | Yellow (6207) Par 70 | Red (5465) Par 71

Carnegie Golf Links – Exceptional private members course

Billionaire Andrew Carnegie commissioned Royal Dornoch’s Secretary, John Sutherland to build a private nine-hole links course in 1898 on his estate at Skibo Castle. The Skibo Estate is now an exceptional private members-only club, with its own world-class 18-hole course. Updated in 2016, and always private, Carnegie Links is renowned as among the finest links courses in Scotland. Links House architect James Maxwell was retained to design a club house of exceptional class and quality modeled after an old farm steading, whilst more recent improvements to the course have advanced The Carnegie Links into the realm of true Scotland Classic.

The Carnegie Club offer a four ball on each weekday Mondays to Fridays between early June and late September. These games must be played from 9 am each day and visitors can arrive early to make use of the outstanding practice facilities. During play, visitors will have access to the Halfway House and on conclusion of the round, a 3 course lunch is also provided in the newly renovated Clubhouse. Early booking is required but this offer is really one of the great golf experiences in Scotland.

Course Distances and Par: Black (7009) | White (6592) | Green (6183) |  Blue (5724) | Red (5179) Par 72

Castle Stuart – Home of the Scottish Open

Castle Stuart Golf Links, located less than one mile from Inverness Airport and only 45 minutes from Links House, is a remarkable new links golf course with expansive, mesmerizing views over the Moray Firth. Co-designed by Americans Mark Parsinen (also designed Kingsbarns) and Gil Hanse, Castle Stuart is immediately a Highland Classic having hosted the Scottish Open from 2011 through 2013.

Like all the Classics, wind can be friend or foe at Castle Stuart perhaps. The first three holes on each nine hug the coastline often one downwind and the other upwind. The rest of the course rests cleverly atop a plateau with every green appearing to hang over the edge of the sea. The 3rd hole is an absolutely perfectly designed links-style par-4 with an elevated vanishing green set behind a labyrinth of strategically placed bunkers. If the prevailing winds are strong, it is drivable however the risk reward is vexing. Not surprisingly, Andrew Ross and Craig Morrison’s placed #3 at Castle Stuart in their 2010 book 18 Greatest Scottish Golf Holes.

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Course Distances and Par: White (6404) | Yellow (6109) Par 70 | Red (5645) Par 73

Tain Golf Club – An Old Tom Morris Classic

Tain Golf Club is nine miles south of Links House in the quaint Royal Burgh of Tain. Old Tom Morris designed the initial 15-hole layout in 1890. However, in 1911, Royal Dornoch Secretary and Tain Member, John Sutherland expanded it to 18 holes. As testament to Old Tom Morris’s insightful green sculpting, Sutherland left unaltered eleven of Morris initial green complexes, which are still in use today. Like Brora and in classic Highland understatement, Tain is referred to as a “traditional” links course meaning it has an agrarian, no-frills approach. These courses are particularly well suited for the dominant game played in Scotland, match play.

Tain’s location is an ideal setting with simply stunning views out over the Dornoch Firth. Travel to Tain requires a drive through Scotland’s oldest Royal Burgh first granted royal charter in 1066 and home to the famous Glenmorangie distillery, opened the same year Links House was built 1843.

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Course Distances and Par: White (6021) | Yellow (5816) | Red (5283) Par 70

Golspie Golf Club – A Brilliant James Braid Classic

Golspie Golf Club is located just 9 miles north of Links House, beautifully set along the stunning beaches of the Dornoch Firth. Initially founded in 1889 as the Sutherland Golfing Society, by The Marquis of Stafford from nearby Dunrobin Castle, Golspie Golf Club was then enhanced by Royal Dornoch’s long-time, renowned Secretary John Sutherland. In 1925 James Braid provided a brilliant design for the course including the expansion of the course to 18 holes. The course is essentially unchanged since. Golspie’s seaside position under the watchful eye of Ben Bhraggie, the massive statue of George Levenson-Gower, the 1st Duke of Sutherland, is an ideal locale for a links course. Like Brora, Golspie is in the North Berwick, Prestwick vernacular of historic links, yet Golspie rightfully boasts the finest greens in the Highlands.

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Course Distances and Par: Championship (6774) Par 72 | Medal (6436) Mens (6140) Par 71 | Ladies (5735) Par 75

Brilliant Walker and Curtis Cup Venue

The Nairn Golf Club is located just one hour’s drive from Links House along the beautiful Moray Firth with expansive views our over The Black Isle and Easter Ross. Founded in 1887, Nairn began with an initial design by Archie Simpson from Royal Aberdeen and subsequently enhanced by Old Tom Morris. Twenty years on, the five times Open Champion James Braid (and the first to break 70 here with a 69 in 1901) altered tees, bunkers and recreated new greens of singular subtlety. Additional enhancements were provided over the years by Ben Sayers of North Berwick, Braid again and C. K. Cotton.

Nairn Golf Club – Archie Simpson, Old Tom Morris and James Braid

Nairn’s layout is in classic links 9-out, 9-in fashion. However, with few of the large dunes common to other Highland Classics, the sea dominates play. Braid’s efforts complemented already narrow fairways and razor sharp greens. In fact, the Club is fond of boasting theirs are the fastest in the Highlands. The Nairn Golf Club has been ranked No. 9 in the list of the Top 100 Courses in Scotland. It has hosted a number of important championships and events including the 1999 Walker Cup played reminiscently to the riveting 2012 Ryder Cup, with the Americans taking a early lead after day one of 7-5, after which Great Britain and Ireland rallied to destroy the Americans 15-9. Nairn has also hosted the 1994 British Amateur, numerous Scottish Amateurs for both Men and Ladies and the Curtis Cup in 2012.