Royal Dornoch: Dornoch, Scotland

[GolfWRX]

[Edinburghgolfer]

If a round of golf at Royal Dornoch doesn't stir the emotions you're playing the wrong game. A special, special place.

 

[3_Jack_Par]

My favorite course in the world.

[Hawkeye77]

THE place I want to play before I'm too old to meet the challenge.

 

Awesome photos.

[cradd10]

My Host at Augusta National, who is also a member at Shinnecock, said Dornoch is the best course in the world. strong statement. looks awesome.

[gvogel]

Tom Watson told the story of a trip there with Sandy Tatum, a past president of the USGA. They played Dornoch in the morning, and were having lunch when the weather turned windy and rainy. Tatum looked at Watson, and Watson said, "you're on." With that, they went and played another 18 in the "elements." It was then that Watson said that he fell in love with Scottish golf.

[Bdmac79]

It's an awesome place.

[elwhippy]

As a matter of interest which tees did they let you play off?

[Bdmac79]

As a matter of interest which tees did they let you play off?

 

My group had a higher handicapper, and he chose the yellows.

[socied]

Thanks for posting these. Back in high school, our surrounding HS and 4 schools from over there had a Ryder Cup type tourney for several years. We would go there, they would come here and we would stay with the kids families. Spent a few weeks right next to the course and play at least 18 holes there each day. Sometimes after dinner since it stayed so light out so late. Some of the best weeks of my life! Miss that place. Witnessed my first hole in one (my best friend) on 13. They introduced me to aftershock and bacon rolls....

[Don L]

Great memories from Dornock. Played 36 holes one day with my 70 year old father in law. Sun, rain, fog and at times wind so strong we could hardly walk.

One of the best times of my life. My all time favorite course. We played St. Andrews and Carnoustie on our trip, Dornock was the best!

 

Don

[katbird]

Okay, so I have planned a week of golf in Dornoch...Brora, Tain, Golspie, and yes, Royal Dornoch....I would not be able to face you all if being there for a week and I hadn't played Dornoch....it's going to be tough I know for this bogie golfer....

Sooooo.....

Is there much lost besides yardage when playing from short tees? I'm a sub-6k yard bogie golfer and typically play 5500 to 6k yard tees.

By "much lost" I'm referring to the nature or character of the course....I would not like facing forced carries beyond my typical drive's carry of 175-190 yards.

 

Thanks for replies and advice...all appreciated.

[Bdmac79]

Okay, so I have planned a week of golf in Dornoch...Brora, Tain, Golspie, and yes, Royal Dornoch....I would not be able to face you all if being there for a week and I hadn't played Dornoch....it's going to be tough I know for this bogie golfer....

Sooooo.....

Is there much lost besides yardage when playing from short tees? I'm a sub-6k yard bogie golfer and typically play 5500 to 6k yard tees.

By "much lost" I'm referring to the nature or character of the course....I would not like facing forced carries beyond my typical drive's carry of 175-190 yards.

 

Thanks for replies and advice...all appreciated.

 

Not at all.

[jmck]

Thanks for the pictures. Gets me feeling all sentimental. As others have said, it's a very special place.

[15th Club]

Oh these were such wonderful pictures! My favorite GolfWRX thread of the summer!

 

The name of Lady Heathcoat-Amory appears in the clubhouse at Dornoch. That's the married name of Joyce Wethered, sister of the great Roger Wethered, whose name also appears as a multiple medalist in the club's championships.

 

Bobby Jones thought that the best golf swing he ever saw was Joyce Wethered's. And she lived to age 96, dying in 1997. Check out her obit in the New York Times:

 

http://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/25/sports/joyce-wethered-96-top-golfer-of-the-20-s.html

[Golfcat]

played 36 there a couple of weeks ago...everything you want in a golf course!

[HoffTTM]

Okay, so I have planned a week of golf in Dornoch...Brora, Tain, Golspie, and yes, Royal Dornoch....I would not be able to face you all if being there for a week and I hadn't played Dornoch....it's going to be tough I know for this bogie golfer....

Sooooo.....

Is there much lost besides yardage when playing from short tees? I'm a sub-6k yard bogie golfer and typically play 5500 to 6k yard tees.

By "much lost" I'm referring to the nature or character of the course....I would not like facing forced carries beyond my typical drive's carry of 175-190 yards.

 

Thanks for replies and advice...all appreciated.

 

Would be absolutely fine. Not sure there are any forced carries much over 100 yards to be honest, utterly brilliant place and more than the equal of anything on the Open rota

[katbird]

That week in Golspie will be the most intensive golf I've played in a long time....6 rounds in 6 days. Here's hoping my old legs'll hold out.

I may lighten the load and leave a club or two in the car when I hike Boat of Garten that prior weekend.

The seaside courses from Tain to Brora do look like nice leisurely ambles among the sheep...

I just have to remember to swing nice and easy and enjoy this once-in-a-life week.

 

I look forward to posting some pix of my own to add to this thread...

[Ascan]

Super pics, they brought back great memories! Dornoch is magnificent.

[thecraw]

Great memories from Dornock. Played 36 holes one day with my 70 year old father in law. Sun, rain, fog and at times wind so strong we could hardly walk.

One of the best times of my life. My all time favorite course. We played St. Andrews and Carnoustie on our trip, Dornock was the best!

 

Don

 

 

DORNOCH