Recommend courses in North Scotland

J

jusme

Challenge Tour Pro
Joined
Jul 25, 2010
Messages
929
Visit site
I'm of on Sunday for 10 days to driver the north cost 500 route - starting in Inverness going west - up the west coast, across the north coast to John o Groats and down the east coast to Inverness again. Taking the clubs and may or may not play depending on time available. Wife would play if I do and given she would be a 36 cap at best (only played 5/6 rounds in her life) I would exclude premium courses.

Not looking to pay a lot of money (like to use hot deals on Golf Now) so any nice courses around or near my route that you have played or know about?

Thanks
 
Probably more that you have time to play TBH

Would go to these, on route from Inverness
Fortrose and Rosemarkie
Great short links course easy walking and unusual in that its almost in the Moray Firth and surrounded on 3 sides by it. great for Ladies
Tarbat (portmahomack)
short 9 hole community links, quite short, again good for lady golfers no carries
Tain
Traditional links nice lay out.
Bonar Bridge
again small commuinity 9 hole course through woodland right by Loch Migdale (been on Time team) chance to see Ospreys
Royal Dornoch
Its £120 but treat yourself one of the best courses in the world (top 10)
Brora.
Quirky links course that is almost impossible to lose a ball on,(sheep graze it and it has electric fences around the greens,
Reay.
short links course quite nice
Durnes
Stunning surroundings and the 9th is one of the best short par3 around
Gairloch
again short community links short but great views.

All these you will literally drive past apart from F&R . there are quite a few others but imo these are the best.

of course there are also a couple of others you might want to try nearer the route up.
Boat of Garten
Spey Valley
either of the Nairrn courses.

PM me if you want any other info
 
Just to add to Patrick's list, Dornoch do a 36 hole ticket that allows you to play the Struie course as well. You could play both courses and she could join you for the wee course.

If you can fit it in I would REALLY recommend you play RD.
 
I think RD also do twilight rates - If you don't play it, walk along the beach and up onto the raised part of the course (the 7th?), which me and the missus did with the dog. Maybe play the course the course, if you like what you see.
 
There's a wee course at Durness, not one of the classics, but some absolutely stunning views as you play round it. 9 holes but with two sets of tees on every hole. well worth stopping off if you have the time. Durness has some other attractions, Smoo Cave being the obvious one, but The Sango Sands Oasis... yes real name, has to be one of the cheapest places I've ever had an evening my in my travels.
 
No advance on Patrick's except to say that Gairloch and Bonar Bridge area great examples of the genre, and probably good for your purposes.

Haven't seen Grantown on Spey mentioned. Not sure it is on your route but worth a look if it is.

As others have said, though, if you can play Royal Dornoch, then you absolutely should do that.
 
Tain do a twilight rate, don't swerve it. Brora as well. Dornoch is a ridiculous amount of money for a game of golf.

If you have time on way up or back, give Boat of garten a go, it's near Aviemore so off your sutherland route.
 
patricks148 said:
Probably more that you have time to play TBH

Would go to these, on route from Inverness
Fortrose and Rosemarkie
Great short links course easy walking and unusual in that its almost in the Moray Firth and surrounded on 3 sides by it. great for Ladies
Tarbat (portmahomack)
short 9 hole community links, quite short, again good for lady golfers no carries
Tain
Traditional links nice lay out.
Bonar Bridge
again small commuinity 9 hole course through woodland right by Loch Migdale (been on Time team) chance to see Ospreys
Royal Dornoch
Its £120 but treat yourself one of the best courses in the world (top 10)
Brora.
Quirky links course that is almost impossible to lose a ball on,(sheep graze it and it has electric fences around the greens,
Reay.
short links course quite nice
Durnes
Stunning surroundings and the 9th is one of the best short par3 around
Gairloch
again short community links short but great views.

All these you will literally drive past apart from F&R . there are quite a few others but imo these are the best.

of course there are also a couple of others you might want to try nearer the route up.
Boat of Garten
Spey Valley
either of the Nairrn courses.

PM me if you want any other info
Click to expand...

Thanks for the time taken to post your response. Much appreciated and very informative AND a thank you of course to all the helpful responses. Will not be playing RD at this time as I know my golfing group has it in its sights for next year (travel to play 6 rounds every year)
 
jusme said:
Thanks for the time taken to post your response. Much appreciated and very informative AND a thank you of course to all the helpful responses. Will not be playing RD at this time as I know my golfing group has it in its sights for next year (travel to play 6 rounds every year)
Click to expand...

even if you don't play it this time (RD), go up and have a wonder, there are paths along the beach and the top part of the course.
Plus it has a stunning beach the course side along towards Embo.

I should add that Bonar Bridge, Girloch and Tarbat (Portmahomack)will be honesty boxes and usually unmanned during the week. They may not be part of internet cheap offers either.
Tain, and Brora both do twilght deals Tains is after lunch usually and Brora around 3/4pm i suggest speaking to the clubs first. They are all short of cash and will no doubt have offers, which the money will all go to the club rather than a booking agent.
 
I would say go with Patrick's recommendations, he's the man in the know in this area.

Royal Dornoch is a must play at some point. Just be careful, it chews you up and spits you out!
 
patricks148 said:
Probably more that you have time to play TBH

Would go to these, on route from Inverness
Fortrose and Rosemarkie
Great short links course easy walking and unusual in that its almost in the Moray Firth and surrounded on 3 sides by it. great for Ladies
Tarbat (portmahomack)
short 9 hole community links, quite short, again good for lady golfers no carries
Tain
Traditional links nice lay out.
Bonar Bridge
again small commuinity 9 hole course through woodland right by Loch Migdale (been on Time team) chance to see Ospreys
Royal Dornoch
Its £120 but treat yourself one of the best courses in the world (top 10)
Brora.
Quirky links course that is almost impossible to lose a ball on,(sheep graze it and it has electric fences around the greens,
Reay.
short links course quite nice
Durnes
Stunning surroundings and the 9th is one of the best short par3 around
Gairloch
again short community links short but great views.

All these you will literally drive past apart from F&R . there are quite a few others but imo these are the best.

of course there are also a couple of others you might want to try nearer the route up.
Boat of Garten
Spey Valley
either of the Nairrn courses.

PM me if you want any other info
Click to expand...

Can't beat this list, except I'd suggest (in pedantry mode) they are listed in reverse order. :)

And as regards the red bit, l fear l can prove you wrong :):)
 
backwoodsman said:
Can't beat this list, except I'd suggest (in pedantry mode) they are listed in reverse order. :)

And as regards the red bit, l fear l can prove you wrong :):)
Click to expand...

yes, i miss read the original post and thought he was starting at Inversneck.

I will ad in the proviso, in that "only if you are really miles off line" can you lose a ball:)
 
patricks148 said:
Probably more that you have time to play TBH

Would go to these, on route from Inverness
Fortrose and Rosemarkie
Great short links course easy walking and unusual in that its almost in the Moray Firth and surrounded on 3 sides by it. great for Ladies
Tarbat (portmahomack)
short 9 hole community links, quite short, again good for lady golfers no carries
Tain
Traditional links nice lay out.
Bonar Bridge
again small commuinity 9 hole course through woodland right by Loch Migdale (been on Time team) chance to see Ospreys
Royal Dornoch
Its £120 but treat yourself one of the best courses in the world (top 10)
Brora.
Quirky links course that is almost impossible to lose a ball on,(sheep graze it and it has electric fences around the greens,
Reay.
short links course quite nice
Durnes
Stunning surroundings and the 9th is one of the best short par3 around
Gairloch
again short community links short but great views.

All these you will literally drive past apart from F&R . there are quite a few others but imo these are the best.

of course there are also a couple of others you might want to try nearer the route up.
Boat of Garten
Spey Valley
either of the Nairrn courses.

PM me if you want any other info
Click to expand...

Durness in the wind could be fun :)

And what about Lochinver? - never played it but it looks worth playing just for the views
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

IanM
Golf in the Borders (ish)
Replies
8
Views
442
Backache
B
Klimski
Hull tour advice sought
Replies
4
Views
725
rulefan
R
D
Courses that run Buggies all year round in the Northwest
Replies
4
Views
1K
Burnsey
B
rystaman
St Andrews/Fife May Bank Holiday Courses - Advice/Recommendations
2
Replies
20
Views
3K
upsidedown
upsidedown
K
Golf club membership North London
Replies
11
Views
6K
Deleted member 21784
D
Top