Highlands Trip

[Jim Roth]

a topic thats been covered a ton I know but would love some insight.
doing 5 days the highlands with a member from Royal Dornoch

Lineup as of now -
Royal Dornoch  2-3x
Brora 1x
Nairn 1-2x
Cabot Highlands 1x
Golspie 1x

Was looking tp add a few others and considered Tain and Fortrose.   any thoughts on those two?  anything I am missing?   dont really want to drive that far so trying to keep it somewhat close to inverness.  (we are staying in Dornoch)

[Joe Zucker]

I did a highlands trip in 2022 with mostly the same itinerary as you.  I really enjoyed Castle Stuart and would recommend.  We also ventured inland and played Boat of Garten.  It was not an amazing course that I rave about regularly, but I did enjoy they change of scenery against the links courses.  If you've got a day for a leisurely drive from the Nairn area, I would do it.

[Ian Mackenzie]

Jim - that itinerary looks close to perfect.


Sure, you could play Tain or grovel your way on to (overpriced) Skibo.
But, IMO, you pretty much nailed it for a 5 day trip.


Not sure when youre going, but keep an eye out for teeing off on RDGC (Champ or Struie) for a replay round at 6:00 pm when it is very quiet and you will play in some of the most magical light in all of golf.

[David_Tepper]

Jim R. -
Check your messages.
I think Fortrose deserves to be seen/played at least once, if only for the remarkable setting and the routing of the course on such a narrow peninsula of land.
That being said, Tain is probably a "better" course. The 9-hole Tarbat course in nearby Portmahomack has a number of fans on this board.
I have yet to play the relatively new Kings Club course on the west side of Inverness, but have heard some good things about it.

https://www.kingsgolfclubinverness.co.uk/
DT
p.s. Be careful driving the A9 highway. Accidents happen on it all too often.

[Tony_Muldoon]

I have yet to play the relatively new Kings Club course on the west side of Inverness, but have heard some good things about it.

DT

Yes I'm curious about that one to. Architect Stuart Rennie has been spotted on these pages.

Anyone played it?

[John Handley]

It's about a 2 hour drive from Inverness but we loved Cruden Bay.


I'd put in another round at Castle Stuart too.  When we played Skibo Castle it was $500 but that included food & drink.  My crew more than got our $$ worth 

[Lance Rieber]

Jim, stayed 4 nights last year,  itinerary looks awesome. I loved Golspie, Brora, and the rest. Cabot was also a wonderful course. Not sure if Old Petty will be open when you are there but playing both of them woukd be a fantastic 36. But wholeheartedly agree with Ian, trying to play an evening round at Dornoch. One of my all time favorite rounds.

[Mark Mammel]

I'd echo David Tepper and recommend Portmahomack GC, near the Tarbat Ness lighthouse with lovely views of Dornoch Firth.
https://portmahomackgolfclub.com/
9 holes- actually 10, with an alternate par 3 on the "back"-  of very local golf. Family run, 2 sets of tees, and great fun. L35, cash only!

[James Reader]

I have yet to play the relatively new Kings Club course on the west side of Inverness, but have heard some good things about it.

DT

Yes I'm curious about that one to. Architect Stuart Rennie has been spotted on these pages.

Anyone played it?

I played Kings a couple of years ago. The architect has done a good job on a fairly steeply sloping site and there are a number of interesting holes. If I lived locally I’d be happy to play there regularly but I’d certainly not take a game there over any of the other courses mentioned in this thread.


To the original question, I’d suggest it would be a shame to miss Tain, which may not have Fortrose’s setting, but in my view is a better golf course and not too far behind Golspie.


I’d also add another vote for a quick 9 at Portmahomack, if for no other reason than to see its remarkable 8th fairway:

[Matt_Cohn]

I'm doing this trip in mid-July for a week—my first Scotland trip!

[Steve_Lovett]

It's about a 2 hour drive from Inverness but we loved Cruden Bay.


I'd put in another round at Castle Stuart too.  When we played Skibo Castle it was $500 but that included food & drink.  My crew more than got our $$ worth 

I agree regarding Cruden Bay. We played 12 rounds in 10 days last summer, including the Highlands, St. Andrews, and East Lothian. Our detour to Cruden Bay was one of the most memorable golf experiences of the trip.

[Pierre_C]

Jim,


   I recommend you include Cruden Bay & Fortrose in your itinerary. Cruden is one of my favorites in Scotland and Fortrose is fun.

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