I played it four times since Friday and want to hear why you love it/ rate it highly. I’m open minded.
I played it four times since Friday and want to hear why you love it/ rate it highly. I’m open minded.
Please tell us YOUR impressions.
It's subjective and there are no wrong answers.
Some love RDGC.
Others prefer Castle Stuart or large, cart-balling resorts.
Some people like jazz, some like rap/hip-hop and some LOVE country.
In the end, it's great to listen to music and to play golf.
Mark
Dornoch never has been a "Members Club" and never will be, if I have my way.
Rich
Mark
Dornoch never has been a "Members Club" and never will be, if I have my way.
Rich
Rich
I've never played RD, and consider it one of the courses in these isles that I would like to get to one day. But the quote above, in response to Mark's point about not being able to get a game all day with a member, puzzles me.
Can you explain how this is a good thing, as a member?
Mark
Dornoch never has been a "Members Club" and never will be, if I have my way.
Rich
I've never played RD, and consider it one of the courses in these isles that I would like to get to one day. But the quote above, in response to Mark's point about not being able to get a game all day with a member, puzzles me.
Can you explain how this is a good thing, as a member?
Matt. I do not know when or why Mark was unable to get a game with a member, but it must have been a glitch, given the 20+ hours of daylight at this time of year. If you or Mark are around in the 7-17 July period, let me know and I'll get you a game.
Slainte
Rich
It's unarguably a wonderful golf course, with some classic holes, but I do agree with Rich that putting it top five in the world is really pushing it.fwiw, Doak put in the top 13 or so. In something as subjective as golf course ratings, with around 30,000 courses worldwide, is there really much difference between 5 and 13?
Too foggy for my tastes. ;D
Too foggy for my tastes. ;D
Haha, I would definitely agree! I couldn’t see the ball go 100yds! Great playing with you Garland!
I hope the author doesn’t mind but this seems an opportunity to link to two ‘In My Opinion’ pieces within another section of this website -
http://golfclubatlas.com/in-my-opinion/dornochgoodale/ (http://golfclubatlas.com/in-my-opinion/dornochgoodale/)
And
http://golfclubatlas.com/in-my-opinion/the-architectural-evolution-of-royal-dornoch-golf-club/ (http://golfclubatlas.com/in-my-opinion/the-architectural-evolution-of-royal-dornoch-golf-club/)
There’s a lot more to the Golf Club Atlas website than just the Discussion Board.
Atb
I think Adam's first post has it about right as to the popularity of RD. If it was located in Ayrshire or even East Lothian I don't think it would be anywhere as high in the world rankings, and heaven forbid imagine if you had to drive by an industrial estate or caravan park to get to it !
The journey there, the drive into town and the sudden expansive view as you drive into the car park all add to the charm. That said, the charm has waned some as it's gone from sleepy hollow to main line destination for overseas visitors although I suppose the gaggle of excited golfers near the first tee waiting to tee off helps with creating a sense of anticipation.
Have you been to Ballybunion and Pinehurst No. 2 and thought the same thing -- overrated because of the difficulty to the sides of the greens and repetitive difficulty in recovering?
That's why I have each of the three courses rated so high, actually. Because they put a paramount on hitting straight approach shots, whether you are coming in with a 3-wood from the fairway, or a wedge, or a chip shot for your third shot. It just sounds like you did not deploy a strategy to overcome this ... you kept firing away at greens from afar and missing wide. Better to play short and try to make par from the front of the green.
Unfortunately, Ballybunion is covered in rough so the side recoveries are not nearly as prevalent as at Pinehurst. Nobody talks about it, Ballybunion is in the same boat as TOC with rough slowly eroding the what made the courses so good in the first place.
Unfortunately, Ballybunion is covered in rough so the side recoveries are not nearly as prevalent as at Pinehurst. Nobody talks about it, Ballybunion is in the same boat as TOC with rough slowly eroding the what made the courses so good in the first place.
The banks of the greens at Ballybunion aren't mowed tight anymore? That's horrible.
Unfortunately, Ballybunion is covered in rough so the side recoveries are not nearly as prevalent as at Pinehurst. Nobody talks about it, Ballybunion is in the same boat as TOC with rough slowly eroding the what made the courses so good in the first place.
The banks of the greens at Ballybunion aren't mowed tight anymore? That's horrible.
I also have semi-unsound views in GCA terms about Pennard too. Apologies all round for any offence caused!
David Tepper and Stan Dodd are two reasons to admire RD.
Yesterday’s caddie wanted me thrown off the course for even doubting the Top 15 label. I loved him for it.
Mike:
Have you been to Ballybunion and Pinehurst No. 2 and thought the same thing -- overrated because of the difficulty to the sides of the greens and repetitive difficulty in recovering?
That's why I have each of the three courses rated so high, actually. Because they put a paramount on hitting straight approach shots, whether you are coming in with a 3-wood from the fairway, or a wedge, or a chip shot for your third shot. It just sounds like you did not deploy a strategy to overcome this ... you kept firing away at greens from afar and missing wide. Better to play short and try to make par from the front of the green.
As for Dornoch's high ranking, as much as I love the course, I think its popularity with Americans is in large part down to the scenery, which is so much more appealing than Muirfield / St. Andrews / Troon / etc. Indeed both Kingsbarns and Castle Stuart have mimicked that approach to success, and that's why you hear the British posters questioning the popularity of all three courses.
Mike,
I consider Royal Dornoch a "Doak 10" and would consider it among the top ten courses in the world.
Breathtaking site (playing golf by the sea is so appealing).
Fantastic routing.
Great ambiance.
Firm and fast conditions.
Several world class holes.
One of the FUNNEST places to play golf on the planet (I played 54 holes there one day...couldn't get enough).
I have a friend from my home club in Indiana who is a member at Royal Dornoch. Last year we were having a discussion on what we both felt was the greatest golf course in the world. My pick is NGLA. His pick was Royal Dornoch. The bottom line reason in his argument was the fact that once we have determined a course is "great" (RD is certainly that), then "how much fun is it to play there?" becomes his factor to differentiate whether one course (in his eyes) should be rated above another. I play golf to have fun, so his argument carried tremendous weight with me. He looked me in the eye and asked me how many courses in the world are more fun to play than Royal Dornoch. I couldn't get to 5...
TS
The side to side chipping to multiple elevated firm greens seemed gimmicky in my view
More greens like Foxy with width sideways. More greens at ground level.
I have written much about Dornoch in the past so my views are well known.
Dornoch is about the whole package. The village is one of the few in Sutherland to offer that wonderful feeling off village life which the visitor can stroll through and soak in. This is a big plus for Dornoch. Brora and to a lesser extent Golspie are much less attractive to stroll around and both villages need to buck up their ideas if they wish to attract more visitors.
I have always found the club, it's staff and members to be very welcoming as is the case at both other clubs.
The course at Dornoch has a spectacular setting and some very good holes but does it have an all world hole? I am afraid I do not see the charm of Foxy except that it is a very good green complex though this is somewhat ruined by the softness of the base of the bankings which are overwatered from the green irrigation. The drive seems very one dimensional. I would put the 15th and 17th well ahead. The biggest gripe I have is the course is very repetitive asking the player the same question over and over with its raised greens and often no realistic run up shot. The par 3s three of which are great and one poor are all a bit samey to so as a set not so great. Finally, the course is slowly losing it's links like qualities becoming too defined, fairways being too short but not tight and an overall to manicured look. It does deserve it's high ranking in the UK but I wonder if it is slowly losing it's 'links soul'.
I consider Brora the purer links and better course. The grazing of the rough is a key part of this and I hope Golspie think about introducing this to its course as it would improve the rough no end.
Jon
Anyway, if folks want a true links experience, with the rare exception, avoid top courses. But I am not convinced that is what most golfers want...
Excellent post Jon.
Anyway, if folks want a true links experience, with the rare exception, avoid top courses. But I am not convinced that is what most golfers want...
As a regular poster herein has said more than a few times, let a bunch of folks go hunting the big names and leave the little ‘uns and under the usual radar ones to us! :)
Atb
All this elevated green/chipping back and forth hatred amuses me. Play bowls if you can't hit the ball straight or lay up when necessary and take a bogey.
Rich
ps--most of those elevated greens are natural and not created. :)
rfg