Dornoch Struie News

[Marty Bonnar]

Developments at the Struie. Maybe just a pity Doc isn’t involved.

https://royaldornoch.com/2024/10/25/looking-to-the-future-of-the-struie-course/

[Jeff Schley]

Marty good news indeed. Upgrading the Struie is sorely needed, especially considering the pedigree of the Championship Course. With the new clubhouse coming on, this purchase of land is certainly thinking for the future. The Struie with the land addition allows for new holes, and welcomed by all. Having a new par 3 in the future, combined with the investments of the Struie, clubhouse will add another couple days to visitors to Dornoch. See what happens with Coul Links now.

[Marty Bonnar]

Indeed, Jeff. Great news. The terrain in the new land is very enticing! I’ve gazed over there many times when we’ve been on the Struie.
Am I right in thinking they’re going to be losing the existing opening two holes? Maybe some of our RDGC members might chip in with any info.
Cheers,
F.

[PCCraig]

Plan on visiting Dornoch next summer.


I inquired about memberships...they aren't even taking names for the Struie wait list!


Should of joined 15 years ago... 

[David_Tepper]

"Am I right in thinking they’re going to be losing the existing opening two holes?"

Marty -

Greetings from the bonnie Highlands. At this point I think all options are open and available.

My guess is that a "new" Struie course will be created using the newly acquired land and a number of the holes now furthest from the clubhouse. The older holes closest in may be turned into a 6 or 9 hole course for beginners and/or juniors. I think the club would also like to have a more "formal" practice ground.

Note all of the above is speculation on my part. The finished product may be very different. I just hope I around to see it.  

DT     
 

[Ben Stephens]

Wouldn't this be a great opportunity for the club to have a Golf Course Architecture Open competition for a redesigned Struie course and reusing the holes taken out of the course in a different way? 


It is unlikely in this day and age. However it is amazing opportunity for Royal Dornoch not to have one strong course but another course as well which will probably be full as soon as it opens due to demand and no of visitors to Dornoch.


The club seems to go from strength to strength with a new clubhouse as well. I look forward to visiting Dornoch next year. 

[JohnVDB]

Marty,


It is possible tha 1, 2 and 18 will be eliminated in a new design.

[Robin_Hiseman]

This is similar to the masterplan I worked on 25 years ago.


At that time, the club didn't proceed with its wider ambitions for the Struie, allocating funds to the new clubhouse project instead. We managed to build Phase one of three phases around the turn of the millennium.


Maybe things will progress further this time.

[Marty Bonnar]

25 Years.
Eek!
Who knows where the time goes?
Thank you, Sandy Denny.
F.

[Ben Stephens]

This is similar to the masterplan I worked on 25 years ago.


At that time, the club didn't proceed with its wider ambitions for the Struie, allocating funds to the new clubhouse project instead. We managed to build Phase one of three phases around the turn of the millennium.


Maybe things will progress further this time.

Tom Mackenzie also mentions he did a similar proposal in 2013 to expand the Struie.

Probably amazing how golf has generated so much income in Dornoch with the influx of mainly Americans over the last 25 years has made the club to be profitable to allow them not only build a new modern clubhouse but also expand its quality of golf on offer - is Dornoch following Mike Keiser's approach 'one course is a curiosity and two is a destination'

If Coul Links become reality that would be double whammy for the area golf and economic wise.

Anyway Dornoch is not cheap these days.


Cheers
Ben

[Robin_Hiseman]

I remember when working on the Struie, commenting that with every visitor 4-ball going off the 1st tee of the Championship Course there was another £500 in the club coffers. That is up to £1,120 in 2024 and will probably be north of £1,200 next year. It's nearly £8,000 per hour. There might be package deals, but you get the idea. There is a lot of money pouring into Royal Dornoch.


The rationale for the Struie upgrade in 1999 was to give them an authentic and attractive alternative to the Championship Course for a two-round package. We improved it considerably with the five brand new holes and the extensive remodelling of five others, but it was only the first step.


The land they are looking at now was not available then. I had 300-acres to use for five holes, but only a small part of that was authentic linksland (Holes 10 and 11). The rest was flat, low lying and prone to flooding. There was considerable concern that rising sea levels would render the land unusable.


If the case for the upgrade was compelling then, it has to be unstoppable now. They have so much guaranteed revenue that it will barely dent the balance sheet to do this work, especially if they have secured more of the lovely links ground I enjoyed working with at the far end of the course.

[Ben Stephens]

I remember when working on the Struie, commenting that with every visitor 4-ball going off the 1st tee of the Championship Course there was another £500 in the club coffers. That is up to £1,120 in 2024 and will probably be north of £1,200 next year. It's nearly £8,000 per hour. There might be package deals, but you get the idea. There is a lot of money pouring into Royal Dornoch.


The rationale for the Struie upgrade in 1999 was to give them an authentic and attractive alternative to the Championship Course for a two-round package. We improved it considerably with the five brand new holes and the extensive remodelling of five others, but it was only the first step.


The land they are looking at now was not available then. I had 300-acres to use for five holes, but only a small part of that was authentic linksland (Holes 10 and 11). The rest was flat, low lying and prone to flooding. There was considerable concern that rising sea levels would render the land unusable.


If the case for the upgrade was compelling then, it has to be unstoppable now. They have so much guaranteed revenue that it will barely dent the balance sheet to do this work, especially if they have secured more of the lovely links ground I enjoyed working with at the far end of the course.

Hi Robin,


Thank you for the insight at Dornoch. Tom Mackenzie has done a new par 3 in the area you worked on - the green is pretty close to the firth.


Seems like Dornoch is doing pretty well - supply and demand. The other year they said that all visitor bookings were booked already for the year. It's good to see them reinvesting in what they have and expanding on what they have to offer.


Looking forward to next May already!


Cheers
Ben

[Thomas Dai]

Pondering this news and the situation regarding Coul.
Behind the scenes happenings?
Atb

[David_Tepper]

"Pondering this news and the situation regarding Coul. Behind the scenes happenings?"

Not sure what you are asking. The two projects are totally independent of each other. As Robin H. has noted above, RD has had an interest in upgrading/expanding/improving the Struie course for 25 years.

The government hearings for Coul Links are scheduled to begin in a couple of weeks.

https://www.coullinksgolf.com/

NEWS FLASH - 10 October 2024 - The Scottish Government Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) will tomorrow publish, in The Edinburgh Gazette and The Northern Times, a notice of public hearing session. The hearing session wil start at 10.00 on 11 November at Embo Community Centre and will run for 5 days. The proceedings can be followed via webcast at http://dpea.public-i.tv/core/portal/home

[Thomas Dai]

All will undoubtedly be above board and handled entirely with complete honesty and integrity. When it comes to planning and development issues and local and further afield politics there is never any skulduggery, nudge-nudge backscratching or vested interests involved. Such shenanigans are totally unknown. Openness and transparency galore prevails at all times. And the moon is made of green cheese.
Atb

[David_Tepper]

atb -

Your second comment makes even less sense than your first. Are you aware of any "skullduggery or nudge-nudge backscratching" that has taken place regarding either project so far?

If so, please let us know what improper events have happened. If not, it might not be a bad idea to refrain from impugning the integrity of people, institutions and processes you know little about.

DT

[Simon Barrington]

atb -
Your second comment makes even less sense than your first. Are you aware of any "skullduggery or nudge-nudge backscratching" that has taken place regarding either project so far?
If so, please let us know what improper events have happened. If not, it might not be a bad idea to refrain from impugning the integrity of people, institutions and processes you know little about.
DT

I think TBF Dai is making a "many a true word spoken in jest" type comment here, rather than any specific accusations to either side.

The BBC Scotland Podcast called "Trumped" is an interesting listen, regardless of whatever view one may hold.

The Coul Links project and planning scrutiny of it inevitably sits in the shadow of the previous Balmedie developments.

I suspect and hope this process will be, and has to be seen to be, absolutely squeeky clean for all concerned.

[Mark Pearce]

I think TBF Dai is making a "many a true word spoken in jest" type comment here, rather than any specific accusations to either side.

I'm not a fan of tired unfair cynicism passing for humour.  Perhaps others are.

[Simon Barrington]

I think TBF Dai is making a "many a true word spoken in jest" type comment here, rather than any specific accusations to either side.

I'm not a fan of tired unfair cynicism passing for humour.  Perhaps others are.

Hello Mark

I respect your differing opinion, just trying to keep things civil.

There is understandably a huge amount of cynicism around just now & perhaps some attempt at humour (successful or not, tired or otherwise) is needed for the human condition (as is expressed by the current pervasive "Meme" culture).

But to keep it to Golf Architecture matters, the concerns of some regarding the planning process for Trump Aberdeen (and I stress I am making no personal comment on the project, nor persons involved, incl. the Scottish Government and/or the Candidate for US President) has understandably created genuine concerns for some, on both sides (Pro and Against, Coul Links).

Hence I posted the Podcast details, not as a recommendation nor in agreement with its conclusions, which I thought was very relevant for background context on Coul Links as the next big Links project in the planning queue. To help others (who may not be familiar with the Scottish planning process) to make up their own view as to whether that cynicism of the system (even if expressed in jest) may or may not be warranted, or as you put it be "unfair".

I hope, as previously stated, it is fair, thorough and open.

(Additionally, such issues may also be relevant to Royal Dornoch's Struie extension onto new land, as they recognise in their press release)

Cheers

[Adam Lawrence]

I find it deeply ironic and, frankly, distressing, that the successful railroading of planning consent for Trump Aberdeen (which has, we should remember, _destroyed_ the SSSI on which it was built) should impact on the unrelated attempt to get permission for Coul Links, where the principals have been at pains to do it properly at every step.

[Charlie Goerges]

I find it deeply ironic and, frankly, distressing, that the successful railroading of planning consent for Trump Aberdeen (which has, we should remember, _destroyed_ the SSSI on which it was built) should impact on the unrelated attempt to get permission for Coul Links, where the principals have been at pains to do it properly at every step.

It absolutely sucks, but it is absolutely the case as you say Adam, that bad faith actors tar good faith actors in the golf space. And I don't necessarily blame the various councils and planning offices (and public) for reacting the way they do, it's entirely predictable.

[Mark Pearce]

Simon,


My response was not to anything you nposted but rather a comment on Dai's "joke".  Humour is essential to survive a World where cynicism is as rational as it is today.  But purely negative cynicism, in relation to public servants rather than politicians isn't my idea of funny.  I agree with most of what you have posted here.

[Ian Mackenzie]

If I am not mistaken, Bill Coore originally came to the area (around 2013) to look at the Struie and determine if a stronger course could be made there.


After concluding that it was not a possibility, he heard from someone about the Coul Farm site so headed up the road and was apparently gob-smacked.


Looks like news of the Struie will now come before any new news from Coul Links.
 
Meanwhile, the site is deteriorating and all the upset "bug people" are back in their parent's basements chasing the next keyboard warrior cause and campaign.

[Niall C]

I find it deeply ironic and, frankly, distressing, that the successful railroading of planning consent for Trump Aberdeen (which has, we should remember, _destroyed_ the SSSI on which it was built) should impact on the unrelated attempt to get permission for Coul Links, where the principals have been at pains to do it properly at every step.

Nonsense. The way both parties went about trying to get their planning permission was from the same playbook. Both sites had red flags all over them and more responsible developers wouldn't have given the idea of developing them a second thought. Instead they both tried to turn the respective applications into popularity contests by playing the economic development card and stirring up the locals. Trump got his way and Keiser might yet get his but you can be sure what both applications have done is give ammunition to the anti-golf lobby.


Niall


ps. this post was most definitely NOT typed from my parents basement