Is Royal Dornoch Overrated?

[Jason Topp]

Jason

As David says - depends how one rates it in the first place ?

I put it in my Top5 GB&I courses and think it's better than Royal Portrush (which Golf Magazine has ahead of it - 2007)."

It's green complexes are superb - the highlight for mine - and recovery shots are very difficult. It's P3's have wonderfull variety as are the P4's with some very strategic approaches. It also has a few half-par holes and personally I didn't think the P5's played the same. The changes in topography toward the end provided a stern finish to the round and I enjoyed the subtle challenges within the layout.

Where do you rate it ?

Kevin:  By "overrated" I am referring to the Doak 10 ranking which, I believe, puts it among the top 12 of all courses in the world.  Links Magazine describes such a rating as:


10. Nearly perfect; if you skipped even one hole, you would miss something worth seeing. If you haven’t seen all the courses in this category, you don’t know how good golf architecture can get. Call your travel agent—immediately

[Jason Topp]

Another question.  The sides on some greens were maintained with longer grass.  This is 5:



Others were at fairway height.  This is number 1:



I think this is 2:




From Rich's book, it appears mowing practices have varied over the years.  Which is a better approach?  Is changing from hole to hole a good idea?  I enjoy the shaved version more because you have more choices.  Too short, however, and putter becomes the automatic play for all but the most talented.

[Jason Topp]

I don't agree about the ninth and twelfth being overly similar. While they are of similar length, they play differently for me. The best angle off the tee on twelve is to the right and you definitely want to be as far right as possible with a layup. On the ninth hole it is safer to play right on the tee shot but the proper spot for a layup is IMO hard against the left rough line. And the green complexes play quite differently. I think that hump at the front-left of the green on twelve makes the hole whereas nine has more of a typically Dornoch elevated green that is (IIRC) flatter than the twelfth green.

Brett:

Is this the 12th green?

It is the 12th green, Jason.  Brett miscalculated, and as Bill McBride can see, there is no bunker to the left.  He's probably thinking of 11 too.  Dornoch has a way of discombobulating even the finest of minds.....(imagine smiley face here).

There is a chance this is the view from the other side.  If so, there is a mound left.

[Rich Goodale]

I don't agree about the ninth and twelfth being overly similar. While they are of similar length, they play differently for me. The best angle off the tee on twelve is to the right and you definitely want to be as far right as possible with a layup. On the ninth hole it is safer to play right on the tee shot but the proper spot for a layup is IMO hard against the left rough line. And the green complexes play quite differently. I think that hump at the front-left of the green on twelve makes the hole whereas nine has more of a typically Dornoch elevated green that is (IIRC) flatter than the twelfth green.

Brett:

Is this the 12th green?

It is the 12th green, Jason.  Brett miscalculated, and as Bill McBride can see, there is no bunker to the left.  He's probably thinking of 11 too.  Dornoch has a way of discombobulating even the finest of minds.....(imagine smiley face here).

There is a chance this is the view from the other side.  If so, there is a mound left.

That's the 4th, my favo(u)rite green in the world, with the picture taken from the 5th tee.  Note the signature "Mucci Spine" running through the middle.

[AndrewB]

That's the 4th, my favo(u)rite green in the world ...

Excellent choice.

I'll just say that the more I play Royal Dornoch -- and I've played it quite a lot now -- the more I like it.  Every time I play the course I find something new I hadn't previously noticed that makes me think it's even better than before.  And, I don't seem to ever tire of what's there.

It's without a doubt world class in my book.