News:

This discussion group is best enjoyed using Google Chrome, Firefox or Safari.


Kyle Henderson

  • Karma: +0/-0
A Pictorial: Royal Dornoch!!! New
« on: June 13, 2009, 02:12:18 PM »
I’ll refrain from posting a detailed hole-by-hole commentary of Royal Dornoch, as long-time club member Richard Goodale already provided such for GCA’s “In My Opinion” section (http://golfclubatlas.com/in-my-opinion/dornochgoodale) along with an outline of the course’s evolution (http://golfclubatlas.com/in-my-opinion/the-architectural-evolution-of-royal-dornoch-golf-club) and a gorgeous book that covers every square inch of the property along with the club’s venerable history (http://golfclubatlas.com/feature-interview/3324). Note: I plan to get paid for that plug, Rich. ;)

But, generally speaking, I will say that Dornoch is at the pinnacle of links golf. The views are spectacular and each hole is memorable and challenging. What surprised me most was the lack of minimalism in some of the teeing grounds (mostly built up and/or benched into hill sides ) and green complexes, many of which appeared to have been built up significantly (2nd, 5th, 6th, 10th, 14th) by hand and shovel. Fortunately, the attention to detail during construction was superb. These complexes are all visually pleasing and remarkably well-scaled to harmonize with the surroundings and the shots needed to reach them. Most importantly, in addition to properly rewarding skillful approach shots, they provide compelling recovery shots of appropriately graded difficulty (repeat play teaches one where not to miss) and they contain subtle ripples to challenge the best putters without bludgeoning novices.

I was lucky enough to play the course twice with a knowledgeable host, and I firmly believe it was the best of the 2 dozen (mostly excellent) courses that I played during my stay in the U.K.
Here are some of the views I captured for posterity. Enjoy!

FYI: Here are the links to other pictorials from my trip:

Royal Dornoch http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,40107.0/
Brora http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,40120.0/
Golspie http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,40126.0/
The Castle Course http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,40204.0/
Murcar http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,40281.0/
Crail: Craigshead & Balcombie http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,40325.0/
Lundin Links http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,40387.0/
Muirfield http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,40439.0/
Cruden Bay http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,40565.0/
Gleneagles - Kings Course http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,40675.0/
St. Andrews - Old Course http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,40696.0/
Gullane #1 & #2 http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,41085.0/
Panmure http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,41122.0/
Gleneagles - Queens Course http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,41152.0/
Kingsbarns http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,41184.0/
Royal Aberdeen - Balgownie Links http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,41498.0/
Carnoustie – Championship Course http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,41834.0/
North Berwick - West Links http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,42104.0/

*not featured: Nairn, Eden, New, Castle Stuart (tour)


Edit: The new GCA website seems to trim photos down rather autocratically. My apologies if you can't see everything I mention in my comments.

The regal clubhouse presiding over linkstopia.

The 1st tee. Thank god for the signage.  Otherwise, golfers might forget where they are.

This side view of the 1st green tells a happy tale. Shadows clearly delineate the lovely fairway ripples that set courses like this apart from the pretenders. Bunkers are scattered appropriately to challenge careless approach shots

2nd green approach. Bunkers guard the left and right front. A large mound (that fails to register in this photo) plays havoc with running approaches.

The 3rd green, is quite expansive and feeds from left to right. This day’s pin location was in a subtle trough.

The 4th green as seen from left of fairway. More frequently, the fairway will feed one’s tee shot down to the right, suggesting a cut shot played at the left-front greenside bunkers. Anything right of the green will have to be pitched over a steep bank out of wild grasses to find the putting surface.

The 5th is short and downhill, but drives are not likely to hold the small, elevated green unless (by some small miracle) they run through one of the tiny gaps between front side green bunkers.  This foreground bunker is one of several (not pictured) that capture over aggressive drives that drift too far right.

Looking back from long/left, it is clearly best to lay up short of the fairway bunkers or to miss just right of the green hole high.

This view depicts the 6th tee shot with 11th hole playing back to the club house on the right. Bunkers guard both sides of the 6th green, though those on the left are hard to see from here.

A closer view of 6th green shows how difficult a par will be without expert iron play. The trail behind the green leads up to the 7th.

From the 7th tee, a glance back reveals one of golf’s greatest panoramic views.

This view of the 7th approach, probably the least interesting hole on the course (but no slouch), displays the immaculate bunker construction and distant rainbows that Royal Dornoch furnishes with regularity.

The 8th hole brings golfers back down from the upper plateau, with drives passing over the edge and rolling down to the right side of the fairway below.  A bunker seen short and right of the putting surface is out of play for well-struck approaches, but appears to be pressed right up against the green from where tee shots usually come to rest. The rainbow persists in the distance.

The 9th tee marks the start of one’s returning journey. It occupies the most secluded portion of the property and provides the greatest feeling of intimacy with the sea. While the hole reminds me a bit of the 13th at Pacific Dunes, running between massive dunes on the right and the beach on the left, though it plays as a par 5 and does not climb appreciably to the green. Drives that challenge the left side of the fairway are rewarded with flatter, more predictable lies.

The 9th green as viewed from the right/rear. One last look up the coast before turning the corner.

This view is from the left of the 11th green, which is very deep, but wrapped around a bunker that sits in the middle of its right side. The 6th green sits behind.

The 12th hole is a par 5 that can be reached in two when winds cooperate. The bunker in the foreground guards the lay-up zone. Though the green is quite large, it is well protected by a front right bunker, front left mounding, and long left hollow.

The 13th is virtually surrounded by bunkers, though those at the rear are not visible from the tee. A simple hole in calm conditions but a tough par in strong winds from any direction.

Foxy, the famous 14th hole is a masterful test. The diagonal carry rewards boldness as drives that bail out to the right will generally leave the green out of range and obscured by hillocks that protrude into the fairway at intervals. The left side of the fairway is also much flatter.

The left side of the green features a pronounce fall-away while the right side of the green (which extends well right of this frame) is hidden by mounds (just visible at right)
14th green

The 15th is a short par 4 with a large, grassy pile between the tee and green. This pile is easily cleared with favorable winds, leaving a short pitch. Into a strong headwind, play is more complicated. This view is from left of the 16th fairway, with the sea side 16th tee on the right of the 15th green (viewed from the right). Shadows provide another good taste of the heavenly fairway undulations that permeate the course.

The16th hole climbs steadily to a large, flattish green guarded by large knolls on the right, smaller knobs on the left and subtle crowning.

Breathtaking beach views are enjoyed from the bench that sits just left of the 16th green.

Much like at the 8th hole, the drive on the 17th tumbles down and to the right over a steep hillside, though one may elect to play a slightly longer shot from above. The penultimate green surrounds feed in hard from short left to long right. Recent gorse removal reveals a large heap of earth on the right. Long drivers can easily overshoot the fairway left of the heap.

This view from behind the 18th green hints at the lumpy swale that guards the front edge. The hole plays mostly uphill and doglegs right between gorse hedges before emerging on the large plateau of the clubhouse and 16th green.

While well-removed from many of Scotland’s biggest golf attractions, Royal Dornoch is worth the trek. Along with nearby classics such as Golspie, Brora and Tain, the imminent introduction of Castle Stuart Golf Links should raise Dornoch’s profile considerably, though perhaps regrettably to those that want keep these hallowed links for themselves.

« Last Edit: July 14, 2011, 06:07:32 PM by Kyle Henderson »
"I always knew terrorists hated us for our freedom. Now they love us for our bondage." -- Stephen T. Colbert discusses the popularity of '50 Shades of Grey' at Gitmo

George Pazin

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: A Pictorial: Royal Dornoch!!!
« Reply #1 on: June 13, 2009, 02:30:37 PM »
Thanks for sharing, much appreciated.
Big drivers and hot balls are the product of golf course design that rewards the hit one far then hit one high strategy.  Shinny showed everyone how to take care of this whole technology dilemma. - Pat Brockwell, 6/24/04

Ryan Farrow

Re: A Pictorial: Royal Dornoch!!!
« Reply #2 on: June 13, 2009, 03:25:21 PM »
Great pictures.

 Also a note for Firefox users. If you right click on the picture and click view image, you can see the full size image, un-trimmed.

Rich Goodale

Re: A Pictorial: Royal Dornoch!!!
« Reply #3 on: June 13, 2009, 03:33:45 PM »
Many thanks, Kyle.  Great pictures and great comments and your check for the plug of my books is in the mail! ;)  My only regret is that you didn't have a picture of what is inexorably becoming my favorite par-3 in the world, the 10th.... :'(

Rich

PS--I think you are right about the 2nd, 6th and 10th being built up (they were created in 1921, 1946, 1946 respectively).  I think you are wrong about the 5th and particularly the 14th, which I'm pretty sure are largely natural, being built on the fingers of land (one of my oldest friends up there calls them "Cromartys") which you see from the left of the 4th and the right of the 12th and 14th.
PPS--what did you think of the gorse clearance?
PPPS--sorry we missed each other, but these things happen in life.  Next time.

rfg
« Last Edit: June 13, 2009, 03:38:23 PM by Rich Goodale »

Greg Krueger

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: A Pictorial: Royal Dornoch!!!
« Reply #4 on: June 13, 2009, 03:42:22 PM »
Kyle, thank you for the great pictures. Dornoch was also my favorite! Looks like they got rid of a bunch of gorse on 17.

Kyle Henderson

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: A Pictorial: Royal Dornoch!!!
« Reply #5 on: June 13, 2009, 04:11:37 PM »
Many thanks, Kyle.  Great pictures and great comments and your check for the plug of my books is in the mail! ;)  My only regret is that you didn't have a picture of what is inexorably becoming my favorite par-3 in the world, the 10th.... :'(

Rich

PS--I think you are right about the 2nd, 6th and 10th being built up (they were created in 1921, 1946, 1946 respectively).  I think you are wrong about the 5th and particularly the 14th, which I'm pretty sure are largely natural, being built on the fingers of land (one of my oldest friends up there calls them "Cromartys") which you see from the left of the 4th and the right of the 12th and 14th.
PPS--what did you think of the gorse clearance?
PPPS--sorry we missed each other, but these things happen in life.  Next time.

rfg

I can easily believe the 14th wasn't pushed up, although there still must have been a great deal of shovel work to create such a large and relatively plat pad for putting purposes, right? The 5th really looks like they cut left to fill and extend the green out right, though not as obviously as at the 6th or 10th. If only we had pre-and post construction photos...

I didn't really see the point of gorse clearance left of #6. The clearing right of the 17th landing zone probably makes the hole play much easier since one can now pretty much bomb away without fear of overshooting the fairway, so I might vote against that change. I did enjoy the improved sight lines, especially on your beloved 10th and off the 17th tee.

What are your thoughts on that front, my liege?

Here's my shot of the 10th. It really doesn't show much. The slope on the right side of the green is very penal. There is a DEEP hollow short of those trees. The fronting bunkers must make the hole very difficult with a tailwind, although the back half of the green is higher  than the front. This picture does show some of the gorse removal as you scroll right along with the efforts (rock piles) aimed at curbing seaside erosion up by the 11th tee.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3393/3623124100_ecb4d97347_b.jpg
« Last Edit: June 13, 2009, 04:14:05 PM by Kyle Henderson »
"I always knew terrorists hated us for our freedom. Now they love us for our bondage." -- Stephen T. Colbert discusses the popularity of '50 Shades of Grey' at Gitmo

Lynn_Shackelford

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: A Pictorial: Royal Dornoch!!!
« Reply #6 on: June 13, 2009, 06:12:52 PM »
I found Royal Dornoch a tough course in which to take good pictures.  Or maybe the desire to share the experience of playing there is hard to capture through the lens.  These are as good as any I have seen.  The match of the rolls on the  fairways to the dunes at the beach are fab.

It must be kept in mind that the elusive charm of the game suffers as soon as any successful method of standardization is allowed to creep in.  A golf course should never pretend to be, nor is intended to be, an infallible tribunal.
               Tom Simpson

Jason Hines

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: A Pictorial: Royal Dornoch!!!
« Reply #7 on: June 13, 2009, 11:27:29 PM »
Kyle, a simplistic question if you will, how was the speed of the fairways and greens for this time of year?

David_Tepper

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: A Pictorial: Royal Dornoch!!!
« Reply #8 on: June 13, 2009, 11:48:02 PM »
Jason -

I am recently back from 4 weeks in Dornoch and served as Kyle's "knowledgeable host" for his visit.

We did not have a lot of rain while I was there. Dornoch, in fact, is one of the drier places in Scotland.

I thought the speed of the fairways and greens surrounds was a bit faster than medium. The speed of the greens was a bit slower than medium. Some of the locals were muttering that the greens staff was being a little too conservative in the height they were mowing the greens.

I played my first round back here in San Francisco Bay Area today and the speed of the greens was MUCH faster than at Dornoch.

DT         

David Stamm

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: A Pictorial: Royal Dornoch!!!
« Reply #9 on: June 14, 2009, 12:17:09 AM »
Thank you, Hans! Once again the urge to get across the pond is being stirred again. Dornoch has always looked absolutely sublime to me. How long does it take to get there from Aberdeen?
"The object of golf architecture is to give an intelligent purpose to the striking of a golf ball."- Max Behr

Rob Rigg

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: A Pictorial: Royal Dornoch!!!
« Reply #10 on: June 14, 2009, 12:20:00 AM »
Kyle,

Those photos are excellent - well done - and thanks for sharing. RD looks incredible - it must be near impossible to decide on "one" area to focus on when traveling to Scotland with so so much on offer.

David_Tepper

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: A Pictorial: Royal Dornoch!!!
« Reply #11 on: June 14, 2009, 12:26:24 AM »
David Stamm -

Depending on traffic, Dornoch is a 2 1/2 to 3 hour drive from Aberdeen. There is not much 4-lane highway on that drive.

DT

Melvyn Morrow

Re: A Pictorial: Royal Dornoch!!!
« Reply #12 on: June 14, 2009, 06:57:39 AM »

Kyle

Like to add my congratulations to a great set of photos – looking forward to seeing more on the other courses SOON PLEASE. :P

Melvyn

Randy Van Sickle

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: A Pictorial: Royal Dornoch!!!
« Reply #13 on: June 14, 2009, 08:35:33 AM »
The 10th is a tough one to photograph.   Here is one I took which gives a good perspective on the bunkers.  (Scroll right to see the right side bunker)
Can't get back to RDGC soon enough

Dan Moore

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: A Pictorial: Royal Dornoch!!!
« Reply #14 on: June 14, 2009, 10:27:56 AM »
Thanks for the great photos.  This a must visit when I finally hit Scotland.

Too bad the new website limits the size of photos to 800 wide.  There is a slider at the bottom of the post but you can't really slide back and forth on every photo.  S hame really as screens get bigger and the photos are only use half the screen width. 

The fix, other than a reconfiguration of the site, is to resize your photos to 800 wide before uploading to your host site. 
"Is there any other game which produces in the human mind such enviable insanity."  Bernard Darwin

Ron Csigo

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: A Pictorial: Royal Dornoch!!!
« Reply #15 on: June 14, 2009, 10:30:09 AM »
Great pictures Kyle.  Wow!  After seeing these photos, I am now rethinking my potential trip to Manchester and leaning towards the Scottish Highlands to visit Royal Dornoch.  
Playing and Admiring the Great Golf Courses of the World.

David_Tepper

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: A Pictorial: Royal Dornoch!!!
« Reply #16 on: June 14, 2009, 11:11:34 AM »
Ron Csigo -

A big plus to spending time in the Dornoch area is that you have one great course there and 3 very good courses (Golspe, Brora & Tain) within a 15-mile radius. The second course at Dornoch is certainly worth playing as well.

With the course at Castle Stuart opening in less than a month and Nairn not far from it (both are no more than a 75-minute drive from Dornoch), I think the Highlands will become much more of a golf destination.

DT   

Melvyn Morrow

Re: A Pictorial: Royal Dornoch!!!
« Reply #17 on: June 14, 2009, 11:18:14 AM »

David

Do not forget Strathpeffer Spa, it’s about an hour from Tain. Course fun but town architecture is amazing. It’s a Victorian English Spa Town in the North of Scotland, if nothing else worth a visit. Also a great bunch at the golf club and regrettably a few carts for those who need them.

Melvyn

Willie_Dow

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: A Pictorial: Royal Dornoch!!!
« Reply #18 on: June 14, 2009, 11:23:04 AM »
Thanks Kyle for the memories, and DT for his constant updates.  Rich too for his introduction to RD.

Willie

Kyle Henderson

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: A Pictorial: Royal Dornoch!!!
« Reply #19 on: June 14, 2009, 11:27:45 AM »
David,

Be careful. If you keep publicizing the wonders of the Highlands, you won't be able to get any tee times this fall!

Thank you to all for the kinds comments. I'm working on my collection from Brora as we speak (though I believe some pics were posted from there a few weeks ago, around the time I visited).

I guess I'll have to post smaller images henceforth... I dearly miss the old GCA site format in this respect.

Happy Sunday, all!
"I always knew terrorists hated us for our freedom. Now they love us for our bondage." -- Stephen T. Colbert discusses the popularity of '50 Shades of Grey' at Gitmo

CJ Carder

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: A Pictorial: Royal Dornoch!!!
« Reply #20 on: June 14, 2009, 11:51:56 AM »
I agree with Lynn, Royal Dornoch is a difficult course to capture with a camera.  Here's my contribution to the grouping of 10th hole photos, from August 2007.


Rich Goodale

Re: A Pictorial: Royal Dornoch!!!
« Reply #21 on: June 14, 2009, 01:18:48 PM »
Many thanks, Kyle.  Great pictures and great comments and your check for the plug of my books is in the mail! ;)  My only regret is that you didn't have a picture of what is inexorably becoming my favorite par-3 in the world, the 10th.... :'(

Rich

PS--I think you are right about the 2nd, 6th and 10th being built up (they were created in 1921, 1946, 1946 respectively).  I think you are wrong about the 5th and particularly the 14th, which I'm pretty sure are largely natural, being built on the fingers of land (one of my oldest friends up there calls them "Cromartys") which you see from the left of the 4th and the right of the 12th and 14th.
PPS--what did you think of the gorse clearance?
PPPS--sorry we missed each other, but these things happen in life.  Next time.

rfg

I can easily believe the 14th wasn't pushed up, although there still must have been a great deal of shovel work to create such a large and relatively plat pad for putting purposes, right? The 5th really looks like they cut left to fill and extend the green out right, though not as obviously as at the 6th or 10th. If only we had pre-and post construction photos...

I didn't really see the point of gorse clearance left of #6. The clearing right of the 17th landing zone probably makes the hole play much easier since one can now pretty much bomb away without fear of overshooting the fairway, so I might vote against that change. I did enjoy the improved sight lines, especially on your beloved 10th and off the 17th tee.

What are your thoughts on that front, my liege?

Here's my shot of the 10th. It really doesn't show much. The slope on the right side of the green is very penal. There is a DEEP hollow short of those trees. The fronting bunkers must make the hole very difficult with a tailwind, although the back half of the green is higher  than the front. This picture does show some of the gorse removal as you scroll right along with the efforts (rock piles) aimed at curbing seaside erosion up by the 11th tee.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3393/3623124100_ecb4d97347_b.jpg


Thanks for the pic of 10, Kyle (and Randy and CJ) I've got some good ones somewhere and I'll post them if I can find them.

As for the 14th, I'm pretty sure that the whole green pad was/is "natural"  Just look at the 3 similar land forms which precede it as you move up the right side of the fairway.  They are very large and flat on top (probably you were lucky enough to not have had to walk up that way in search of your 2nd shot...).  Same for the 5th.  As I tried to posit in my essay on the architectural evolution of Dornoch, the whole landform of Dornoch consists of three very separate areas--the immature linksland nearest to the beach (end 1/2 of 8, 9, 10, most of 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, an older raised beach on which holes 3-5 (and the end parts of 11 and 17) llie and an even older raised beach on which are 1, 2, 7, 1st 1/2 of 8, 16th green, 1st 1/2 of 17 and 18).  The transistion area between the immature linksland and the later raised beach is full of these green sized fingers of land which stop abruptly, falling 5-10 feet down to the beach, and give up the neat chipping/pitching area such as to the right of 5 green, the right of 11, and the the left of 14.  At least that's my opinion!

As for the scorched earth policy regarding the gorse, I'll wait until I'm up there again in a couple of months before commenting..... :'(

Rich

Ash Towe

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: A Pictorial: Royal Dornoch!!!
« Reply #22 on: June 14, 2009, 03:09:38 PM »
Kyle,
Great pics and comments of a wonderful course.  Any thoughts about playing links golf and playing links style courses such as Ballyneal which I know you did last year.

John Mayhugh

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: A Pictorial: Royal Dornoch!!!
« Reply #23 on: June 14, 2009, 03:21:40 PM »
Kyle,
Thanks for the pics and commentary on one of my favorite courses. 

Did you have Rich's book before you played the course? 

Jeremy Rivando

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: A Pictorial: Royal Dornoch!!!
« Reply #24 on: June 14, 2009, 07:32:53 PM »
I'm currently reading the novel 'A Season in Dornoch' by the great Canadian golf writer Lorne Rubenstein.  A great read for anyone considering a trip to the Highlands, or anyone that loves the stories golf provides.  It covers a summer spent in Dornoch and the relationship the town has with the venerable links.

Wonderful pics, great landforms and the shadows are quite captivating.

The bunker positioning has to be considering some of the worlds best and most strategic.

Tags:
Tags:

An Error Has Occurred!

Call to undefined function theme_linktree()
Back