Championship Course

Hit your tee shot straight at the green and try to favour the left side of the fairway. A relatively flat green but with a sunken portion at the back left.

In the beginning…draw breath and enjoy the clean score sheet and all the possibilities that lie ahead. Choose now to take one step at a time and enjoy what that step holds.

Two deep bunkers guard front of green. A grassy mound between diverts a short shot into either bunker. Plateau green with steep fall off on both sides and rear. The green slopes back to front.

Small is beautiful – and testing. One word can build up or knock down. How can the little words we speak be more encouraging?

Aim on last fairway bunker and be cautious with club selection as the fairway runs towards the bunkers. There is a bunker on each side of the green which slopes from left to right so aim for the left side.

The course opens up before you. Sea, hills, sweeping fairways. Pause to admire the natural beauty around you and appreciate what the Creator and humans can do together.

The fairway slopes from left to right with a drop into semi-rough. Favour left to undulating plateau green guarded by 4 bunkers. Take plenty of club.

The fairway slopes seaward and takes your ball with it. What are the things that pull you from the paths you should be taking? 

Favour left side. Downwind a driver is not always necessary. The long narrow green is guarded by bunkers to the front and left, and slopes to the right.

Looking down from on high, think about a highlight in your life. As you walk to your tee shot, tell your partner what for you, is one of the moments you have felt most ‘blessed’. 

A tricky par 3 as there are deep bunkers and gorse to the left and steep slopes to the right and rear. Green slopes gently left to right.

Be warned! A bunker with a magnetic draw awaits you. Choose your club carefully and think of the choices you have made in life. You have to live with the consequences. 

A good drive is played in the direction of the right-hand edge of the green. Avoid the bunkers on the left and steep banks of whins on the right. An approach from the right half of the fairway gives the best angle into the green which is guarded by two bunkers and a small rise at the front.

A hole with a feeling of being ‘on the edge’! From the back tee, look back. From the forward tees, look out. Take a moment to savour the sheer beauty of creation – then think of your part in it. What beauty do you add to this world? 

A perfect drive is down the left centre to the top of the hill. Be mindful of the out of bounds to the left. Don’t stray too far right from the tee as there are some hidden whin bushes over the hill. The ideal approach from the top of the hill is to come in from the left avoiding the bunker that is slightly to the right 20 yards short from the front edge of the green. The green gathers centre to rear. The gathering green can be tricky to read.

Focus on Dunrobin Castle in the distance – but don’t forget the drop! A reminder for people of faith that they have not to be so heavenly minded that they are of no earthly use! Keep your eyes open to who and what’s around you. 

Favour the left side of the fairway to maximize length of drive. A scenic Par 5 alongside the Dornoch Firth with bent grass and sandy beach to the left and long grass and whins to the right. An elevated green is protected by 4 bunkers.

Stand for a moment and listen. What can you hear? Soak up the sound and let it re-energise you as you approach half way. 

A teasing Par 3. The plateau green is surrounded by five deep bunkers and the sea is not out of reach to the left whilst gorse lies adjacent to the right. A two-tier putting surface slopes slightly right to left. Downwind green is difficult to hold.

Stand for a moment and listen. What can you hear? Soak up the sound and let it re-energise you as you approach half way. Fuaran is Gaelic for a well or a spring. Did you notice it? You passed a little river that otters tumble down in the early morning. Now you are at the halfway house – take (or buy) a drink and think of the simple joy of being refreshed. 

Aim at white house right of the green. Ridge in centre of fairway can direct balls to the left. One of the best Par 4s. Bushes or long grass line this fairway and the second shot must be well struck to stay on the raised green protected by steep slopes and deep bunkers. Take enough club!

A long hole with a chance of a seat at the end! How important is rest and relaxtion? Be at peace – no matter the score!  

A long dog-leg Par 5. Favour the right with a slight draw. A narrow approach to a generous green. Land too far left of the green and you will run off leaving a difficult pitch back up. Bunker to the right gathers balls falling short.

A path crossed the fairway. Reminisce and share with your partner, how the path of your life crossed with a significant other in your life. Think of how wonderful is the gift of love. 

A fantastic Par 3 to a small green protected by 7 bunkers and steep slopes to the left and right. Green will gather balls landing front to middle.

Run up to the top of the dune behind the tee and look out over the sea and beach. Psalm 46 talks of roaring seas and shaking mountains but whether the sea is wild or calm, think of the beauty and fragility of the natural world. How can we enjoy and care for it? 

Favour the left to open a line to the green. The only hole without a bunker, it has a plateau green that sits across the line of play. The steep rise at the front of the green varies from 5ft on the left to 10ft on the right. Consider a lay-up and then putt.

Rough, no bunkers but a double dog-leg. For many this is Royal Dornoch’s signature hole. Let the challenge excite you – and rise to it. Life is too short not to have times when you push yourself to the limits.  

Long drives can carry centre mound. Approach from the left makes it easier to hold the green. Safe line just right of the mound. Another plateau green with slopes at the front and rear. Putting surface slopes right to left.

One of the easiest holes on the course – if you play it well!! Select your club and know as you do that this hole, like life, is what you make of it. 

A long Par 4 up the hill to a huge green. Two fairway bunkers on the right catch any wayward drive while a large deep quarry on the left is in driving distance. Green falls away to the rear and a pulled approach will end up downhill near the road. Long green falls away.

Onwards and upwards! From sea level at the tee take yourself over to the bench at the left of the green and enjoy the panorama. It puts your golf into perspective and brings to mind Psalm 8 which talks of all God has made and asks the question – what is mankind, that you are mindful of them? 

A tee shot which can be played short, close to the bunkers on the left leaving a longer second shot or driven to the lower fairway leaving a shorter, blind shot to the green. A long drive to the right can run out of fairway. Favour the left to gathering green. Take plenty of club.

From the heights to the depths! But you emerge onto a green that’s big and welcoming. As you head for the final hole, you meet those only just beginning their round. Wish them well as you continue to the 18th tee.  

A long Par 4 into the wind which demands a good drive. Aim 10 yards left of fairway bunkers. A long shot through a narrow bunker guarded entrance to a large green. A shallow gulley guards the front. Take plenty of club.

As you prepare to tee off, think of the number of people in the last 400 years who have stood where you are. Regardless of your round, be grateful for the energy to play and for the company and the scenery. Take a deep breath. Swing slow and true and give thanks for the exercise of body, mind and spirit.