Despite the fact that the golfers of Dornoch only formed a Club in 1877 they were so far seeing that they constructed a second golf course known as the Ladies Course in the early part of the 20th century. This course was complete with its own Clubhouse and golf on it was provided free to all children in the Parish of Dornoch. Only three holes of that course remain in existence in the present Struie course, namely the 1st, which is Struie 16, the 17th, which is Struie 14 and the 18th, which is Struie 15. From the Course there are excellent views across the Dornoch Firth to Tain and up the Firth to Struie hill. The town of Dornoch and its cathedral are viewed from an entirely different perspective.

In 1939 after the outbreak of the Second World War, the Air Ministry decided that, to minimise the likelihood of losing a great number of aircraft in one bombing raid on a major aircraft station, they would build satellite airfields, Included in the area taken over by the Air Ministry were part of the 14th, the whole of the 15th and part of the 16th holes of the original Championship Course together with most of the Ladies Course.

After the war Royal Dornoch claimed and received compensation from the Air Ministry of approximately £7,000 which they used to extend the Championship Course. Unfortunately after that, despite very prudent housekeeping, the compensation was insufficient to re-build the Ladies Course. However a nine hole course was made available utilising the surplus 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18th holes of the Championship Course and the only holes remaining of the Ladies Course namely 17, 18, and 1st. It was always the intention of the Members and successive Councils of Management to re-instate an eighteen hole course on the land previously occupied by the Ladies Course. From the 1960's the extension of the nine holes began slowly, with many amateur golf architects having a hand in designing holes. The final design was produced by Donald Steel and Partners, well known professional golf architects, who have built championship courses all over the world. It was not possible to give them a clean sheet on which to design, but they have made an excellent job of utilising existing features and holes without recourse to massive earth moving unlike what often appears to be the modern trend.

Royal Dornoch’s second links the Struie has had for a time the image of the “ugly duckling” to the famous Championship Course, and it was recognised that the Struie Course was somewhat shorter than contemporary courses. Happily that has now changed and the course has now developed into a “swan”. The purchase some years ago of adjacent fields along the shores of the Dornoch Firth enabled the Club following agreement by the members at the AGM in 1999 to construct 5 new holes and extend some existing holes with new tees/greens. Work commenced in 2000 on a design by Robin Hiseman a young architect based near Aberdeen, originally trained by Hawtry - a famous name amongst golf course architects. The Club has been patient to allow the new holes to mature before on 18 May 2003.

Now Par 72, 6276yds the new layout will require the use of all clubs in the bag. Equally important golfers will be able to enjoy the views of the Dornoch Firth - as some of the new holes lie alongside the shoreline - the Struie Hill and the further mountains to the west. A fine panorama of Dornoch with its cathedral is in front of the golfer when playing back towards the clubhouse. It is hoped that this complement to the Championship Course will encourage a wide range of golfers to visit and stay longer in Sutherland. Playing conditions will vary according to the mood of the prevailing West winds. And few golfers will find it easy to play to their handicap on it. However it is easy to walk and both ends of the age spectrum can enjoy playing it without becoming fatigued. The “Seniors” of Royal Dornoch play on it a well attended weekly competition every Wednesday, to which visitors are cordially invited.

It is the custom in Scotland, particularly on the older links courses, to name the holes and it is appropriate to draw attention to two of these names. The 2nd hole is called the "Caddies Well" and when you step from the tee you will see a small structure about 30 yds to the left which houses the well from which the caddies drew water to drink with their "mid-day piece" (currently called a sandwich but often consisting of only a large "hunk" of bread without any butter, margarine or filling). The other hole - the 7th - is called the Glebe. Strictly speaking the original hole called Glebe was the 17th of the Ladies Course, which is now the 15th of Struie (currently known as the Dyke). The title Glebe was the name given to fields over the wall from the hole. These fields were in the past provided by the Parish for the use of the local Parish Minister. They are no longer the property of the Church but the name remains. The tradition has continued with the new holes having been named appropriately

Revised Struie Card