Championship links · Sutherland

Royal Dornoch Golf Club, Championship Course

Dornoch, Sutherland, Scotland · Area: The Highlands

About the course

Royal Dornoch's Championship Course is a par-70 links on the north shore of the Dornoch Firth in the Scottish Highlands, 6,649 yds from the Green tees.

The 7th and 8th cross the upper level of the links, and the 9th runs beside the beach. Several greens sit on plateaus that fall away steeply at the sides and back, so a missed approach runs off the green. The wind changes the holes: the club warns that the 10th green is hard to hold downwind, and calls the 18th a long par 4 into the wind. Foxy, the 14th, has no bunkers, only a raised green across the line of play.

Golf was recorded here in 1616. The club dates from 1877, Old Tom Morris extended the course to 18 holes in 1886, and the royal title came in 1906. Donald Ross, born in Dornoch, was the club's first professional before he left for America. Tom Watson called it “the most fun I've ever had on a golf course.” The club turns 150 in 2027 and hosts the Curtis Cup in 2028.

Visitors can play seven days a week, subject to availability. It's a walking course the club says can challenge less experienced golfers, so it suits a group happy to walk 18 holes of links in the wind.

Can we play it?

Yes. Visitors are welcome seven days a week, subject to availability, and the club sets aside more than 13,000 visitor rounds a year. Summer times sell out far ahead: 2027 requests are being taken now and handled in the order received. Add it to your trip and Scotland Golf Tours requests the tee time for you.

• Access

  Visitors 7 days a week, subject to availability. Championship Course closed 11–29 Jan 2027; some Mondays closed until 10am.

• The catch

  Demand. The club says summer 2026 was almost fully booked, and 2027 requests are handled first come, first served.

• Our tip

  Request your dates and caddie numbers together, and add the Struie or a Brora/Golspie round as a fallback day.

Course type

Links

Visitor days

7 days, subject to availability

Handicap limit

Not published by the club

Green fee

$285–$520£215–£390 · 2027 · checked 15 Oct 2026

Rates

Single round: £390 Apr–Oct 2027; £215 Nov 2027–Mar 2028. 2-round £625, Struie combination £455, twilight £235 (Apr–Oct 2027).

How to book

With your trip: Scotland Golf Tours requests it for youThe club also takes bookings direct

Caddies

£75 single bag plus gratuity (Apr 2026–Mar 2027 rate); forecaddie £110 (2 golfers), £130 (3), £150 (4); paid direct to the caddie. Full fee charged if allocated but not needed; changes allowed up to 24 hours before.

Buggies and trolleys

Walking course: buggies only with a medical certificate and driving licence (£55 per round Apr 2027–Mar 2028). Pull trolleys free; power trolley £30.

Check-in

Pro Shop, at least 30 minutes before (club's 2023 visitor information sheet)

Nearest airport

Inverness Airport (INV) · 1 h 08 min

How to get a tee time

Put Royal Dornoch Golf Club, Championship Course in your trip and the specialists handle the booking.

Build a trip around Royal Dornoch Golf Club, Championship Course

Other courses on our list nearby. Drive times are best case, without traffic. Add the ones you like and we’ll plan the route.

• Royal Dornoch Golf Club, Championship Course · you’re herein your trip
• +Golspie Golf Club16 min
• +Brora Golf Club28 min
• +Cabot Highlands, Castle Stuart1 h 08 min

2027 dates to know

• Championship Course closed 11–29 Jan 2027
• Scottish Ladies Amateur, 20–24 May 2027
• Captain's Invitational: member-only play on both courses all day 29 May 2027
• 150th anniversary celebrations 28 Jun–5 Jul 2027; 1 Jul member-only golf, no visitor play
• Carnegie Shield (open, balloted) 8–15 Aug 2027
• Highland Golf Links Pro-Am 4–6 Oct 2027; Championship Course closed for maintenance 6 pm–8 Oct 2027
• Championship Course closed until 10am on 26 Apr, 17 May, 14 Jun, 12 Jul and 16 Aug 2027

FAQ

Can visitors play Royal Dornoch?

Yes, seven days a week subject to availability. 2027 requests are being taken now, in the order received.

Can you book Royal Dornoch Golf Club, Championship Course for us?

Yes. Build your trip with Royal Dornoch Golf Club, Championship Course in it and Scotland Golf Tours requests the tee time and sends a final quotation. Nothing is booked until you confirm.

Can we book it ourselves?

Yes, directly with the club. If Royal Dornoch Golf Club, Championship Course is one of several courses on your trip, it’s simpler to plan the whole trip in one go.

What handicap do we need?

The club's own visitor pages don't publish a limit. It asks golfers to bear in mind the Championship Course can be a challenge for less experienced players, and pace of play is monitored.

Is there a dress code?

Smart casual in the clubhouse. No golf caps or metal spikes inside.

How much is a caddie?

£75 plus gratuity for a single-bag caddie (2026/27 rate), paid direct. Request one with your tee time; they are allocated the day before.

Any closures in 2027?

The Championship Course is closed 11–29 Jan 2027 and for maintenance 6 pm–8 Oct 2027. 1 Jul 2027 is members only (no visitor play) during the club's 150th anniversary celebrations (28 Jun–5 Jul).

1. 1. Royal Dornoch: Visitor Information15 Oct 2026
2. 2. Green fees April 2027–March 2028 (PDF)15 Oct 2026
3. 3. Caddie fees April 2026–March 2027 (PDF)15 Oct 2026
4. 4. 2027 fixture list (PDF)15 Oct 2026
5. 5. Tee sheet open for 2027 bookings (club news, 7 May 2026)15 Oct 2026
6. 6. Championship visitor information 2023 (PDF)15 Oct 2026
7. 7. Brora Golf Club: Hotels (lists Dornoch hotels)15 Oct 2026

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