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The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Historic Scottish golf club to open new course and clubhouse
Royal Dornoch Golf Club in Sutherland is consistently ranked among the world's finest golf courses, and is now forecasting a 30 per cent rise in advance bookings for the 2026 season compared to the same period last year. To meet this demand, the club has unveiled a master plan designed to reimagine its courses, enhance player facilities and amplify the region's golf tourism appeal. It said: 'At the heart of the vision is a revamped Struie Course, a brand-new 18-hole championship layout on prime Scottish linksland, and two additional short courses – one of which will be ideal for the club's growing junior programme. A state-of-the-art practice facility, a Himalayas-style putting green and the potential for lodges are also in the pipeline. The expansion is expected to create full-time and seasonal jobs once the new courses and accommodation are fully operational. Its new energy-efficient clubhouse funded through a £5 million package from Bank of Scotland's Clean Growth Finance Initiative is on track to open this December. Built to blend sustainability with tradition, the space will include solar panels, battery storage, underfloor heating and a dedicated archive room celebrating the club's history, which dates to 1616. Neil Hampton, general manager at Royal Dornoch, said: 'There's something really special about Royal Dornoch, you can feel the history under your feet. But that doesn't mean standing still. This isn't just about building new courses, it's about shaping what the next 50 years of golf in the Highlands can look like. 'With international visitors inspired by events like the Scottish Open, we're proud to offer a world-class links experience that reflects the scale and passion of the golf season. Supported by the Bank of Scotland and with our new clubhouse nearing completion, we're now perfectly positioned to meet that global interest with facilities to match. It's a special moment for the club, our members and the wider community.' Michael Thomson, relationship director at Bank of Scotland, said: 'Royal Dornoch is a jewel in Scotland's sporting crown - rich in heritage, but never afraid to innovate. What Neil and the team are building isn't just ambitious, it's thoughtful and forward-looking. 'We've proudly supported the club for over 40 years, and I can't wait to see what this next chapter has to offer, from sustainability to new jobs and visitor experiences.' Cottage offering gated access to Royal Troon listed for sale This Troon cottage just on the market for offers over £375,000 is definitely one for the golf fans. Set on a private plot at the end of Crosbie Road and immediately adjacent to Royal Troon, 'The Cottage' has an enviable position within one of the town's most prestigious addresses. There is gated access directly out to the 17th and 18th holes of the Portland Course and there are "views out across this beautiful links course from the lounge windows". The agent said: "This unique location is also within walking distance of the popular seafront, countryside and woodland walks, the amenities of the town centre, and within close proximity of the A77/M77 road network." Money HQ 💷 How you can beat unwittingly falling into 60 per cent tax trap This article appears as part of the Money HQ with Ben Stark newsletter.
Scottish Sun
08-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
World famous Scots golf club buys 50 acres of land for potential new course on back of £13.9million revamp
It's the first time a British club has teamed up with the designers ROYAL TRANSFORMATION World famous Scots golf club buys 50 acres of land for potential new course on back of £13.9million revamp IT's one of the most storied golf clubs in the world but for decades it was somewhat held back the size of it clubhouse. Now as completion of a new £13.9 pavilion nears, plans have been unveiled for not one but potentially TWO new courses on the property. Advertisement 6 Royal Dornoch Golf club is one of Scotland's top venues Credit: Getty - Contributor 6 A new clubhouse is scheduled to be completed this summer Credit: KEPPIE DEISGN 6 The club purchased 50 acres of adjacent farmland last year with plans to expand 6 Another angle of the clubhouse Credit: KEPPIE DESIGN Royal Dornoch is a pilgrimage destination for golfers across the globe and is one of five Scottish courses that feature in the UK top 10. And last year it was voted the second best course in the world. However, its somewhat remote location in the Highlands of Scotland and its small clubhouse mean it has never hosted a major professional tournament. But a new building is scheduled to be finished by the end of June and late last year the club purchased 50 acres of adjacent farmland with a view to constructing new holes on the property. Advertisement Further details of those plans have now surfaced with Royal Dornoch teaming up with an international design firm to work on the land. The US-based King Collins Dormer Golf Course Design (KCD) has come up with a masterplan that includes the potential creation of a par-3 course and improvements to the existing holes at the famous links venue. Royal Dornoch's Championship course is the one that takes most of the acclaim but it has another 18-hole course, the Struie, as part of its offering. The new land is adjacent to the Struie course and KDC has been invited to rework some of the holes there. Advertisement On top of that, they are looking to potentially add new ones from within the new parcel of land - either for the Struie course or the new short course. It will put the Highlands club in the position to offer three courses for visitors in the future. Royal Dornoch Golf Club voted second best golf course in the WORLD, and golf pro Andrew Skinner tells why Royal Dornoch general manager Neil Hampton said: 'These are exciting times for everyone connected with Royal Dornoch and with the clubhouse on target to welcome golfers from around the world next season, our thoughts are already turning to the next project. 'Usually, the opening of a new clubhouse which has been mooted for 30 years or more would mark the end of the journey for any golf club but for Royal Dornoch it is about what the next step is going to be. Advertisement 'The investment being made will pave the way for even greater economic and employment benefits for the wider community and, hopefully, there will be more good news to come as and when the Coul Links project gets the green light from the Scottish Government. 'Golf has long been the key economic driver in this part of the country and additional, high quality, eco-friendly championship courses created by highly regarded designers can only enhance our reputation as a golfing destination and encourage visitors to extend their stay in the Highlands. 'It is early days in the process, but the nine panel members were unanimous in selecting KCD as the preferred architects we will be working with in the years ahead. 'KCD have also been invited to create new holes for the Struie Course which will complement those being preserved on the existing course. Advertisement 'The parcel of land we have secured provides scope for us to offer three fine courses at Royal Dornoch in the future.' Hampton revealed that they had multiple offers Hampton added: 'We were very impressed with all the golf course architects who pitched to us, and we are lucky that so many highly respected players in the industry were eager to be involved with Royal Dornoch. 'But the KCD team's imaginative concept and passion for Royal Dornoch and using the land at our disposal in a different way, captured our imagination.' Advertisement Next in the pipeline is a driving range and a new putting green. And the club has insisted the Struie will remain open as an 18-hole course regardless of whatever changes are being made as the transformation takes place. Hampton said: 'They will be very much hands-on from start to finish, taking the project from the drawing board to the construction phase and completion. 'We are at the early stages of the process and detailed plans and costings will be put before the membership further down the line for their approval. Advertisement 'Whatever the final lay-out is for the new course, the Struie must be available as an 18-hole course for members and visitors throughout the construction phase. 'A driving range has long been on the members' wish list but working towards a new clubhouse always assumed priority status. 'With everything moving along smoothly on that front the time is right to broaden our horizons. 'Now we can look confidently towards leaving an even more impressive legacy that will be embraced by future generations golfing at Royal Dornoch.' Advertisement 6 The layout of the Struie course at the moment Credit: Alamy 6 Royal Dornoch bosses with members of the King Collins Dormer design team Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
