Golfing In Scotland: Highland Courses And Their Charms

what is cottish highlands golf

Golf Highland is a collective of over 30 golf clubs and courses spread across the Scottish Highlands, including Caithness, Inverness, Lochaber, Nairn, Ross-shire, Skye, Speyside, and Sutherland. The courses are set in spectacular Highland landscapes, from the shadow of Ben Nevis to the Cairngorms National Park, offering unique challenges and breathtaking scenery. Golf Highland provides a convenient online hub for enthusiasts to explore well-known and obscure golfing venues, including the Royal Dornoch Golf Club, ranked as one of the world's top 10 golf courses. The Scottish Highlands is a renowned golf destination, with Highland Golf Links offering partnerships with prestigious golf clubs and luxury accommodations.

Characteristics Values
Number of courses 30
Location Caithness, Inverness, Lochaber, Nairn, Ross-Shire, Skye, Speyside, Sutherland
Course Designers James Braid, MHF Design, George Sargent
Course Features Undulating Highland landscape, sand-traps of the Firth-side links, views of Loch Migdale
Course Difficulty Varied, from challenging to suitable for all skill levels
Notable Courses Fort William Golf Club, Royal Dornoch Struie course, The Nairn Golf Club, Cabot Highlands
Awards 'Most Picturesque Golf Course in the UK', 'Scottish Highlands Golf Course of the Year 2018'
Accommodations Kingsmills Hotel, Links House at Royal Dornoch, Culloden House

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Campbell's Scottish Highlands Golf Course

Golf Highland is a collective of over 30 golf clubs and courses spread across the stunning landscape of the Scottish Highlands. The aim of Golf Highland is to provide a convenient online hub for golf enthusiasts keen to explore the Highlands' great golfing venues, from the well-known to the more obscure. The courses offer unique and varied challenges, from undulating Highland landscapes to the sand-traps of the Firth-side links. One such course is Campbell's Scottish Highlands, an eighteen-hole, public golf course nestled in Southern New Hampshire.

Campbell's Scottish Highlands was designed by MHF Design and George Sargent and opened in 1994 as a family business. The course is sculpted from 135 acres of picturesque farmland, featuring gently rolling hills and meadows that create an ideal setting for a links-style layout. It offers a full driving range practice facility and is known for its excellent customer service. The course provides a fun and enjoyable experience for golfers of all skill levels, as reflected in a review that mentions the ability to "shoot a pretty low golf score."

The course has a bar and grill with a full liquor license, an outdoor tent-covered patio, and a dress code that requires proper attire. It is located at 79 Brady Ave, Salem, New Hampshire, and is open daily from 6:00 am to 7:00 pm. Discounted tee times are available through the GolfNow app, where you can also earn reward points applicable to future tee times at Campbell's Scottish Highlands or any of the 9,000+ golf courses worldwide.

The Highlands of Scotland offer a diverse range of golfing experiences, with courses set alongside rivers, in national parks, or boasting spectacular scenery of rolling hills, heather, and pine trees. "The Boat," designed by James Braid, is one such example located in the Cairngorms National Park. Golf Highland's member clubs can be found across various regions, including Caithness, Inverness, Lochaber, Nairn, Ross-Shire, Skye, Speyside, and Sutherland.

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Golf Highland's member clubs

The Golf Highland website provides details of its member courses across the Highlands of Scotland. The collection includes over 30 Highland golf courses, featuring stunning scenery, whisky, and warm hospitality. The courses cater to golfers of all skill levels, from beginners to pros, offering both nine and 18-hole rounds.

Golf Highland's courses are historically significant and designed by golfing legends. For instance, Strathpeffer Spa and Tain were designed by Old Tom Morris, also known as "The Grand Old Man of Golf," in the 1880s. Meanwhile, Nairn Dunbar and Inverness were created by James Braid, a five-time winner of The Open Championship.

One notable course is Abernethy Golf Club in Nethy Bridge, established in 1893, located between Aviemore and Grantown-on-Spey. Another course, "The Boat," is set alongside the River Spey in the Cairngorms National Park, just a 10-minute drive from Aviemore.

Golf Highland also includes Aigas, nestled between the River Beauly and the steep pine-clad slopes of the Aigas community forest. Bonar in Sutherland, described by Peter Alliss as "a mini Gleneagles," offers rolling hills, purple heather, Scots pine, and views of Loch Migdale. These courses provide both challenging terrain and magnificent views.

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The history of golf in the Highlands

Golf is widely considered to be a Scottish invention, with the first record of the sport in Scotland dating back to the late Middle Ages in the 15th century. The earliest known reference to golf in Scotland is an edict issued by King James II in 1457, banning the game as it was deemed a distraction from learning archery for military purposes. Despite the ban, the game remained popular, and in 1502, King James IV of Scotland became the world's first golfing monarch, making the first documented purchase of golf clubs and balls.

Golf was played enthusiastically in Scotland, and it spread throughout 16th-century Europe due to royal endorsement. Mary, Queen of Scots, was a golfer, and she played at Musselburgh Old Links in 1567, making it the oldest existing golf course in the world. The sport also spread beyond Europe by Scottish soldiers, expatriates, and immigrants during the 18th and early 19th centuries. The first golf course in Africa was built on Bunce Island in Sierra Leone by British slave traders in the early 1770s. The game reached India with the Bangalore Golf Club in 1820, and the first golf club in continental Europe was established in Pau, France, in 1856.

The development of the railways during the Victorian era and the invention of the Gutty, a cheaper and more durable golf ball, contributed to the growing popularity of golf in the 19th century. Golf clubs began to spring up across the British countryside, and by the end of the 19th century, there were over 2,000 clubs and more than 1,000 courses in Britain. The expansion of golf was not limited to Britain, as golf clubs were established worldwide during this period, including in Ireland, Australia, Canada, South Africa, the United States, and Hong Kong.

Today, Scotland is known as the "Home of Golf," and it boasts some of the most famous golf courses globally, such as St Andrews, Carnoustie, Gleneagles, and Royal Troon. With over 550 golf courses across the country, golf is deeply ingrained in Scottish culture and continues to attract tourists from around the world, contributing to the nation's tourism industry.

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Golf course design

The Scottish Highlands is known for its impressive golfing portfolio, stunning scenery, and tranquil atmosphere. The region's golf courses are iconic, with some even claiming to be the "Most Picturesque Golf Course in the UK". The design of these courses is a significant aspect of their appeal, offering unique challenges and varied landscapes.

The Fort William Golf Club, for example, sits in the shadow of Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain, providing a breathtaking backdrop for golfers. The course is set amidst beautiful Highland countryside, offering a unique and challenging layout. Other courses in the region also take advantage of the natural landscape, incorporating undulating terrain and sand traps alongside the Firth-side links.

The Sconser Golf Club, established in 1964, is another example of thoughtful course design in the Scottish Highlands. The course was constructed on leased land, showcasing the creativity of its designers in utilising the available space. The newly opened King's Course in Inverness, designed by up-and-coming Scottish golf architect Stuart Rennie, is also gaining recognition for its superb design.

In addition to the natural beauty and challenging layouts, the Scottish Highlands golf courses offer a sense of history and tradition. Some courses, like the Fort William Golf Club, date back to the late 18th century, providing a glimpse into the origins of the sport. The Dornoch links course is widely considered a classic and iconic Scottish links experience, with high rankings in major publications.

The Moray Golf Club, known for its excellent value and enjoyment, offers 36 holes of Highland links, while Gil Hanse's contemporary links course has already made a significant impact on the Scottish golf scene. The region's golf clubs also provide off-course attractions, such as the opportunity to sample Highland whisky and experience the warm hospitality that the Scottish Highlands are renowned for.

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Golf tourism in the Scottish Highlands

The Scottish Highlands is a highly sought-after destination for golfers worldwide. With over 550 golf courses across Scotland, it has more courses per head of population than anywhere else in the world. The Scottish Highlands is the birthplace of golf and offers a wide range of golfing experiences, from links and parkland to 9-hole courses, catering to golfers of all skill levels.

The region boasts some of the world's most prestigious golf tournaments and is renowned for its stunning scenery, warm hospitality, and unique cultural attractions. Golfers can enjoy the rugged beauty of the Highlands, with its blend of lochs, mountains, and unspoiled nature, while also experiencing the revered links courses that have made the region famous.

The Highlands is known for its spectacular golf courses, including the Royal Dornoch Golf Club, which is ranked as one of the top 10 golf courses globally. Other notable courses in the region include the Nairn Golf Club, Castle Stuart, and Brora Golf Club. These venues offer a mix of old and new, with modern designs sitting alongside historic neighbours. The region is also home to lesser-known gems such as Tain, Golspie, Fortrose & Rosemarkie, and Gairloch, which provide a more intimate and local golfing experience.

Golf Highland, a collective of over 30 golf clubs and courses across the Highlands, aims to raise awareness of the sport and promote the diverse courses and attractions in the region. Golfers can explore the Highland whisky distilleries, stunning scenery, and experience the warm hospitality of the local communities. The region's capital, Inverness, is a popular base for golfers, offering easy access to top courses and a vibrant urban atmosphere with bars, restaurants, and nightlife.

For those seeking a quieter pace and a more relaxed golfing experience, the Highlands is a perfect choice. With its remote location and proximity to Glasgow and Edinburgh, it offers a special golf package that combines breathtaking landscapes, challenging courses, and a glimpse into the true Scotland.

Frequently asked questions

Golf Highland is a collective of over 30 golf clubs and courses across the Scottish Highlands. The clubs are located in Caithness, Inverness, Lochaber, Nairn, Ross-Shire, Skye, Speyside, and Sutherland.

Campbell's Scottish Highlands in Salem, NH, is a highly-regarded golf course. It was designed by MHF Design and George Sargent and features a 6,249-yard course with an average par 3 of 180. Other notable courses include Strathpeffer Spa and Tain, designed by Old Tom Morris, and courses in Nairn Dunbar and Inverness designed by James Braid.

The modern game of golf was born in 15th-century Scotland and remains an integral part of Highland culture. Golf Highland aims to raise awareness of the sport and the diverse range of courses available in the region, which offer unique challenges due to their undulating terrain and stunning scenery.

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