Durness

Durness Golf Club is the most northerly golfing venue on the mainland of the United Kingdom, situated in the northwest corner of the Scottish Highlands.

It is safe to say that it is certainly one of the most picturesque 9-hole courses, not only in the UK, but anywhere in the world, thanks to the 360-degree views.

The venue only opened in the late 1980s, and each of the nine holes has two sets of tees, so you can play it as an 18-hole round.

Visit Durness’ website here.

Go back to the NCG Top 100s Homepage.

Durness is one of the youngest golf clubs in Scotland, having only been around since the end of the 1980s.

The history of the club dates back to 1988, with the trio of Francis Keith, Ian Morrison and Lachlan Ross designing the 9-hole layout.

Durness can be described as an assault on the senses. With 360-degree views, including those out over the Atlantic Ocean to the north, you soon realise that it has been worth the lengthy drive – no matter which part of the UK you have come from! It might only be a 9-holer, but there are two sets of tees on each hole, so you can play it as 18. As a full 18, it comes in at just shy of 5,500 yards, all against that incredible backdrop.

The course beings with a gentle, dog-leg left par 4. At no longer than 300 yards from the tips, this is a good scoring opportunity on both nines. A bunker on either side of the fairway is the danger off the tee, while the green is slightly raised above the level of the turf around it. Fairway bunkers also come into play down the right side of the 2nd, but there is plenty of space out to the left for those wayward drives. The 3rd is one of the toughest holes on the course, playing at 408 and 391 yards, respectively, depending on the front or back nine. It is a narrow fairway, though the lack of trees make it feel much wider than it actually is. The green is long and even tighter, with three bunkers for company.

The 4th plays as two completely different holes whether you are on the front or back nine, from Stroke Index 17 to Stroke Index 2. That is due to the difference in angle from the respective tee boxes. It is another narrow hole, and one that needs to be thought about, no matter which side of the course you’re playing. There is a 30-yard difference between the two tee boxes on the par 4 5th. There is no sand in play on this par 4, but the fairway sits on an angle from the tee, making it feel smaller than it actually is.

One of the signature holes at Durness is the 6th, which winds its way around Loch Lanlish. The loch is on the right throughout this par 5, which is only 455 yards at its longest. However, the water encroaches into the right side of the fairway, and the green sits behind the water, a bit like the final hole at Bay Hill. The 7th is the first of the two par 3s at Durness, and plays either 178 or 154 yards. The green is narrow, and guarded by two bunkers, one on either side of the front portion of the green. The 8th plays with the backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean, and it is another narrow fairway to find, with the miss being right off the tee. Anything too long on this approach will find itself running away towards the rocky coastline.

When it comes to finishing holes, there might not be any that are as picturesque as the 9th. It plays between 108 and 155 yards, depending on whether it’s your first or second nine, and for your ball to reach the green, it will have to carry over the Atlantic Ocean. The tee stands about 60 feet above the rocks and waves and the shot is almost all carry. There is some beach below the rocks, but we’re not sure whether that is in bounds, and even if it was, are you risking it all to go down there and try to get up and down for par?

Where is Durness Golf Club located?

Durness Golf Club is located on the northwestern tip of Scotland, and it is the northernmost golfing venue in mainland Scotland. The course overlooks Balnakeil Beach and Balnakeil Bay, and out towards the Atlantic Ocean. As the crow flies, Durness is closer to the Faroe Islands in the north, than it is to London in the south.

The region has no major roads, and no rail service, with the closest of either being around 75 miles away to the east. For international visitors to this part of the world, Inverness Airport is the closest to Durness, but it is still 110 miles away. Aberdeen is 200 miles away, while both Edinburgh and Glasgow – the two busiest airports in the country – are more than 250 miles from Durness.

Are there any other NCG Top 100s: Scotland venues nearby?

Durness is one of two golf clubs on the northern coastline of the country to have a spot on the NCG Top 100s: Scotland list. The other is Reay, which is 60 miles along the coast to the east. Golspie and Brora, both on the eastern side of the Highlands, are around 80 miles to the southeast of Durness.

What golf facilities does Durness Golf Club offer?

The club does not have its own driving range, but Durness does have a hitting net to allow golfers to warm up, along with a short game area and a putting green.

What are the green fees at Durness Golf Club?

The price of a green fee at Durness Golf Club changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend.

For more information on current green fees at Durness, visit their website here.