Forres

Forres Golf Club is one of several stunning venues in the Moray region of northern Scotland, a parkland beauty just 25 miles from Inverness. 

The club moved to its current location in the early 1900s, with James Braid designing the course. Willie Park extended it to 18 holes, with Braid then making alterations once again in the 1920s. 

The course remains a stiff challenge for players of all handicaps, with tree-lined fairways, plenty of bunkers and even a water hazard that comes into play in the final few holes. 

Visit Forres’ website here.

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The club dates to 1889, with the original golf course sitting a few miles north of its current location, along the shoreline of Findhorn Bay. However, due to tidal erosion, the club would move within the next 15 years. 

A 9-hole course was opened at Muiryshade – the club’s current location – in 1904. The great James Braid was the designer, and he played alongside Harry Vardon in a match to open the course. 

Willie Park then extended the course to 18 holes shortly before the First World War, with Braid coming back to make alterations in the 1920s. 1965 saw two new holes – the 7th and 8th of the current layout – added to the course, with the two holes that were previously in use now made available for the practice area.

Forres is a true parkland layout, not something you see all that often in Scotland, especially so close to the sea. The course offers golfers views of the Cairngorm Mountains to the south and Findhorn Bay to the north, while presenting a challenge of a course to those of all abilities. A par 70 that pushes past the 6,200-yard mark, this Park and Braid design will make you use every club in the bag... 

The opening stretch seems relatively simple – all four par 4s are less than 400 yards, with only one of those being more than 340. It is a lot tougher than you think, though. What most golfers don’t want to see on the first tee is out of bounds down the right side. However, that is what greets you off the very elevated tee on the opening hole at Forres, thanks to Edgehill Road. The 2nd tee shot is played down a narrow funnel of trees before the hole opens out slightly. The approach is then to a small landing area of putting surface. 3 has a pair of fairway bunkers down its right side, but there is space on the left to miss. Meanwhile, the 4th is arguably the hardest of the opening quartet. It is towards 380 yards off the tips, playing as a slight dog-leg left around trees. The green is long and narrow, almost peanut-shaped, and with a pair of bunkers in front of it. 

The first of three par 3s in a six-hole stretch comes at the 5th. It is the shortest hole on the course at just 140 yards, with the green being surrounding by five small pot bunkers. The 7th and 10th are the other two 3s around the turn, with both being more than 200 yards in length. Tall trees line both sides of the 7th, with two bunkers sitting in front of the green for added danger. The 10th is almost 250 yards off the back tees, although it does play slightly downhill. It is much wider, and allows you to have a crack at the green, but most will take a bogey all day! 

6 and 9 are the two par 5s on the course, with the former being the longest hole at Forres, pushing just past the 500-yard mark. It is pretty straight, with trees on either side, but the bunkers are situated at just the right points in the hole to make it awkward. The 9th brings the front side to a close with a decent birdie opportunity. It is a hole that is slightly S-shaped, first moving to the right before then bending back round to the left towards the green. Anything to the right will be in farmers' fields and out of bounds. Find the fairway, and there is a good scoring chance. 

Along with the 7th, the 8th is the other ‘new’ hole, dating back to the mid-1960s. It is the tightest tee shot on the course, thanks to tall trees lining both sides of the narrow fairway. Although only 365 yards, this is the hole that sees some of the largest scores. The tough stretch of the course then begins at 11, with a quintet of difficult par 4s – three of which are more than 400 yards in length. The 11th is 455 yards, while the 12th is 430, and the Stroke Index 1. If you can come through both of those level to your handicap, then you have done very well indeed. 

There is space to let loose a little on 13 with the tee shot, and as the shortest of this quartet of par 4s, it might be where you think you have some respite. However, that is not the case... The 14th is another of more than 420 yards from the tips, and the again, it is time to let loose with the driver! The further down you get, the less club you’ll have in hand for your approach. 15, although slightly shorter, requires a drive through a funnel of trees before you reach the wide part of the fairway. Anything slight mishit may well catch those trees before it even reaches the fairway. 

The closing stretch at Forres begins with the signature hole – the short par 4 16th. It is a true risk-reward hole, with the bigger hitters fancying their chances. It is just a nudge over 300 yards, though most will take an iron or hybrid off the tee and aim for the wide part of the fairway. 17 is a tricky little par 3 with five bunkers surrounding the green, before you come to the final hole on the layout. It is 370 yards from the tips, and does offer a final birdie chance if you can find the fairway off the tee. The pond sits behind the green and anything going long of this green is in danger of finding the hazard. A great hole to finish a cracking course.

Where is Forres Golf Club located?  

Forres Golf Club is situated just south of the town of Forres in the northeast of Scotland. The club is located in the Moray region of the country, with the city of Inverness around 25 miles to the west. Forres is just a few miles inland from the coast at Findhorn, while the A96 – which runs from Inverness across to Aberdeen, is less than a mile from the entrance to the club. 

Thanks to its location, Inverness Airport is the closest major international airport to the venue. It is just 20 miles from Forres, while Aberdeen Airport is 70 miles away to the southeast. The town of Forres has its own train station, which sits on the line between Inverness and Aberdeen. Trains run through Forres on a regular basis in both directions.

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

There are plenty of venues on the NCG Top 100s: Scotland list in this part of the country. Within an hour's drive sit the likes of Elgin, Nairn, Nairn Dunbar, Cabot Highlands and Moray – with its Old Course and New Course.

What golf facilities does Forres Golf Club offer?  

Along with the stunning parkland golf course, Forres Golf Club is also home to some great practice facilities. The club has a full-length driving range with both matted and grass tees, along with a lovely short game area that allows members and guests alike to hone their skills before taking to the course.

What are the green fees at Forres Golf Club?  

The price of a green fee at Forres 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 Forres, check out their website here.