Reay

Reay Golf Club is one of the most northerly golfing venues in the United Kingdom, with a history dating back to the 19th Century.

It began in life as a 12-holer in the 1890s, before the legendary James Braid visited the venue to expand the course to 18 holes in the 1930s.

Following a shutdown and then resurrection of the club, Reay remains a cracking test of golf, winding around Sandside Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.

Visit Reay’s website here.

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Reay Golf Club’s history is set into two portions, with the club originally being founded in the late 19th Century. 1893 saw a 12-hole layout constructed, thanks to Thomas Pilkington.

In 1933, the great James Braid – five times a winner of the Open Championship – expanded the course to 18 holes, and the layout has remained much the same.

The original club disbanded in the early 1940s, but was resurrected two decades later. A new clubhouse was built and most of the membership came from the nearby Dounreay Nuclear Station.

One of the most northerly courses in Scotland, sitting on the edge of the coastline, Reay is a proper links test. The course winds its way around Sandside Bay, so a sea breeze is always in play, while a couple of holes have the beach as a hazard in play. Reay has a variety of holes, including six par 3s and a trio of par 5s. It is not long, coming in at just 5,850 yards, but this par 69 has enough bite to keep you on your toes.

To say it is a testing start would be somewhat of an understatement. Not only is it unusual for a course to start with a par 3, but it is rare that one of 235 yards kicks off a round. That is the case at Reay. There is trouble down the right, along with the 3rd green sitting to the right side of the 1st green. There are no bunkers, and some may be best placed playing this as a par 4. OOB lines the left side of the 2nd, a 430-yard par 4. Anything right is okay, while the green is guarded by a bunker front right and one large trap that sits at the back. The 3rd brings you back towards the clubhouse. 370 yards, and with space on either side, this is a good driving hole. A bunker sits to the right of the putting surface.

Considering the length of the course is only 5,850 yards, the par 5 4th takes up 10% of that. It is 580 yards from the tips, and a proper three-shotter. It is a green that you cannot overshoot. If you do, then you will be reaching back into your bag for another ball. The 5th is only 144 yards, but a pair of bunkers in front of the green add to the danger. 6 is the other par 5 on the front nine, but a much more comfortable 500 yards. Like the 4th, it is a dog-leg left, and it is another hole where you cannot go long of the green. This time though, it is because of the Reay Burn, which also juts into the left side of the fairway 30 yards from the surface. The 7th is a 196-yard par 3 played across the burn. Anything short of this green will be well below the surface, thanks to the steep bank to make it. That makes it a par 3 where the yardage is all carry.

8 is a straightaway par with no bunkers and a very small, shallow green at the end of its 400 yards. The 9th is another cracking short hole. It is 175 yards, with three bunkers at the front, and the Burn of Isauld as the water hazard behind the putting surface. The back nine begins with a quartet of par 4s. The first of those, called ‘Isauld’ as it starts next to the water hazard, is a slight dog-leg right, but at just 350 yards, and with no sand on route, it is a good scoring chance. 11 is more difficult, pushing past the 400-yard mark. It is straight, but usually played into the prevailing wind. A bunker to the left of the surface awaits anything slightly awry. The 12th is another medium length par 4, but this time, the green is guarded by four bunkers – two on either side of the front portion of the green, and two at the back centre.

If you have struggled to score through the opening 12 holes, then the final six give you some real birdie chances on your way. It starts with the 305-yard par 4 13th, where a solid drive will put you in a good position to knock a wedge close to the flag. 14 is the shortest of the three par 5s at Reay, at just 475 yards. Like the other two on the front nine, it is also a dog-leg left, and once again, you cannot go long of the green. However, with a good drive, most will fancy their chances of reaching in two.

That is followed by the shortest hole on the course. 15 is only 135 yards in length, but there are three traps at the front of the surface, so make sure to take enough club to carry those. 16 and 17 are both short par 4s, with the former playing across a road. Two bunkers guard the long green. The tee shot on 17 is played over water, but it should not even be in your mind. The fairway is generous, as is the green, which only has one trap protecting it. Reay finishes with a par 3, just like it started. The 18th green is 160 yards away, but it is two-tiered and features two bunkers in front of the green. Find the right level to avoid a three-putt possibility.

Where is Reay Golf Club located?

Reay Golf Club is situated at the very top of Scotland, located on the northern coastline of the country. The course overlooks Sandside Bay Beach and out to the water – the Atlantic Ocean, and it sits on the northern side of the A836, which runs from Tain to John O’Groats. Thurso is the nearest town, around ten miles to the east of Reay Golf Club, while Inverness is 120 miles to the south.

Inverness is also the home of the nearest international airport. That is on the opposite side of the city, around 125 miles from Reay. Edinburgh Airport – the country’s largest airport – is 270 miles to the south. Thurso Station is the nearest to the golf club, ten miles away. However, trains run on an infrequent basis, either to Wick or Inverness.

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

Reay Golf Club is one of two venues on the NCG Top 100s: Scotland list to be situated on the northern coastline of Scotland. The other is Durness, which is around 60 miles to the west. Brora is around the same distance to the south of Reay, with Golspie, Skibo Castle and Royal Dornoch – with its Championship Course and Struie Course – all within 80 miles.

What golf facilities does Reay Golf Club offer?

Along with the 18-hole links layout, Reay Golf Club is also home to a 3-hole short game area with a number of tees, allowing practice of different lengths of wedge shot. There are also hitting nets, and a putting green to allow for a full warm up before taking to the course.

What are the green fees at Reay Golf Club?

The price of a green fee at Reay 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 Reay, visit their website here.