Royal Dornoch (Struie)

The Struie Course is the secondary 18-hole layout at the glorious Royal Dornoch, but it is a cracking links course in its own right.

It sits in the shadow of the Championship Course, but despite that, the Struie Course provides a stern test, thanks to its small greens and narrow fairways.

There are glorious views over the Dornoch Firth when you get to the southern end of the course, but don’t let that distract you from some tricky holes. 

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Although it is believed and written that golf had been played in the region for centuries, it was 1877 when Royal Dornoch was founded as a golf club.

Nine holes were originally laid down, with that being extended to 18 holes by Old Tom Morris just a decade later. Some of those holes are now part of the Struie Course, with the Championship Course extending north away from the clubhouse.

The Struie Course has been a part of the venue since 1923, and there are ongoing changes to the course following the purchase of more land.

Over the years, the venue has played host to several major amateur events, including the 100th edition of the Amateur Championship, doing so in 1985.

Known affectionately as the ‘Low Course’ by the locals, the Struie Course at Royal Dornoch is the second layout, but don’t knock it until you’ve played it. Playing down to the south of the venue, there are glorious views out over Dornoch Firth when you reach the far end of the layout. The Dornoch Burn is in play throughout, while the greens are smaller than on the Championship Course. Due to ongoing changes, the course has been shortened to a par 70, and coming in at just under 6,100 yards from the tips.

The distance and extra shot lost comes at the opening hole. Originally a par 4, due to the ongoing building work, this is playing as a par 3. It means the Struie begins with back-to-back par 3s to get you on your way. At the 1st, the green slopes severely from left to right, so try to leave yourself below the hole. The 2nd is the shortest hole on the course at 122 yards, and also the Stroke Index 18. The green is narrow, with three bunkers guarding the surface. The 3rd hole offers the first sighting of the Dornoch Burn. It runs across the fairway at the 220-yard mark, so do you lay up short of it and leave yourself with a 130-yard shot in? Or do you try and take it on?

The 4th, named ‘Struie’, is a testing par 4 of 400 yards, and is usually played into the prevailing wind. It moves from left to right, with two bunkers on the inside corner to be avoided. Again, the green is narrow, but there are no traps to protect the surface this time. The 5th is the only par 4 on the front nine that is more than 400 yards from the tips. However, there is a wide fairway in play, though the road runs parallel to the short grass down the right side. Anything long on the approach is in trouble, so making sure you hit the right club into a two-tiered green is crucial. A large pond sits to the right side of the 6th fairway, with a drive of some 230 yards required to get past the danger. The green is shallow and wide, with a bunker both front left and front right. The 7th is the last of the five consecutive par 4s on the front side, and it is arrow straight. It is only 350 yards, so this is a good birdie chance.

The green on the par 3 8th is not one you would call inviting. There is a very narrow channel up the front of it, with the green then bending around the bunker on the front right. Par is a good score here. The front nine closes with not just the longest hole on the course, but the longest hole on the property at Royal Dornoch. The 9th is a 550-yard par 5 and played into the prevailing wind, making it a proper three-shotter. Keeping your ball on the fairway is the key throughout, especially as the fairway gets narrow around the 120-yard mark. This tricky run continues with the longest par 4 on the Struie Course. At 440 yards, it requires a very solid drive to give yourself a chance of making the green with your second. It moves slightly from left to right, but there is plenty of room.

The 11th is a 350-yard par 4 that offers up a scoring chance, as long as the tee shot finds the fairway. 275 yards takes you to the end of the fairway, with the green separated from the fairway by rough. Again, there are no bunkers by the surface, so it is a green light flag to attack. The 12th is the longest of the par 3s at more than 210 yards – so much so, it has its own fairway for those that lay up. The green is long and two-tiered, so distance control is crucial. 13 is the first of two par 5s on the closing nine and it is a narrow driving hole thanks to the gorse down the left side. The bunkers around the 100-yard mark provide a good line to lay up to, for those playing on in three.

Anything left off the tee on 14, and you’ll be reaching into your bag for another golf ball – it's as simple as that. There is thick gorse all the way down the left side on this long par 4, which is the Stroke Index 1 for a reason. There is more space on the right side, but it is still pretty thick rough. Go too long behind the green and you might find OOB. All in all, not a bad hole to record a bogey on, really. 15 throws up a proper scoring chance, with a wide fairway, and a green that is only 300 yards away. Find the flat of the fairway and you’re in great position to knock a wedge on to a small, but receptive green.

The closing trio can decide a match, ruin a score, or complete a round. Anything more than 165 yards off the tee on 16 will carry the road that runs across, with the fairway getting narrower the further down your tee shot runs. The green is round, and slopes slightly from left to right, so try and stay below the hole. The 17th is a good scoring chance, a par 5 of only 480 yards. The road is 265 yards from the tips, so stay short of that and you’ll still be within reach of the green! Two bunkers guard the putting surface, but anything less than par is a disappointment on the penultimate hole. The Struie Course concludes with a tricky little par 3. Played over a pond from the White tees, the green is above the level of the tee box, so take a club more if you’re not sure. It is only 125 yards, though, so it could be a birdie-birdie finish if you play it well!

Where is Royal Dornoch located?

Royal Dornoch is one of the northernmost venues on the NCG Top 100s: Scotland, sitting well into the Scottish Highlands, and almost 50 miles north of Inverness by road. It is on the eastern coastline of the country, with the Struie Course sitting to the south of the venue, parts of which run alongside the Dornoch Firth. The Championship Course runs alongside Dornoch Beach. The A9 – the main road which runs through to the northeastern part of Scotland, is a couple of miles from the golf club.

Golspie and Tain are the nearest train stations to Royal Dornoch. However, both are ten miles from the club, with Golspie to the north, and Tain to the south over the Dornoch Firth. Both stations sit on the same line, with services running between Inverness and Wick on an irregular basis. For international travellers looking to visit the Scottish Highlands, Inverness Airport is the best bet. It sits around 50 miles from Royal Dornoch, while Aberdeen Airport is around 140 miles away to the southeast. Edinburgh Airport – the nation’s largest international airport – is just shy of 200 miles south.

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

Along with the Struie Course, Royal Dornoch is also home to the Championship Course. Then, within just 20 miles of the venue sit Skibo Castle, Tain, Golspie and Brora. Further south, Fortrose & Rosemarkie and Cabot Highlands are both within 50 miles.

What golf facilities does Royal Dornoch offer?

Along with the two 18-hole courses, Royal Dornoch is also home to a large practice ground and hitting nets to allow you to warm up before taking to either of the layouts. There is also a putting green with space for chipping in front of the clubhouse.

What are the green fees at Royal Dornoch?

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