Royal Dornoch Golf Club, the renowned Championship club in the Scottish Highlands, continues to invest in their playing facilities ensuring they improve on their world championship standards. Following a series of intensive guest and member surveys there have been a number of welcome additions and developments to the Royal Dornoch Struie Course.
There are many admirers of Royal Dornoch Struie Course, which is ranked in the UK top 50 links courses. Opened to the present 18 holes in 1999, the course was in need of a gentle facelift to ensure it remains a firm favourite with members and visitors.
General Manager Neil Hampton explains: “Royal Dornoch is about two world class links courses that are a joy to play. The feedback from our members and visitors over the last year, clearly told us how much they enjoy playing Royal Dornoch Struie, but there were some improvements to the signage that would help. Working with our dedicated green staff, a some holes have been improved and the whole course has had signage consistent with a world ranked course.”
Of particular note from the survey was how pleased the golfers are with the exceptional level of maintenance on the course and attention to detail paid to upholding the same quality of course finish on the tees, greens and bunkers as the Championship Course – it was mostly the signage and aspects of the layout that let the course down. Eoin Riddell, Course Manager comments: “The ground staff team have worked hard at developing the course and wanted it to be the kind of course you can play every day and not get tired of. I think we are starting to achieve that.”
The course originally opened as a 12 hole Ladies course in 1899 and is a traditional links course that provides a test for golfers young and old, male and female. The work of Donald Steel and his design team back in the 1990s encapsulates natural Scottish Links golf, working with the natural landscape, local plant and wildlife, the layout incorporates many of the unique Dornoch features. The new signage helps make the most of the features while ensuring golfers stay on course.
Commenting on behalf of Eagle, the UK’s market leader for golf course signage and collateral, sales manager for Scotland Eddie Comerford said: “I’m delighted that Royal Dornoch has chosen Eagle to manufacture and deliver the new signage system for Royal Dornoch Struie course. We already supply the club with the Championship course guide and the score cards for both courses, so we are very pleased the club is keen to extend its relationship with Eagle in this way.”
He adds: “We had clear guidelines from Royal Dornoch regarding the signage and improvements needed to the Struie course and matching their expectations with our range of golf furniture was a straightforward task. It is unusual for clubs to carry out such intensive survey work of their members and visitors but it has clearly paid to gain an insight into the needs of the golfers.
“Our top quality Iroko hardwood tee posts with deep etched zinc plates will make a dramatic difference to the Struie’s presentation, marking the many recent improvements that have been made to the Royal Dornoch Struie course. I am sure that returning visitors will be impressed and that new visitors to Royal Dornoch Struie will be delighted at the attention to detail the course receives.”
General Manager Neil Hampton added: “Royal Dornoch is committed to ensuring that all golfers, members, guests, low & high handicappers and beginners will have a wonderful day of golf. The Royal Dornoch Struie course is as important to that as the Championship course.
“We are about developing the game and investing in courses that help every golfer get the best from their game. Our Struie course is a great course that can often challenge even the most serious golfer, while giving those with higher handicaps the chance to play a highly respected links course.”
Founded in 1877, Royal Dornoch Golf Club presents exceptional standards thatextend beyond the courses and greens to the restaurant, bar and lounge and other facilities. The Championship course is consistently ranked amongst the top 20 of the world’s top 100 courses and Royal Dornoch Struie course is highly ranked UK and Ireland links course.
Royal Dornoch Golf Club www.royaldornoch.com