About the course itself
It’s old – like, really old. Golf’s been played here since the 1600s or something. Royal Dornoch Championship Course has this raw, natural design, nothing artificial or polished. Greens are fast, bunkers are unforgiving, and the rough? Feels personal. Like it waits for you.

The fairways twist and dip like they were drawn by the wind itself. There's gorse – lots of it – yellow bushes that look pretty but eat balls for breakfast. And because it’s a links course, you’ll rarely get a flat lie. One foot up, one foot down, wind howling sideways – now try hitting a 5-iron. Good luck.

Hole 14 (Foxhole) is a special kind of pain. Uphill, wind straight in your face, green that runs away from you like it’s got somewhere to be. Pure Dornoch.

But wow, the views.
It’s wild and open, like a giant green canvas stretched beside the sea. You get glimpses of the Dornoch Firth, mountains in the distance, and those moody Scottish skies that change every five minutes. Sometimes, you just stop mid-hole and stare. Feels like you’re playing inside a medieval epic with better shoes.

And did I mention the cold? It’s not just chilly. It’s sneaky. Starts in your hands and before you know it, your ears are frozen too. Gloves are essential. Two pairs, even. And layers – lots of layers. You’ll see locals in shorts though. Don’t try to match them. They’re built different.

Vibes around the place?
Super friendly. No snobbery, no drama. Just people who love the game and respect the course. Clubhouse is classy but not stiff – food’s solid, and they pour whisky like they want you to stay. Which, let’s be real, you kinda do.