In the same moment that we arrive at Royal Dornoch the sky above changes from grey to blue and the sun shines intensively down on Royal Dornoch’s 18 holes. We are in links heaven. Apart from LINKS75 scores of Americans have been flown in by Lear Jet to play a quick round at Dornoch and a further dozen championship courses spread out like raisins on the British golfing cake. After having warmed up our links-bodies at the Royal Golf Hotel we wander down to a simple clubhouse.
Royal Dornoch
The starter talks to us about yesterday’s Champions League qualifying result and had been hoping for a Helsingborg victory. Obviously a Rangers fan. We compliment him on the fantastic course. He smirks and asks us to wait until we have played the 3rd hole. The 1st is the perfect opening hole – 331 yards – with an elevated green. Typical for Royal Dornoch. The 2nd – one of four one-shotters with extremely strong characters – demands fantasy, courage and a clinical strike of the ball. At the 3rd the course opens up like a scene from links heaven – goose bumps.
4th green, Royal Dornoch
The 4th and 5th are extremely demanding par 4s with elevated greens (the 5th green is kidney-shaped) and masses of gorse to the left. Superb. The 6th – another par 4 – is perhaps one of the world’s best is surrounded by gorse and round the raised surface are a number of small, tricky bunkers – awesome. The 7th has an insane view which makes us dizzy as we head for the 8th – a par 4 with marker post, a dogleg left and drop between tee and fairway of 15 yards. The green is just as long as the Loch Ness Monster and has the sea as a neighbour. At the 9th the course turns – a par 5 with the sea to the left. We hit the green in 2 and stride away with a par and a smile. The 10th is the second last par 3 and is a masterpiece with the course’s only tree to the right – a larch. We go for a hole-in-one in pure delight. The 11th is a very difficult par 4, 446 yards, with the obligatory elevated green requiring more than we can deliver. The 12th – a par 5 – is a slight dogleg to the left, has masses of elephant grass, a hill in front of the green and a waiting links plaza behind. The 13th, the final one-shotter, is the definitive links par 3, taken straight out of the instruction’s manual. We do cartwheels on the tee, cheer and make birdie out of pure ecstasy. The 14th is 445 yards – Foxy – a suitable name for the course’s only two-shotter without bunkers. On the right are hillocks with elephant grass towards a parallel-moved, enormous green elevated two yards. The pin stands furthest back waiting for LINKS75 – Foxy.
Foxy, Royal Dornoch
The 15th – 319 yards – has a huge elephant grass covered hill 120 yards before yet another elevated green. We go for the pin and land within putting distance. Mr L wins 4 and 3. the 16th – par 4 – is 400 yards. Ahead lies a waiting green with view over the entire course. A single bench at the green’s edge demands our company and offers a heavenly view.
View from the 16th green, Royal Dornoch
The 17th is an outstanding par 4 with marker post, dogleg left and the traditional 15 yards height disparity. A raised cauldron of a green finishes with yet another birdie. The 18th is 456 fantastic yards of links promenade leading straight as a dye into eternal links heaven. Amen.
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