The Royal Dornoch Golf Club in Scotland has announced the purchase of 50 acres of land which will see the Struie Course in the Highlands developed over the coming years.
While the Championship Course attracts golfers from around the world to the Highlands, its sister course is ranked among the top 50 links in Scotland.
Now, with the nearby farmland up for a six-figure sum, and work on a new £1.5 million irrigation scheme starting this week, members can expect to have design proposals considered over the next two or three years.
General manager Neil Hampton said: “It is another exciting step for the golf club, which will host the 2028 Curtis Cup. With the new clubhouse project well underway, it has emerged from member surveys that an even better Struie Course and improved practice facilities are at the top of their wish list. This has always been a progressive club and I am happy to say that the desire is there to continue to improve.”
The seeds for the redesigned Struie were sown when member and renowned architect Tom Mackenzie of Mackenzie and Ebert revised the 2013 master plan and identified the linksland beyond the 10th hole.
“Tom said that this piece of land, which represents the area of seven to 14 holes, would be good for any other development if it could be found,” explained Hampton. “He felt a great ability to create great golf holes, and included several in his paintings. We spoke to the landowner and from the start, when it was not SSSI designated, we ran it through NatureScot for their advice.
“Sadly, the farmer died and then the epidemic stopped everything. It was a long process, but following discussions with the family it was agreed that 50 hectares would be transferred to us. We are thinking of five or six holes with plenty of space for wild grass and heather to thrive. You can be sure that it will be handled very seriously.”
As the much-anticipated £13.9 million clubhouse begins to take shape next to the first tee of the Championship Course, Hampton also welcomes work starting with the new Struie irrigation system.
“The current system has been established for many years. “Course manager Eoin Riddell has been asking for a modern system for years, but other projects, including a new clubhouse, have taken priority,” he said. “Currently, we only water wells and green areas, not on the fairways, and one or the other can work at any time. We bought a big bowser so we can put water on the highways if needed.
“The new system will be much better in terms of sustainability. We will not use a lot of water; the system will allow us to direct where water is needed and be controlled by mobile phones and laptops.
Hampton added: “The key driver has been that Struie is getting a lot of play, from our members and visitors, which has been a huge boost for us. Its quality has been spot on, so we felt it was time to move forward with this important investment. There is an element of future proofing involved as we look to develop the Struie systems and the new nine-hole course.”
Meanwhile, a new par-three hole with a permanent green overlooking the Dornoch Firth has been built behind the 9th hole and new tees will improve the current 10th, which plays along the beach.
“The views down the new hole are amazing,” Hampton said. “It looks like an old Struie hole and once the sand is in the holes the definition will improve. The slight delay caused by last year's bad weather was a blessing, allowing more time to sleep. Work has been progressing well and we are all looking forward to it being open for play in the spring.”
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