Yesterday I made the run some 80 miles north to the tiny village of Durness and the Durness Golf Club. Although only 80 or so miles to travel, it’s on mostly single track road thru some of the most pristine and breathtaking scenery I have ever seen. The road winds thru lush spruce and evergreen covered hills, which change to purple heather as the elevation gets higher. Much of the road runs adjacent to crystal clear rivers or lakes dotted with salmon and trout fishing lodges.
Durness is a tiny town of less than 500 people but their golf course gets recognition from all over Scotland. It’s the number 1 rated 9 hole course in the country 20 plus years running as voted on by the Scottish Board of Tourism. The course plays from 2 sets of tees from different locations so that there is an 18 hole feel. Upon arriving at the club I was greeted by Lucy, who has a reputation of being a “tough old bird” as warned to me by the staff at Tain, but I found her to be genuinely nice and we soon became great friends. She keeps an eye on the shop and makes sure things run smoothly, but because this area is near the northern most point of the North Coast 500 tourist route, she’s protective of the course and general tourists who want to walk around taking sea side pictures and not playing. Thus the course has an air of exclusivity about it.
I’m certainly glad I made the drive and on this day I was one of 4 players to play the course. The weather was spectacular with sunshine and low winds which just enhanced the experience. There is a mix of seaside holes as well as holes that wind thru the dunes all ending with what Open Champion Paul Laurie calls the best par three in Scotland, the 9th. Playing today at 165 yards to a back pin, your tee shot must carry a seaside rocky cove to a green that sits out on an elevated peninsula. Pretty spectacular on this day but I can only imagine how difficult it would be when the wind is howling. Par would be a fantastic score. I truly enjoyed my experience here and between Reay golf club and Durness it would be worth staying in this area just to play both. This afternoon I’m taking another shot at the mighty Royal Dornoch on a sunny and calmer day. Should be a great challenge and alot of fun.
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| View from the drive to Durness |
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| The drive to Durness |
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| Durness |
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| Durness |
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| My new friend Lucy |
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| #9 at Durness |
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| #9 at Durness |
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| Approach to 8 green after a blind tee shot over a dune |
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| Sheep in the fairway |
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| Sheep in the fairway |
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| Perfect turf for play |
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| Durness |
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| Durness |
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| Durness |
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| Durness |
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| Durness |
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