On Tuesday we left Campbeltown and headed north along the coast, with views over to Islay (pronounced Eye-la) and Gigha. This was a 6 hour drive north to the town of Dornoch in the Highlands region of Scotland. Another beautiful drive that took us up along the coast, along several lochs, including Loch Ness (above) and through the mountains. The mountains near Dornoch have snow on them still, even though they aren't quite as high as the mountains in West Virginia, testament to how cold it is up here. Upon arrival at Amalfi guest house, we put our golf bags on our shoulders and walked over the Royal Dornoch Golf Club, which is about 300 yards from Amalfi. We were able to get a 6:45 tee time on the Championship course for a twilight rate of $40 pounds. The course was full and we waited a little on the groups ahead, but finished right before dark at 10:45 PM. Royal Dornoch is a great course, very different from Machrihanish. Plateau greens with shaved sides are the norm here, including the great 14th hole "Foxy", which has a plateau which varies from 5 -10 feet, nearly straight up.
On Wednesday, we made the 20 minute drive north the Brora Golf Club in the town of Brora. Along the way, we passed a giant statue of the Duke of Sutherland that stands on top of Ben Bhraggie near the town of Golspie. The Duke is infamous in the Highlands for the Clearances, which moved nearly Fifteen thousand tenant farmers off of the lands in order to make room for sheep, which the Duke felt would be more profitable. Brora is a classic links course, with nine holes out along the sea and nine back on the inward side. The course also has electric fences around every green to keep out the sheep. The sheep help maintain the course by keeping the rough "mowed". They are there due to ancient grazing rights that allow access to this land, but fit in with the natural feel of the course. We really enjoyed the course and since the replay rate was only $10 pounds, we went around twice. We had on and off rain, with sleet mixed in a couple of times. During the rain showers, the wind would pick up and the temperature would plummet. However, after the rain, the sun would come back out and it would be fairly comfortable. The temperatures today reached a high of about 48*.
Today we are back to Royal Dornoch and then hopefully off to do a little sightseeing in the area.
Statue of Duke of Sutherland
Brora
2 comments:
48 degrees? Sleet? You both are either hard core golfers or crazy! I am glad you are enjoying the trip. May the golf gods keep smiling upon you. :) Love you.
Was the Duke a bad guy? Seems like they wouldn't have a statue of him because he seemed mean. I'm with Theresa. That's pretty cold for this time of year. When is summer? It was cold like that in November. Is this summer for them?
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