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Inside Royal Dornoch's New Clubhouse

Inside Royal Dornoch's New Clubhouse

One of the game's true outposts has a new home, signalling a new chapter in its 400 year history.

Ru Macdonald
December 28, 2025

Last week members at Royal Dornoch were welcomed inside their much anticipated new £13.9m clubhouse.

Just like they were over 100 years ago.

The £1,600 clubhouse was officially opened on July 3, 1909, with steel magnate and the world’s richest man Andrew Carnegie and his wife Louise in attendance.

The rise of this golf outpost in the last century was in part aided by Ben Crenshaw, who made the trip to the Scottish Highlands prior to The Open at Muirfield in 1980 and who subsequently recommended Tom Watson take the trip the following year.

These two notable visits in consecutive summers were the catalyst for thousands of their countrymen to make the pilgrimage to Dornoch and establish the club’s reputation with the first generation of overseas golf travellers. As a result, more than 700 of Royal Dornoch’s members now live out of town, many travelling from North America every summer, while the Championship Course ranks as one of the very best golf courses outside the United States.

Tom Watson & Sandy Tatum outside the Royal Dornoch clubhouse in 1981.

Tom Watson during his 1981 visit to Royal Dornoch. Image courtesy of Historylinks Museum

Tom Watson & Sandy Tatum on the links of Dornoch. Image courtesy of Historylinks Museum

But what does this have to do with the new clubhouse I hear you ask?

Critiques have questioned the scale of the new clubhouse but are missing the strategic importance.

With the Championship Course at capacity from 12,000 visiting golfers and a bulging membership, Royal Dornoch recently announced plans to overhaul the Struie Course and add a third course to the town. In the fullness of time, Dornoch will transform into a genuine rival to that of St Andrews and into one of the very best golf destinations in the world.

The new 2,000 sqm building, located to the right of the Championship 1st tee is divided into three-stories - a ground service floor, a tee level second floor with changing rooms, staff offices, pro shop and a top floor restaurant.

Time for a photo tour…

The view upon arrival - entering from the car park (Photo Will Scott - LinksLand)

Clubhouse door design inspired by Dornoch Cathedral, home to the first record of golf in the town when discovered in parish documents

The history wall on the main staircase

Archive room

Pro shop view from side door

Seating area looking over the Struie Course

Restaurant and bar

View from the top floor dining area overlooking the Struie Course

Carnegie Shield beautifully displayed in the heart of the clubhouse

View from the back of the 18th green of the Championship Course

Royal Dornoch’s new clubhouse at dusk

In truth, there are elements of the new clubhouse which feel overstated and out of character with this quaint golf outpost (I am looking at you locker room flat screen TVs and you TrackMan simulator in the Pro Shop) but I have to remind myself that this is a new chapter in the Club and town’s rich history which dates back to 1616.

The new building’s scale is such as to accommodate golfers playing across three golf courses.

“This is a statement of intent. In many ways, it is a new beginning for Royal Dornoch as we look to develop the Struie and create a third course here to enhance the town’s reputation as a golfing destination.” - Neil Hampton, Royal Dornoch Golf Club General Manager

The Club has also taken the opportunity to better showcase their rich heritage with a number of well curated display cases. It has also allowed the Club to amend their trading/liquor license and encourage more local/nongolfers to use the clubhouse.

The Club have yet to finalise plans for the site of the old clubhouse but dormie lodging is being considered as well as additional staff offices.

Sun sets on the old clubhouse.

The journey to Dornoch for so many is a pilgrimage. I often joke with visiting golfers that the best drive of your Scottish golf trip won’t be on the course but on the road to Dornoch. One that weaves between mountains and lochs. The kind of landscape that is etched in visitors minds when dreaming of the Scotland Highlands.