Royal Dornoch 2026 Tee Times + Rory

Royal Dornoch’s 2026 tee times go on sale on Wednesday April 23 but before we get into that we can’t NOT talk about Rory and his Grand Slam can we?

For those of you new here, prior to starting this newsletter and returning to the Scottish golf travel industry, I spent the previous seven years travelling the world with the DP World Tour (formerly European Tour) and being part of the last three Ryder Cups with Team Europe as a social media and content lead. In that role I have been fortunate to be behind the scenes and see how the world’s best golfers are away from the public eye.

I can assure you all in this case, good things happen to good people. Rory has a deep love and appreciation for the game, its history and growing appreciation for great golf courses. He might even has some notable Scottish links high on his bucket list!

Sunday was a momentous day for our sport and with more golfers globally than ever before taking up the game, perfectly timed. The impact of Rory’s win, emotional celebrations and Grand Slam achievement reached far and wide. Crazy to think this game adored my millions globally, all started in some Scottish sand dunes.

Royal Dornoch 2026 Tee Times

Set your alarms…9am Wednesday April 23. The 12,000 visitor tee times can only be booked via email: [email protected]

It should be noted that every year Royal Dornoch Golf Club donates to the Dornoch Common Good Fund which supports various non profit and community initiatives in the local region. The Club prides itself on being a force for good in its immediate community and is acutely aware of the importance golf tourism drives for the fragile local economy and the people that live and work there. Good on them!

There is something special about a visit to Royal Dornoch and it starts with the drive. Located an hour drive from Inverness, it feels like an effort to get there. The reward? A sense of relaxation and calmness when you arrive. Fresh Scottish highland air and incredible views. That’s even before we talk about the golf course.

Here are four tips for your visit to Royal Dornoch…

Stay in the town

If you don’t stay in Dornoch, I don’t think you’re doing it right. The village lives and breathes golf and now with the addition of new hotels and some good restaurants/bars, it’s everything you want from a Scottish golf trip basecamp.

Some good self catering holiday rental options here. If you have the budget, you won’t stay anywhere nicer than Links House. Tell them Ru sent you.

Play twice

With a round on the Championship Course costing £360 in 2026, the replay ticket of £575 is an easy sell if your body can handle it. The course plays pretty flat (with the exception of the climb to the 7th tee) and daylight in the Scottish Highlands is plentiful.

Speaking of which, another option is the twilight ticket (6pm at peak season) which is only £225. It blows my mind that these times aren’t at a premium never mind a discount. A quiet golf course, amazing light and still air. Sign me up! A nice option for the day you arrive.

Eat at Mara

If great food is your thing you won’t eat better than next door to Royal Dornoch at Links House. Book ahead the restaurant is small. Other favourite spots include Luigi’s - a great Italian on the high street and next door to that Surf and Turf, offering up great street food style seafood takeaway.

Morning coffee is always at Milk & Honey before a stroll round town, past the 13th century cathedral in the village square.

Carnegie Whisky Cellars

This charming small whisky shop located on the ground floor of the Carnegie Court House in the centre of town has an amazing collection of whisky, gin, wine and offers private drink tasting.

4. Play Brora

Every visit to Royal Dornoch should also include a round at Brora Golf Club, located 30 minutes drive north. Only by staying in the village can you give yourself time to explore the area and its great golf courses such as Golspie or Tain.

It should also be noted that the other “trophy golf courses” in the Scottish Highlands - Cabot Highlands and Nairn have synced their 2026 tee time releases meaning that you will be able to book your entire Scottish highlands golf trip seamlessly at the same time.

Royal Dornoch new Clubhouse

The welcome at Royal Dornoch is one of Scottish Highland charm and nowhere is this better felt than in the clubhouse restaurant.

Those who visit in 2026 will be the first to experience the new clubhouse which is under construction at present. Located on the other side of the Championship Course first tee, it will be a vast improvement on the dilapidated existing building. Hopefully the great hospitality and affordable food and drink prices transfer over to the new building!

Also in the immediate future, we can look forward to a new and improved Struie Course which will undergo a significant redesign in 2026 which will be aided by the Club’s recent acquisition of 50-acres of land by the Dornoch Firth and as many as six new holes. The consulting architect has yet to be revealed but plans include a community focussed practice facility and short course.

Then there is the imminent news on Coul Links, the Mike Keiser backed, Bill Coore designed links golf course proposed for Embo two miles outside Dornoch. The definitive decision on the proposed development after years of planning complications can be expected any week now. We keep our fingers crossed and will bring you news as soon as we have it.

If you enjoyed this please consider sharing with a golf buddy. With the season almost here, the newsletter will hit the road and take you to some of Scotland’s best links golf experiences as well as news and travel tips for your Scottish golf trip.

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