Golspie Golf Club is a short but challenging course, located at the foot of Ben Bhraggie in the Highlands of Scotland. While Golspie would not qualify as a championship course, it is an exceptionally enjoyable course that effortlessly blends the features of a links course, a heathland course and a parkland course.
The golf course at Golspie was designed by James Braid and, as with many courses by Mr. Braid, features its share of memorable par fours, including the demanding 8th and 9th holes, each playing to over 400 yards with brilliant Scottish heather very much in play off the tee on both holes. After a series of pleasant holes from the 10th through the 15th, the golfer is faced with the challenge of back-to-back par threes at the 16th and the 17th, the former a short hole to a fiercely sloped green and the latter a long par three to a flattish but nearly blind green. Pars here are well earned, as is a par at the 18th hole, where the golfer plays his second shot over an enormous dune in the middle of the fairway to a blind green.
If you are looking to play only the “must plays” of Scottish links golf, then Golspie need not be on your list. If, however, you plan to base yourself in Dornoch for all or part of your next Scottish golf vacation and are looking for a fun round of golf on a course that is easy on the eye and the wallet, then a round at Golspie, followed by a pint in the friendly bar area, will provide you many fond memories of your time in the Highlands.
