FORTROSE & ROSEMARKIE GOLF CLUB - 15 POINTS
There are many reasons to go on a golf trip to the far north of Scotland - the magnificence of Royal Dornoch, the modern masterpiece that is Castle Stuart, the long summer days that seem to stretch on forever and the famed microclimate that means the sun shines here when the rest of the country can be covered in cloud. Such are the attractions that I would urge you to spend several days in the area, and if you do, you absolutely must add Fortrose & Rosemarkie to your itinerary.
The two villages of Fortrose and Rosemarkie lie either side of a small, slither of a peninsula that juts into the Moray Firth. The peninsula is pretty much used for one thing - golf. Golf has been played here since 1702 and a golfing society was founded in 1793. The club was formed in 1888, making it the 15th oldest golf club in the world.
The course as it is today was laid out by James Braid in 1932. The first 4 holes play from the clubhouse in Rosemarkie, down the west side of the peninsula before heading back along the other side to Fortrose and playing inland for the back 9.
My research into the course had led me to be slightly worried. While the course isn’t a long one, clocking in at a mere 6,000 yards from the back tees, there were warnings about the abundant gorse, and about accuracy being vital. The first hole did little to assuage my fears, a short par 4 but framed by gorse just a few steps off the fairway.
The par five 5th hole at Fortrose is a bewildering hole on first play!
But I should have had no such fears. The course opened up significantly after the first, and while accuracy was helpful, it wasn’t mandatory to enjoy the course!
Those early holes on the water were probably the pick of the bunch in terms of the setting. The views over to Fort George and across to the mainland were spectacular and the standard of the holes high. The fourth is a particularly interesting hole. It’s a par 5 with a run-out over a cliff about 200 yards from the tee before a really undulating fairway leads you up to a green with trouble short. If you are lucky, you may see dolphins frolicking in the water next to you. Chanonry Point is one of the best places in Europe for dolphin watching.
There’s then a really special par 3. It’s only 130 yards, but with the pin on the left it was totally blind, with a shot required over a mound and a road, with trouble all around. A hole that no-one would consider building today - thank goodness Mr Braid did.
As you play towards Fortrose make sure you take time to take in the views across the water to Castle Stuart and Inverness beyond, this really is a beautiful part of the world.
While the course never really hits the heights of those early holes again, there is still much fun to be had. You will find several short par 4s which invite you to open the shoulders and both the greens and fairways are all well bunkered. You need plot your way around rather than always blast away.
The course finishes with a testing par 3 back to the clubhouse where you will find plenty of people watching with interest to see how you manage the 180 yards between the elevated tee and the green.
No-one would pretend that Fortrose & Rosemarkie is anything like the test of its more illustrious neighbours. But it is a an absolutely delightful spot and it won’t beat you up. If you are in the area it would be a real shame not to play here. And keep an eye out for those dolphins!
BOOKING THE COURSE
While Fortrose & Rosemarkie may be one of the oldest courses in the world, it has moved into the 21st century now! Booking is really easy through the website here. Green fees can be up to £95 at weekend peak times but they are an entrepreneurial lot at Fortose and offers and deals abound. Have a good look on the site or give you them a call if you are looking for a deal.
TOUR TIPS
I teed off very early on a Saturday morning while we were staying in a motorhome at the nearby Rosemarkie campsite. When I say nearby, it was less than a minute from the motorhome to the golf course. This is the closest campsite-to-golf-course setup you will get anywhere in Scotland I think!
Rosemarkie itself is a short walk from the golf course and here you will find a pub and a nice restaurant - Crofters Cafe. This is a popular holiday spot and there are some guest houses and Airbnb’s in the town. However, I imagine most golfers would be passing through between Inverness and Dornoch.
CONTACT DETAILS
Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Club,
Ness Road East,
Fortrose,
Scotland,
IV10 8SE
Phone: 01343 812018
Web: fortrosegolfclub.co.uk
