Brora Golf Club is about 20 minutes north up the coast from Royal Dornoch
We had the pleasure of playing Brora Golf Club in the afternoon of a 36 hole day, the morning of which was spent at Wick Golf Club, about an hours drive down the A9 to the south. Having played in the Highlands on numerous trips over the years, I’d always heard of Brora as the golf course with the sheep roaming the course with electrified fence around the greens, and had somewhat dismissed it. Pity I deprived myself the joy of playing Brora all those years because of that misconception, but on the other hand, it was an extremely pleasant surprise when I did finally get to play the course.
Brora is a James Braid re-design of an original Old Tom Morris design from 1891
It’s located about 20 minutes of its more famous neighbor, Royal Dornoch, and would make an easy 36 hole day as opposed to playing the Struie course at Dornoch. Brora has a rugged linksland feel to it, more natural humps and bumps than subtle, undulating, land, and is a classic links with 9 holes out, and 9 holes back to the clubhouse. There’s a flock of sheep roams the course, necessitating the electrical wire fencing around each green, and while we didn’t see any on our visit, we did see that they had been there! The course has an unfinished and natural look to it, the greens have some slope and undulation, and are big enough to catch the slightly errant shot.
Brora's one natural links course, hard on the North Sea
It might seem a little short at 6,100 yards, par 69, but you’ll do well to better your handicap here. There’s only one five par, and six four pars measuring in excess of 400 yards, and the wind’s a constant companion, both friend and foe. Overall, a very interesting course with few pedestrian holes, and some superb par 3s. The back side, which doesn’t border the sea has a host of more interesting and challenging holes than the front side. Bunkers are well placed, and no more than necessary. Conditions were excellent, as was the pace of play, and for £40, a real bargain.
