“Unprecedented demand” from golfers at home and abroad led Royal Dornoch to close its waiting list in 2024 and put it in what many would regard as the enviable position of building a new £13.9 million clubhouse. The club has more than 2,300 members of its Championship and Struie courses, with around 700 based outside the UK in countries ranging from Argentina to Australia.

Members of Royal Dornoch were able to access the new clubhouse for the first time at an informal opening last month. The multi-level building by Keppie Design covers approximately 22,600 square feet and is an energy-efficient replacement for its early 20th century predecessor.

General manager Neil Hampton has revealed that the demolition of the old clubhouse is set to get underway on Monday, February 2, bringing an end to one era and the start of another.

Who’s going to be in charge of the demolition?

We have appointed Nairn specialists GF Job for the project, and it will take around eight to 10 weeks to level the site.

It’s not about bringing in a wrecking ball and bulldozers nowadays. The internal work takes place first, with different materials going into separate skips for recycling.

The building officially opened in 1909 (Image: Bannerman Media)

Then what? 

The future use of the site has yet to be decided but in the short term it will landscaped and in good shape for the start of the golf season.

Many items in the old clubhouse were moved to the new one, but what of those deemed surplus to requirements?

Despite the heavy snow we opened up the old clubhouse on Saturday. It was especially busy for the first couple of hours as members snapped up everything from tables and chairs to curtains, shoe cleaners and pots and pans, in addition to pictures, signage and locker doors for souvenirs. 

We have raised well over £3,500 already in donations to the captain’s charity, which is supporting Mikey’s Line and the East Sutherland Rescue Association, and the club’s heritage and junior foundations. 

The course and clubhouses were covered in snow this past weekend (Image: Matthew Harris)

So that’s it?

No, by the time the dust settles I suspect we might even double that figure because we have had an offer for all the kitchen equipment, and clubs in the region will have the opportunity to snap up anything that they can make use of. 

It seems rather bittersweet, particularly for those who were fond of the history and quaint design of the building from 1909.

We said our goodbyes to the clubhouse before Christmas and it will be fondly remembered by members and visitors alike, but nothing lasts forever and it had been showing signs of its 116 years for some considerable time. Plans for a much-needed replacement clubhouse had been bandied about for decades.

I’m delighted to say our new clubhouse is being warmly embraced by local members and townsfolk and we look forward to welcoming golfers from around the world to see it for themselves in the spring. 

Neil Hampton (right) welcomes members to the old clubhouse at Royal Dornoch (Image: Bannerman Media)

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