Historic Scots golf club dubbed ‘natural masterpiece’ by Open champion sets demolition date for 116-year-old clubhouse

IT’s never hosted The Open Championship.

But it has hosted the royal family, US presidents and Hollywood icons.

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Royal Dornoch Golf Club with is clubhouse in the backgroundCredit: Getty – Contributor

Members queued up to say goodbye to the old clubhouse before its demolitionCredit: Bannerman Media

Going forward though, this prestigious Scottish golf course is going to look rather different.

Royal Dornoch Golf Club in the Highlands is considered something of a mecca for keen golfers all over the globe.

It was once voted the second best course anywhere in the world, beating out the likes of the Old Course at St Andrew’s and Trump Turnberry’s Ailsa.

Many famous faces have graced its fairways over the years including Bill Clinton, Michael Jordan and Bing Crosby.

Gareth Bale was a recent visitor in 2023 and the former Duke of York, Prince Andrew, had been an honorary member.

Five-time Open champion Tom Watson said of the course: “I have played none finer, a natural masterpiece,” while fellow golf greats Greg Norman, Sandy Lyle, Ian Woosnam and Jack Nicklaus have also tackled the links.

Royal Dornoch had to close its waiting list in 2024 for the first time ever, with the club knowing it needed a more modern and spacious clubhouse to accommodate growing demand.

The construction of the new £13.9m building has now been completed and local members were given a first look inside it last month before an official opening in spring this year.

But coming in with the new means going out with the old and the club has revealed the demolition date for the 116-year-old building it used to call its clubhouse.

The old venue will be destroyed on February 2 but before that, members will be allowed to hand pick some memorabilia from the building as a keepsake.

General manager Neil Hampton has admitted that plans for what becomes of the old clubhouse’s location (near to the 18th green and first tee) is up in the air.

He said: “We have appointed Nairn specialists G.F. Job for the project, and it will take around eight to ten 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 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.” 

Hampton revealed that members were eager to grab some mementos from the clubhouse, taking home furniture, wall pictures and signage – all in the name of charity.

He said: “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 £3500 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. 

“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. 

“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. 

“This is a building designed with sustainability very much to the fore, with ground source heating, motion sensors and 136 solar panels on the south facing roof.  

“And we were always eager to ensure that as much as possible of the old clubhouse could be recycled.” 

Plans to transform Royal Dornoch aren’t stopping at the clubhouse.

The Sutherland club bought 50 acres of new land with a view to redesigning a hole one the Championship course’s sister track, the Struie course.

And that purchase could lead to the construction of a brand new par-3 course with an upgraded driving range and practice facilities on the horizon too.

Royal Dornoch’s old clubhouse prior to its demolitionCredit: Bannerman Media

An artist’s impression of the new clubhouse

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