The links of the famous Royal Dornoch Golf Club stand as one of the great outposts of world golf and one of the finest of all golf courses. Remoteness is part of its charm and the only reason that this magnificent links remains out of the mainstream of major championship golf.  Were it in the central belt of Scotland Royal Dornoch would surely have long since hosted an Open Championship. Today it retains something of a cult following, particularly in the United States, fuelled by the praises sung of it by luminaries such as Tom Watson.

The course epitomises all you could ask for in a classic links course, with nine holes out along the coast to where the Loch of Wester enters the North Sea then nine holes back beside the sand dunes, with firm and fast fairways, well-positioned bunkers and smooth rolling greens.

Scotland has dozens of famous classic links courses but Brora is probably the least well known and this  northerly course really does deserve to be discovered. The golf course design is recognised as being one of James Braid’s finest pieces of work and was founded in 1891. The green staff work tirelessly to preserve the original design, whilst presenting a course that is regularly acclaimed for its quality. The perfect balance between challenge and fun, and in a breath-taking setting.

Organised golf has been played in this part of the Scottish Highlands for well over a hundred years with Golspie Golf Club formed in 1889 – twelve years after Dornoch, one year before Tain and two years before Brora. Unlike these other three neighbouring courses, the terrain at Golspie is not exclusively links in nature. The course routing sets out over meadowland, quickly turns back as links along the Dornoch Firth for several holes, veers away from the shore into tree-lined heathland around the turn then returns to parkland and links by the end of the round.

Reay Golf Club lies on the edge of Sandside Bay, 20 miles to the west of the house, and offers panoramic views of the Pentland Firth and North Atlantic from every hole on the course. Being the most northerly 18-hole links course on the British mainland, Reay’s unique distinction adds to the allure. The course is a true example of a links course and another of James Braid's designs. Its exposed location and the typical challenging conditions call for real shot making, from punched long irons, little bump and runs to hitting under the wind.

The tree lined parkland course offers golfers of all abilities an excellent challenge. There are lush fairways, generous well-manicured greens as well as some beautiful whin bushes which you do not want to go in! The present course was established as a 9-hole in 1921 and was extended to 18 holes in 1963. Over 100,000 trees have been planted which gives the course a parkland feel. Because it is located on a hill above Thurso, several holes are tough tests into a prevailing wind. The signature hole is the 13th over a burn with heather on the left and the rough on the right. The green is drivable but with a strong wind against the fairway is sometimes out of reach. The 15th green has a fine view of the Pentland Firth, Orkney and Dunnet Head.