One way to judge the quality of golf courses anywhere in the world is to look at the tournaments they have hosted. The Nairn has played host to the 1999 Walker Cup and the 2012 Curtis Cup, Nairn Dunbar played host to the 2017 Amateur Boys Championship and the wonderful Castle Stuart Golf Links hosted The Scottish Open for a number of years in the 2010s. When Phil Mickelson - winner of the Scottish Open in 2013 (as well as The US Open and The Open that year) - recently pointed out that the winner of The Open played in the Scottish Open every year when Castle Stuart was the host venue then we should all take notice!
Arrive in Scotland where you will be met by one of the Morton Golf team and escorted to your vehicle. First stop, Nairn Dunbar.
Situated on the shores of the Moray Firth, the Nairn Dunbar golf course, founded in 1899, is a highly rated Scottish links championship course representing a formidable challenge with its gorse and whin lined fairways.
After your round, check into the wonderful Invernairne Hotel for 3 nights.
Play The Nairn.
The Nairn had no humble origin. Masterminded in 1887 by the Edinburgh born advocate, Robert Finlay, like him the golf course was to grow immensely in stature. As for Finlay, the local MP, he rose to become a Viscount after presiding for three years as Britain's Lord Chancellor, and remained ever faithful to Nairn.
Finlay was astute. He persuaded his influential London friends to join as members and on taking forward the initial design of Andrew Simpson, head greenkeeper at Royal Aberdeen, he called upon that Grand Old Man of golf, Old Tom Morris. Old Tom totally revised the course and extended it westward over the Earl of Cawdor's property.
Twenty years on, the five times Open Champion James Braid (and the first to break 70 here with a 69 in 1901) was altering tees and bunkers before creating new greens of singular subtlety. Then, in 1920, new holes at Delnies were designed by the irrepressible Ben Sayers of North Berwick before, once more, Braid returned to contribute his expertise.
Notwithstanding discreet improvements fifty years ago by the esteemed architect C. K. Cotton, and some judicious lengthening prior to the Walker Cup contest in 1999, Nairn nevertheless remains substantially the links course that James Braid knew and admired so well.
Forgotten now is Nairn's prowess as a bathing resort. Instead it is a mecca for golfers - the legacy of three hugely talented men.
Check out of your hotel and take the short transfer to Castle Stuart Golf Links.
Designed by Mark Parsinen and Gil Hanse, the course has well-placed bunkers, is in fantastic condition and is definitely one of Scotland's 'must-play' courses.
Having attracted international acclaim for its design, location and ability to be playable yet challenging for both amateurs and professionals, the course’s reputation has continued to burgeon and it made T-60 () in the latest Golf Digest’s Top 100 Courses in the World.
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