Fortrose & Rosemarkie - North Scotland - Scotland

It's been a few years since I played here, but it is as fresh as if it were yesterday and I'm sure it hasn't changed ! They certainly couldn't build them like this any more - it's on a very narrow strip of land, and with the number of would-be dolphin watchers making their way down the beach or peninsula the number of nearby civilians is only rivalled by the old layout at Nefyn. Superb friendly fun, it's a quick round with lots of trouble if you go offline, the condition is great, you can putt from anywhere, and it's nice to see Castle Stuart and Fort George across the Moray Firth.

Played here as a precursor to Brora and Royal Dornoch and was thoroughly entertained. A lovely drive over the bridge from Inverness through the Black Isle (not sure how it got that name) brings you to to the little village of Fortrose and naturally the course is just down a side street. The gorse was in full bloom and the sun was shining - wow! A very neat and engaging course with plenty of interesting moments. From the opener you are always looking to thread the gorse so be straight. Loved the par 3 5th near a ruin and then across the road and back up the inland side. The 13th was excellent and one of several fun short par 4s. This is a course to really enjoy and you can chat to the people wandering along the beach going up to see the lighthouse and the dolphins. Good quality golf.

This must be where they invented gorse ?!?!

Great layout but take some spare balls OR hit it very very straight.

I have so much time for golf courses like Fortrose & Rosemarkie. A setting as unique and stunning as any I have come across along with some fantastic golf holes and one that is truly world-class.

Often described as a short, tight and fun links this doesn’t quite do the course justice. It is certainly all of those but some big golf is also required and the quality of several holes is extremely high.

Located on the Chanonry Peninsula in the ‘Black Isle’ this Scottish links golf course enjoys breathtaking views over the Moray Firth, very close to the City of Inverness. Now confirmed as being the 15th Oldest Recorded Club in the World in 1793 the course was later re-designed by the five time Open Champion James Braid in 1932. You play four holes out towards the thinnest point of the land-tip, with the sea and beach on your left, before turning and playing another four holes on the other side, again with water on your left.

These are spectacularly located golf holes but they also play so well. Modest in length at 329 yards the first serves as a perfect getaway hole before the second and third raise the bar higher; both have superbly simple and understated green complexes that are so natural in appearance yet difficult to judge.

You are then hit with the fourth; one of the best golf holes I have ever played. Aptly named Lighthouse, for this is what you have been playing towards since your round began. It is a par five from the black tees of just 497 yards. At around 250 yards the fairway ends and broken ground begins and an unbelievable green complex is located at the end of the peninsula. It slopes left-to-right and requires a long carry over rough duneland if you fancy going for the green in two, otherwise a slither of fairway is available down the right. It’s an all-world hole that will live long in the memory.

The course plays longer than its 6,085 yards (par is 71) and is undoubtedly not a venue to miss on your golf trip to The Highlands.

Ed is the founder of Golf Empire – click the link to read his full review.

After a week of fantastic highland golf we visited Fortrose and Rosemarkie on our last day of playing. It was a very sunny day and we enjoyed a good course with stunning views. On the first and last few holes there is only a small margin of error since there is not much space when missing the fairways. Well, at least the gorse was in bloom, so it was nice to look at, when mourning about lost balls. There are some holes, which leave a lasting impression on the golfer’s mind. The fourth (Lighthouse) is very tricky to play, the following fifth (Icehouse) is a quirky Par 3. On the back nine there are some short Par 4s I enjoyed much due to their strategic value. But the surroundings of that peninsula golf course are so beautiful that the design of the single holes hardly matters. And I have to add that the condition of fairways and greens was flawless.I had as much fun on this course as I had ever on any golf course. But to be exceptional it simply lacks greatness: It is too short and tight (especially on the back nine) due to restricted land it is build on and there are many mediocre holes. But that really doesn’t matter: Visit F&R and have a lot of fun!

Played here on my way to RDGC from Castle Stuart(45 min drive)...arrived on a Friday evening and paid our green fees(25 pound pp) in the clubhouse behind the bar...hardly anyone on the course on a lovely summer evening.Very tight course with lots of gorse if you stray from the fairways..excellent par 3 5th over the access road and a really fun and enjoyable detour up North.Short but still a very good test that sits on a magical peninsula opposite Fort George(you can see Castle Stuart Clubhouse across the water)..Great fun..

I loved my visit to Fortrose and Rosemarkie. I am an average player but one of my dreams was to play a true links course in Scotland and to paly seaside. This course fit the bill and exceeded my expectations. Special thanks to Mike for setting up my tee time and assuring me everything would go smoothly. I was staying in Aviemore just south of Inverness and my morning drive to the course started out with rain and cold weather. I was in for a true Scottish golfing experience! Upon arrival the wind picked up and though the rain was spotty the wind increased the challenge and fun with this course. Maybe a little luck but I pared the first hole and was excited and continued to play well even paring the fourth- a spectacular hole! Bu t the wind had its way with me and eventually brought me back to my normal game but I had a wonderful and forever memorable trip. I hope to return some day. Go play this course!

Fortrose lies at Chanonry Point next to the Moray Firth on the Chanonry peninsula. This is one of the most charming locations you will ever chance upon. There is a rather unique feel here with a relaxed atmosphere and a sporty course that will challenge despite its shortness of length. The course is well presented with relatively small greens, ample gorse and well placed pot bunkers. The sea is in close proximity on eight of the holes.

A round can be in disarray early if you hook any shots on the first hole which runs along the water’s edge. The 4th is a standout hole. It is a par five of just 455 yards and yet it is rated the most difficult on the course. Accuracy is essential as you play towards the sloping green in front of Chanonry Lighthouse. The par three 9th is 196 yards in length and can require anything from a short iron to driver but beware of out of bounds which runs all along the left side.

Ten and eleven are par fours that will test your ability to avoid fairway pot bunkers that can spell ruin to any round if you are unlucky enough to finish against a steep revetted face. The 17th fairway has a marker stone which is reputed to also be the location of the last burning of a witch in Scotland. The round concludes with a 212-yard par three and plenty of gorse, particularly left.

This review is an edited extract from Another Journey through the Links, which has been reproduced with David Worley’s kind permission. The author has exclusively rated for us every Scottish course featured in his book. Another Journey through the Links is available for Australian buyers via www.golfbooks.com.au and through Amazon for buyers from other countries.

Great fun. Tight, short, but a proper links course in a great setting.

By far the most original of the courses we played in the Highlands (Brora, Tain, Dornoch and Fortrose), and I am very happy we included it. Not only did the dolphins oblige with a little show but several shots will remain for a long time in memory, just because there are few of its kind around. Although the yardage is modest, the start is not for the faint-hearted as it will be a challenge to stay out of the gorse, especially if the wind is up. You will need your low, penetrating ball flight if you are to succeed. In August this year it also rewarded us with lots of extra length as the fairways were baked hard and the ball rolled miles... A blessing which brought some short par-4s into driving reach but sometimes also a curse as the ball bounced or rolled into trouble. Do not miss!