Durness Golf Club

Durness Golf Club is a course that captures the soul and spirit of the ancient game. It was founded by three locals in 1988 and continues to gain acclaim from those who have made the trek to play it!

Found on the northern coast of mainland Scotland, the course is found on the shores of Balnakeil Beach. Loch Lanlish, Loch Croispol, and Loch Borralie influence play whilst Kyle of Durness, a coastal inlet of golden sand and turquoise waters, is found just to the east.

Durness Golf Club Review

Durness Golf Club represents everything I love about Highland golf. Tucked in the northwest corner of the Scottish mainland, Durness is over 100 miles from the nearest large airport at Inverness. There is a small clubhouse, complete with an honesty box. A 9-hole round is £20 – but I humbly suggest the extra £10 for a day ticket will be money well spent.

The 1st is a near 90-degree dog leg – 200 yards to the apex, and an approach left to a green perched well above. The green offers perhaps my favourite west coast view to date. Electric blue water bordered by pure white sand behind with mountains, lochs, and stunning golf ahead.

The par 4 2nd takes you over the hill, away from the beach. It’s only short – but you’re punished if you miss that green. There are two very different tees on all of these holes – making the ‘second’ 9 feel very different to the first.

The 3rd is where the course steps up a level from fun golf in a beautiful setting to great golf in its own right. A drive far and sure over the marker post is required. The green is narrow with dunes left and right – hope for a forward kick down the cascading fairway.

The 4th plays through sensational golfing land. Nothing contrived. Dramatic ridges and furrows protect the fairway right and green left. The fairway depression is easy to find but leaves a blind second. Take on the narrow fairway strip and right-hand ridge to have a clear view in.

The 5th makes wonderful use of not just different tees, but different spits of fairway. The result is the two tees present two entirely distinct holes. You can whale on a driver or aim for the snaking fairway. Rocks break through the ground here, so a ricochet is in play!

6 might not be a true ‘cape’ hole, but this hole sweeping around Loch Lanlish is tremendous. The tees are almost 200 yards apart – again offering two different tests. One tempts more on the drive, the other on the approach. Officially a par 5, but surely it would be immoral to lay up…

7 is a long par 3, from where you cross the second fairway in search of the 8th tee. Another spectacular hole with a rumpled fairway cascading down towards Balnakeil Bay. The green is well bunkered short, and appears to sit on the ocean itself – make sure you commit to your yardage! Before we know it, we’ve reached the climax of our short round. From the tees on one cliff to the green on another – there are no prizes for guessing the inspiration for the 9th – an epic one shotter.

It’s a good job we paid for that day ticket… It may sound hyperbolic, but I think this place represents everything great about our game. Founded by a few local enthusiasts plotting a fun course over great land, it is run by volunteers and one full-time greenkeeper. You will have as much fun here as any big money, big name. – Review by Sam Cooper