DIP INTO TO HERITAGE AND HISTORY WITH “DORNOCH DAYS” 

SPRING is in the air and it’s time for the latest edition of our latest online “Dornoch Days” publication. 

We speak to Chris Mather of Mather and Co, the award-winning experience specialists tasked with showcasing the history and near 150-year heritage of Royal Dornoch. 

Working in tandem with our archivists, Chris and his team have created a memorable journey through time and our new clubhouse. 

Chris said: “The Championship Course is what brings golfers from all over the world to the Highlands of Scotland. Our aim was simply to enhance the overall experience for members and the many visitors to Royal Dornoch from around the world. 

“I am delighted to say the feedback has been very positive and we have been having a few conversations with a few high-profile clubs to see if we can work on heritage installations for them.” 

“Dornoch Days” also carries a fascinating feature exploring the tradition of flying flags to welcome visiting golfers onto the first tee of the Championship Course. 

Rarely does any golfer from foreign fields not grab a selfie or ask a starter to capture a group shot with the clubhouse and flags behind them. 

We invited our Head PGA Coach Gary Dingwall to delve into the background to the flag flying, and he tells us: “Our starters take great care to check the day’s bookings and will often raise the appropriate national flags to recognise the countries represented. It is a small gesture but one that we have found means a lot to visiting golfers.” 

Gary explains the custom dates back half a century, and the club now has a stock of more than 70 flags to call upon. 

We also highlight how Royal Dornoch, and the town, inspires so many to wax lyrical about their visit. Nowadays podcasters and bloggers are following in the footsteps of gifted writers like Herbert Warren Wind and Lorne Rubenstein. 

And we have tracked down one of the youngsters photographed following Tom Watson round the links during his legendary 1981 visit.  

Fraser Morrison, from Inverness, shares fascinating memories of a round of golf which helped transform the fortunes of Royal Dornoch and encourage so many of Watson’s fellow countrymen and women to follow in his footsteps to the Highlands of Scotland.

View the online version below or download a PDF version here – Dornoch Days 11