LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS FOR HOSTING THE CURTIS CUP

Photo: Royal Dornoch general manager Neil Hampton (second right) pictured with Sandy Fraser, Claire Riddell and Colin Mackay at the Bel-Air Country Club

ROYAL Dornoch has begun the countdown to hosting the 45th Curtis Cup in 2028.

The biennial event, which matches the cream of women amateur golfers from Great Britain and Ireland and the USA, will follow hard on the heels of the club’s 150th anniversary celebrations next year.

To prepare the groundwork for welcoming the event to the Highlands, general manager Neil Hampton, assistant Claire Riddell, vice-captain Colin Mackay and council member Sandy Fraser are attending the 2026 match being held at Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles from Friday through to Sunday.

“It is a huge honour to have been selected to host the Curtis Cup in the summer of 2028 and everyone at Royal Dornoch is looking forward to what will be a memorable week for the club,” said Neil.

“While we will be taking in some of the action over the next few days, primarily we are here to have a look behind the scenes and get a grasp of the logistical challenges involved in hosting such a prestigious international tournament, on and off the golf course.

“We know we have a word class golf course, and now a clubhouse to match, at Royal Dornoch.

“Clearly Los Angeles is very different from a small Highland town like Dornoch but in recent years there has been welcome investment in the accommodation infrastructure in the area and the Curtis Cup is going to provide a significant economic boost as we welcome golf fans from both sides of the Atlantic.”