ROYAL DORNOCH GOLF CLUB OPENS NEW HALFWAY HOUSE

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY ROYAL DORNOCH GOLF CLUB

Dornoch, Sutherland: Royal Dornoch Golf Club, the renowned Championship course in the Scottish Highlands, continues to invest in facilities ensuring they match the standard golfers expect from world championship courses, with the environmentally friendly Halfway House being officially opened by Mrs Alison S Burnett, a long standing member of the Royal Dornoch Golf Club.

Having been actively involved and playing on the course for 52 years Mrs. Burnett has seen many developments that have helped enhance the experience of Royal Dornoch Championship Course, but none have been quite so personal as the Halfway House.

“I love playing golf and have played at many championship resorts worldwide, when I first recognised the advantages of having a more conducive place to stop along my round, I knew this was something we should do at Royal Dornoch.” 

Comments Mrs Burnett: “I was delighted when the committee and management agreed and am even more delighted when I see the sympathetic design that complements our natural links course.”

General Manager Neil Hampton notes “Golf is a world sport and with the levels of facilities ever increasing, Royal Dornoch considers ourselves a world class course and therefore it was vital to invest in a Halfway House.  The bar is continually rising from our visitors and our members for the level of amenities as well as the course; we were pleased with the fit of Mrs. Burnett‘s suggestion to that of the ongoing development plans at the club.” 

The stunning Halfway House is situated behind the ninth green, with views back over the first nine holes of the Royal Dornoch Championship Course and the Dornoch Firth in the background. 

The elliptical design was a clear choice to meet the requirements of creating an empathetic building that could nestle within the curve of the hills.  The structure meets all the aspirations outlined being constructed in concrete for long lasting robustness, clad in natural sustainable larch with Douglas Fir supports and a sedum roof that blends the building into the course.  

The halfway house consists of two toilets, with secure entry pad system for use by golfers on the course and a service area that will provide refreshments and snacks on competition days and as required throughout the 2012 season.

Colin Henderson, of architects Neil Sutherland comments “This has been one of the most straightforward projects to have worked on. The client clearly new their requirements, the environmental impact and the needs of their customers.  When you add this to the ease of working with local contractors who understood the materials meant we moved from conception to completion in 3 months.   

"Royal Dornoch Golf Club members and visitors will, I’m sure, have a facility they will make good use of this season and for many more years.”

General Manager Neil Hampton added that Royal Dornoch endeavours to use locally-based companies where possible and the level of design and craftsmanship from J S Gunn of Dornoch and Richard MacKenzie in Tain worked well in creating the vision of Inverness-based architects Neil Sutherland.

The appreciation of the setting and enhancing the natural beauty of the traditional links course helps confirm the status of the Sutherland based Championship course.

Founded in 1877, Royal Dornoch Golf Club presents exceptional standards that extend beyond the courses and greens to the restaurant, bar and lounge and other facilities. The course is consistently ranked amongst the top 20 of the world’s top 100 courses and has previously been awarded Golf Tourism Scotland’s “Course of the Year”.

Royal Dornoch Golf Club

Royal Dornoch Golf Club was founded in the late 19^th Century as a private members club, and was given the Royal title by King Edward VII in 1906. The club boasts a Championship course as well as a second 18-hole course, the Struie. Over the years the club has played host to many events such as the Northern Open, the Scottish Ladies, and the Scottish Professional and Scottish Amateur Championships. The club is situated in the town of Dornoch, 45 miles from the gateway to the Highlands, Inverness and its airport.