LANDMARK YEAR IN GOLF CLUB'S HISTORY

ROYAL DORNOCH PLANNING 

YEAR-LONG CELEBRATION IN 2016

NEWS RELEASE

Royal Dornoch Golf Club, the renowned Championship club in the Scottish Highlands, is working closely with the local community to create a year of celebration in 2016.

Co-ordinated by Royal Dornoch Golf Club, “400 years of golf at Dornoch” is a club and community year-long celebration of golf.  The 400 years celebration will allow golfers, the community and its visitors to enjoy many events, activities and celebrations in the town.

The club has been looking at the role golf and sport has played within Dornoch and the wider area. 

The funding of a post graduate research position, filled by Wade Cormack in 2013, was one of the first steps taken to learn more about how golf has shaped the modern community.

“The first year of my research into golf in and around the Moray Firth has already provided some interesting finds.” comments Wade McCormack, PhD student at UHI. 

“From the earliest records it is clear that golf was a sport enjoyed by all and it very quickly provided many people in the region with a business opportunity, as well as a new pastime.”

Visitors, locals and golfers will be able to enjoy talks on new discoveries about golf in the area; attend music, drama, art exhibitions at Royal Dornoch Golf Club and throughout the town of Dornoch. 

“It is an exciting time for the club and we’re so delighted to be met with such enthusiasm from every quarter of the town, with the school children involved in designing our Royal Dornoch Golf Club tartan and many of the town clubs and groups contributing to the 400 year celebration,” said Neil Hampton, General Manager at Royal Dornoch Golf Club.

“The town has really embraced the 400 years and the list of events keeps on growing.”

The 400 years of Golf tees off on the 2^nd of January 2016 with the Captain of Royal Dornoch “driving in,” using a special hand crafted hickory club and feathery ball.

Our summer programme brings town and club together with an exhibition match featuring world renowned professional golfers followed by a celebratory gala dinner. 

The year will be rounded off with visits from the Royal Clubs around the world in September and the Club Captain sinking the final putt on the 18^th green to bring the celebrations to a conclusion at the Captain’s weekend in October.

Keynote Events for the Year

January 2 – Drive In

May 18-20 - Royal Dornoch v Country Club of North Carolina v Donald Ross Society v Atlanta Athletic Club

May 26 - Hickory Match v British Golf Collectors Society

May 27-29 -  Captain’s Invitational Members and Guests Weekend

July 5 - Professional Exhibition and 400 Years Gala Dinner

August 13 - 103^rd Carnegie Shield Final and 400 Year Street Party

September 5-9 - World Royal Club Visit and Matches

October 14-16 - Captain’s Weekend and Putt Out