Dornoch Struie
The second course at Royal Dornoch, the Struie is a genuine Highland links that has stepped out of the shadow of its world famous neighbour. A par 71 of about 6,205 yards along the Dornoch Firth, it marked its centenary in 2023 and now opens with a new infinity green ninth by Mackenzie and Ebert.
Photo: Dornoch Struie via Google.
The verdict
Most golfers make the long journey north for the Championship Course at Royal Dornoch, and rightly so, but the club's second course, the Struie, is far more than a warm up. Known to locals as the Low Course, it runs along the inland side of the property beside the meandering Dornoch Burn, and since its reconfiguration to a full eighteen holes in 1999 it has matured into one of the better value links rounds in the Highlands, rated among the top fifty links courses in Scotland.
The club has invested heavily here, most visibly in a new par 3 ninth with an infinity green designed by leading architects Mackenzie and Ebert, set high with sweeping views across the Firth. The Struie is tighter and more intimate than the Championship, with smaller greens and the burn in play on several holes, and it rewards the golfer who plots a line rather than overpowers it. Paired with a round on the famous links next door, it makes a day at Dornoch complete.
Dornoch Struie at a glance
- Opened
- 1923, 18 holes from 1999
- Designer
- Royal Dornoch, ninth by Mackenzie and Ebert
- Type
- Highland links
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- About 6,205 yds
- Green fee
- About 85 GBP, 2026
Par, yardage and the 2026 green fee verified June 2026 from Royal Dornoch Golf Club. The Struie plays to a par of 71 at about 6,205 yards from the white tees, with a published single round green fee of about 85 pounds for April to October 2026. Rates change by season and year, so always confirm current fees and tee time availability directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Struie opens with a short par 3 and quickly settles into honest Highland links golf, the Dornoch Burn winding through the early holes and tightening the driving lines. The greens are smaller than on the Championship Course and ask for careful distance control rather than raw length, and the wind off the Firth shapes the right club on almost every approach.
The eighth, Dornoch Firth, is the longest hole across both Royal Dornoch courses, a par 5 of about 553 yards that rarely gives up a chance to reach in two when the prevailing wind is up. It leads straight into the new par 3 ninth, the standout addition, played to an infinity green by Mackenzie and Ebert with magnificent views of the Dornoch Firth and the hills beyond, where crosswinds and bunkers on both sides make club selection everything.
The back nine runs out along the water, with the tenth, Ceol Na Mara, hugging the Firth on the left and the dunes guarding the right beneath the Struie Hill that gives the course its name. A pair of reachable par 5s and a tempting short par 4 fifteenth keep the scoring alive before a short uphill par 3 finish, so the Struie stays in the balance to the last.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Open to visitors; book a tee time online through Royal Dornoch, often paired with a round on the Championship Course |
| Green fee | About 85 GBP single round for April to October, with shoulder and winter rates lower (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | 2026 tee times are released by the club; reserve well ahead in summer, especially if you want both courses in a day |
| On the day | Walking links with caddies and trolleys available; a current handicap is sensible though the Struie is the more forgiving of the two |
| Getting there | Golf Road, Dornoch IV25 3LW, about an hour north of Inverness and Inverness Airport |
| Best months | May to September for the long northern daylight and the firmest links turf |
Access and fees verified June 2026 from Royal Dornoch Golf Club. The Struie is open to visitors and is often booked alongside the Championship Course; figures are indicative and change by season, so always confirm directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Most visiting golfers stay in the town of Dornoch itself, a short walk from both courses, where the Royal Golf Hotel and Links House sit alongside guest houses and self catering options within yards of the first tee. It is one of the most convenient golf bases in Scotland, with the clubhouse, the beach and the town square all close together.
For a wider Highlands trip, Dornoch works as the hub for the great northern links, pairing the Struie and the Championship Course with Brora, Golspie and the neighbouring courses up the coast. Inverness, about an hour south, offers larger hotels and the airport for those flying in.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Dornoch Struie.
Build a Highlands golf trip
We pair the Struie with the Championship Course at Royal Dornoch and the best of the northern Highlands links, then book the lodging and the logistics around your tee times. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Dornoch Struie questions
Who designed the Struie Course at Royal Dornoch?
The Struie is Royal Dornoch's second course, expanded to eighteen holes in 1999, with a new par 3 ninth and infinity green designed by leading architects Mackenzie and Ebert as part of recent investment in the layout.
What is the par and length of the Struie?
The Struie plays to a par of 71 at about 6,205 yards from the white tees, a touch shorter and tighter than the Championship Course, with smaller greens and the Dornoch Burn in play.
How much does it cost to play the Struie?
The published single round green fee is about 85 pounds for April to October 2026, with lower shoulder and winter rates. Fees are indicative and change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
Can visitors play the Struie Course?
Yes. The Struie is open to visiting golfers and tee times are booked online through Royal Dornoch, frequently combined with a round on the Championship Course in the same day.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.