Moray Old Course
Laid out by Old Tom Morris in 1889 above the fishing town of Lossiemouth, the Old Course at Moray is one of the great unsung links of the Moray Firth. A par 71 of about 6,600 yards through gorse, dunes and firm turf, it closes with one of the most admired finishing holes in the north of Scotland.
Photo: Moray Golf Club via Google, by Anthony Villis.
The verdict
Moray is the sort of links that golfers in the know save for last. Old Tom Morris set it out in 1889 on the dunes and gorse above Lossiemouth, and later hands helped shape it into the firm, running test that survives today. It runs out along the Moray Firth and back, exposed to the sea wind, with the town and the wide skies of the northeast for company.
It does not have the global fame of the Ayrshire or Fife links, and that is precisely its appeal. Green fees and tee sheets here are kinder than at the headline names, the turf is pure links, and the welcome is unfussy. For a travelling golfer working the Highlands and the Moray Firth coast, the Old Course is an essential, characterful round and a fraction of the cost of the marquee names to the south.
Moray Old Course at a glance
- Opened
- 1889
- Designer
- Old Tom Morris
- Type
- Links
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- About 6,600 yds
- Access
- Visitors welcome
Designer, opening year and par verified June 2026 from Moray Golf Club and course databases: Old Tom Morris laid out the Old Course in 1889 as a par 71 of roughly 6,600 yards, with yardage varying by tee. The club welcomes visitors; green fees vary by season and any figure quoted is indicative for 2026. Always confirm the current rate and tee availability directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Old Course is a proper out and back links in the old style, the kind of routing that leaves you playing into a different wind on the way home. Gorse crowds many of the driving lines and the pot bunkers are placed to catch the half struck shot, so position off the tee matters far more than power. The turf runs fast and true, rewarding the player who can flight the ball low and let it chase.
The finish is what people remember. The 18th plays back toward the clubhouse and the rooftops of Lossiemouth, a long and exacting closer that is widely rated among the best finishing holes in Scotland, with the green sitting beneath the watching windows of the club. It is a hole that can undo a good card or crown one, exactly the kind of theatre a links should end on.
Through the round Moray asks for control and patience rather than heroics. Take the safe line, respect the wind and the gorse, and the course gives back a fair, absorbing examination on firm seaside ground. It is links golf without the crowds or the premium, and it lingers in the memory long after.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Visitors welcome seven days a week subject to member competitions; book ahead, especially in summer |
| Green fee | Varies by season; shoulder season rates are notably lower and any figure quoted is indicative for 2026 |
| Booking | Reserve through the Moray Golf Club pro shop or website ahead of travel |
| On the day | Walking links; caddies can be arranged on request; come prepared for wind off the firth |
| Getting there | Lossiemouth, on the Moray coast, about 40 minutes from Inverness Airport |
| Best months | May to September for the warmest, driest links conditions and the longest daylight |
Access and fee information verified June 2026 from Moray Golf Club; rates and policies change, so always confirm directly before planning a visit through the pro shop or your trip planner.
Where to stay nearby
Lossiemouth and nearby Elgin offer comfortable small town hotels and guest houses within minutes of the first tee, while Inverness, around forty minutes west, gives a larger base with more hotels and dining for golfers touring the wider Highlands. Either suits a links focused few days on the Moray Firth.
Moray pairs naturally with the run of great northern links. From here Nairn, Castle Stuart and the famous Royal Dornoch are all within comfortable driving distance, so a stay around the Moray Firth can string together several of Scotland's finest seaside courses in a single trip.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Moray.
Build a Scotland golf trip
We book the Moray tee times, pair the Old Course with the great links of the Moray Firth and Highlands and arrange the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Moray Old Course questions
Who designed the Old Course at Moray and when did it open?
The Old Course at Moray Golf Club was laid out by Old Tom Morris and opened in 1889, on the links above Lossiemouth on the Moray coast of Scotland.
What is the par and length of Moray Old Course?
The Old Course is a par 71 of about 6,600 yards, a traditional out and back links through gorse and pot bunkers. Yardage varies by tee.
Can visitors play the Old Course at Moray?
Yes. Moray Golf Club welcomes visitors seven days a week subject to member competitions, and booking ahead is advised in summer. Green fees vary by season and any figure quoted is indicative for 2026, so always confirm before booking.
What makes the 18th at Moray famous?
The closing 18th plays back toward the clubhouse and the town of Lossiemouth and is widely rated among the finest finishing holes in Scotland, a long and demanding hole beneath the watching windows of the club.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Facts verified June 2026 by web search at write time; indicative fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.