Skibo Castle is located forty miles north of Inverness and just four miles away from Royal Dornoch Golf Club; it is one of the most exclusive private clubs in the UK, the epitome of luxury. The home is the passions of industrialist Andrew Carnegie, who arrived in Skibo in 1898 and transformed the 8,000acre estate. The castle is pure timeless elegance — compelling Scottish Baronial décor and architecture to the fore, dressed with the best Edwardian furniture.
The golf course, situated on the shores of the Moray Firth is a masterpiece from Donald Steel and Tom Mackenzie. This is a modern links, requiring pure shot-making skills to be successful, where strategy and decision are rewarded. As you would expect from such a prestigious piece of land, it is beautifully cared for. Wispy high grasses and heather frame each hole, and as you progress through the front nine, the dunes start to rise from the earth. The 2nd hole is superb par four. A dog-leg of 412yards, there is a collection of five bunkers that meet you at the turn of the hole, three right and two left. Aiming for the two to the left is the safe play, but for the longer hitters, those with a 250+ carry, the three on the right can be by-passed. From there it’s a seven or eight iron to find the putting surface, but anything under hit will likely find one of the four traps protecting the front of the green. A fabulous test of nerve and accuracy early in the round.
The short sixth, at 151yards, is as enduring a par three as you will encounter anywhere. The Dornoch Firth catches your eye in the distance, and the shoreline creeps into view on the right side, but really should be out of reach. A solitary bunker at the front right of the putting surface may catch your eye, but the right side of the green is to be avoided for many reasons, it included. A knoll of rough about 40 yards short of the green must be carried, but once achieved, there is a substantial green awaiting. Three here is a great score.
The favorite hole for the Pro is the 16th, a driveable par four (with a gentle breeze) at 304yards from the tips, a gentler 285yards from the medal tees. A quartet of bunkers sits plum in the middle of the fairway to catch precisely the sort of shot you hope not to hit, and a further trap is situated to the right of the putting surface. When you’ve traveled all this way to play, there is no reason to lay-up!
The Carnegie Links is a fabulous addition to the Highlands and should be included on your trip to Royal Dornoch. Limited public times are available at Skibo, so why not let The Consummate Pro take you there in style and make it a Scottish golf vacation of a lifetime.
