Enjoy a round during the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart

Why not enjoy some North Highlands golf when you attend this year's Scottish Open at Castle Stuart. The Dornoch Firth Golf pass offers 30% discount at Brora, Golspie, Royal Dornoch and Tain when you purchase a Dornoch Firth Golf Pass for £30. Visit www.dornochfirthgolf.co.uk

Dornoch Firth Golf Pass Raises its Game for 2011

Since its launch 8 months ago the Dornoch Firth Golf Pass partnership have sold one hundred and sixty passes, generating revenue of £4,800 revenue for the Brora, Golspie, Tain and Royal Dornoch golf clubs, with further green fee sales of £30,000 when used.

The pass enables golfers to receive 30% discount off 5 rounds of golf once they have purchased the pass for £30. The obvious attraction of the pass is the opportunity to play Royal Dornoch’s Championship Course but the pass also promotes the area for golfers to stay in and enjoy a range of courses at Brora, Golspie, Tain as well as Royal Dornoch’s Struie Course.

The Dornoch Firth Golf pass was launched between the four clubs and with assistance from Highland Council Ward Discretionary Fund, the VisitScotland Growth Fund and five local hotels.

‘The pass has been the result of the club’s collaboration and the recognition that by working together the Dornoch Firth area can be put on the map as a destination for the golf visitor. The pass has been sponsored by a group of local hotels and their information included on collateral and the website’, commented Jill McNicol, Marketing and membership manager of North Highland Tourism.

‘Results from our on-line survey reveals that visitors to the area expect to spend three or more nights in the area spending an average of £250 per trip and we estimate that the visitors who purchased the Dornoch Firth Golf Pass have put £40,000 into the local tourism economy’, she added.

To raise awareness about the pass and encourage accommodation providers to promote it within packages that they offer, the partnership is organising two accommodation provider’s briefings on Tuesday 1 March at 5.15pm (Tain Golf Club) and Wednesday 2 March at 3.15pm (Brora Golf Club). Anyone interested in attending should email info@northhighlandsscotland.com

The partnership’s new website www.dornochfirthgolf.co.uk is starting to see its first on line pass sales come through.

‘We envisage a pick-up in online sales as visitors from around the world plan trips to coincide with such tournaments as the Walker Cup which is being played at Royal Aberdeen and whose Head Green keeper, Robert Paterson was formerly at Royal Dornoch’, said Jeanette Cumming of Golspie Golf Club.

Further information from North Highland Tourism’s online survey showed that everyone felt the pass represented great value for money and would buy it again. 77% had stayed four or more nights away from home using the pass. 67% spent over £51 per person per day with over 11% spending £101+ per person per day. 55.6% plan to stay away again using their existing pass and 66.7% had played golf in the North Highlands before purchasing the pass
For more information visit http://www.blogger.com/www.dornochfirthgolf.co.uk

College golf team tops league

THE UHI Golf Team, made up students studying the BA (Hons) Golf Management degree at North Highland College in Dornoch, are currently top of the Scottish University Sports/BUCS winter league.

The team, who play their home matches on the Struie Course at Royal Dornoch Golf Club, have beaten teams from Edinburgh University, Heriot-Watt University and recently gained a good draw against Dundee away from home.

The league of seven teams from across Scotland is made up of eight-man teams, playing each team once.

Alan Fleming, team coach, PGA Professional and golf management lecturer for North Highland College, says: “The team have had a really good start to this year’s league. The UHI Golf Team is performing well, and when you consider the size of the pool of students in comparison to some of the other teams, the strength of our team is quite impressive.

“So far there have been 12 different players representing the team this year, providing good competition for places. The students all play and practice regularly as part of their programme of study as well as for recreation and competition. This helps them develop a good level of consistency and competitive spirit.

“At this point I am confident that the team will go on to qualify for the British Unis, a great achievement for the team, for the golf management programme, for North Highland College and for the UHI.

“The golf team is grateful for the continued support of Royal Dornoch Golf Club and Neil Hampton, their new club manager, as well as Willie MacKay, clubgolf Regional Manager for the Highlands.”

Golfing visitors to the area can receive 30% off green fees at both Royal Dornoch courses, Golspie, Tain and Brora for the cost of a £30 Dornoch Firth golf pass card. Visit www.dornochfirth.co.uk for more information.

Royal Golf Hotel wins Gold Standard Award

Congratulations to the Royal Golf Hotel, Dornoch which won Hotel of the Year(Large hotel category) at the glittering Golf Tourism Scotland’s Gold Standard Awards held at the Macdonald Marine Hotel & Spa in North Berwick last week. The sell-out event has become the golf industry’s annual jamboree during which the very best of Scottish golf tourism is celebrated. Nominations for this category were open to hotels with more than 20 bedrooms which provide services to golf visitors.
Why not purchase a Dornoch Firth Golf pass, stay at the Royal Golf Hotel and play Brora, Golspie, Tain and the two Royal Dornoch courses - Championship and Struie. Passes are available at http://www.dornochfirthgolf.co.uk/ and from each of the participating clubs.

Where in the World Radio Broadcast Praises Dornoch

Broadcasting live from Dornoch last night emminent Travel Editor Andy Mossack singled out Dornoch and the surrounding area as 'one of my favourite places in the world.'

The travel writer requested a visit to the area through North Highland Tourism with the help of some of its members including Brora Golf Club, The Royal Marine Hotel, Brora, the Dornoch Castle Hotel and Royal Dornoch Golf Club. During his stay Andy will also experience a wildlife boat trip with EcoVentures of Cromarty.

Andy will be writing features about the recently introduced Dornoch Firth Golf Pass which offers visitors 30% discount at Golspie, Tain, Brora and the two Royal Dornoch golf courses for a card price of £30. The promotion is supported by local hotels in the area and VisitScotland and Highland Council East Sutherland and Edderton and Tain and Easter Ross ward discretionary fund.

Further information is available at: www.dornochfirthgolf.co.uk

Head Greenkeeper scoops Royal Dornoch's Carnegie Shield

Alexander MacDonald, Head Greenkeeper at Golspie Golf Club, won the prestigious Carnegie Shield at Royal Dornoch last Saturday 14 August. This famous event lasts for 7 days with all competitors playing 2 rounds of stroke play - the top 32 then move to match play until finally there are just 2 left. Alexander had made the final on one previous occasion but this is the first time that he has come away with the top prize, after beating local competitor, Christopher “Chippy” Mailey, in the final match.
'We knew Alexander was in fine form as earlier in the season he had won the Golspie Club Championship and followed that with victory in the W.A.MacRae Trophy with a new course record' said John Davies, Golspie Golf Club.

Golspie Golf Club is one of the four clubs operating The Dornoch Firth Golf Pass that brings together five of the Highland’s finest golf courses with an easy to book golf card for the visitor, enabling great discounts to be taken throughout the year.
With a £30 Dornoch Firth Golf Pass you receive 30% off when you play Brora, Golspie, Tain and Royal Dornoch’s Championship Links and Struie course.

The card can be purchased at any of the courses involved and many other attractions and accommodation providers in the area or you can visit our website and do it all from there. You then simply book your tee times direct with the golf club to receive your discount.
Further information at http://www.dornochfirthgolf.co.uk/

Dining at Golspie

Last time I was at Golspie it was great to see a new catering set up.

The 30/40 seater Clubhouse Restaurant at Golspie Golf Club opened in March 2009. It features a brand new name and Management. A young couple with local connections are the new faces behind the Fairway Restaurant. They will be serving affordable Bistro-style food all year round and hosting many theme nights throughout the year. A friendly and welcoming atmosphere awaits you on arrival.

Penelope Lee and Robert Stephenson are the partnership running the business. Penelope is the Restaurant Manager who caters to your every need and Robert is the Head Chef. Robert is a Professionally trained Chef of over 10 years with experience in one and two AA Rosette Establishments. With his capability and knowledge you are sure to enjoy your meal. There really is something for everyone with a Children's' menu and Senior Discount day on a Thursday. There is also usually an Event night on every two weeks on a Saturday Night.

For more information visit the Golspie Golf club website