Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Club Course Review

Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Club Course Review

GF £25-£75; Twilight: £20-£45
Par 71 5,893 yards
Slope 119
GM Verdict Short and sweet links golf on a long, low peninsula
Favourite Hole The short par-5 4th offers real drama and a buckling landscape. Don’t let a birdie four become a seven

A long, narrow peninsula juts out into the Moray Firth, slicing through the waters until you reach the lighthouse at the very tip. The narrow road to reach it passes golf holes on both sides and it is easy to see that this low landscape will be whipped by the wind.

This is Chanonry Point and golf was first played on this land in 1702. Today’s layout is attributed to James Braid who extended the course to 18 holes in 1935. He created a smart routing that takes you out to the lighthouse on a straight opening run of four holes, above the beach, before crossing the road at the tip and then sending you back along the opposite shore for three more. The remaining 10 holes then play over the land between these eight, filling the inside of what resembles a thin slice of cake.

The landscape is exposed and there are but a handful of trees here. Gorse is your only protection so you can expect a day playing the wind. The course’s small, devious greens and strategic pot bunkers (the one short of the par-3 9th could leave you with nightmares) will not let you away with loose shots and you won’t want to sully your scorecard by hooking your opening tee shot onto the beach.

This will prove a particular challenge on the opening eight holes for anyone with a draw because that sea is never far away. You will also do well to avoid the choking gorse left and right of the fairway, and this is something you will encounter frequently.  The 2nd green introduces you to the beautiful wrinkled shapes of the land. They’re like creased bedsheets and that extends to the 3rd green which is of the upturned saucer variety.

Overall, the greens are smartly defended by bunkers as well as the small surfaces themselves, which are all too easy to slip off. Short sharp slopes will whip your ball away, leaving awkward recovery shots. You could be there for a while on the 3rd. The bunkerless par-5 4th is the highlight of the day. At just 465 yards it is Index 1 and regarded as one of the best holes in the Highlands. This is all about the buckling fairway, a semi-blind drive and not being over-ambitious as you play to the green high out on the Point, beneath the lighthouse. Even a simple wedge to the green guarantees you nothing.

The middle of the course may lack some of that same drama (the back nine starts with eight par 4s, including back-to back holes of under 300 yards) but finding greens is always a challenge and playing the wind lasts till you walk off the 18th green. The card may tell you this is a short course but care is always needed and chasing flags is not recommended. This is a links that requires patience, intelligence and respect.

Fortrose & Rosemarkie is actually just three miles from Castle Stuart, albeit across water and actually 20 miles by road. The area has several more Top 100 and Next 100 golf courses and makes for a great golfing destination.