Fancy a golfing fling in the Scottish Highlands?

The golfing spotlight is back on the Scottish Highlands this summer with the 37th staging of the prestigious Curtis Cup at the wonderful links of Nairn GC.

For the first time, the biennial contest between women amateur golfers representing teams from the USA and GB & Ireland will be played over the celebrated links that overlooks the stunning Moray Firth coastline between June 8-10.

Nairn is a simply sensational place to play as is the Highlands as a whole – as TG discovered when we paid it an early-season visit.

Crafted by a host of golfing legends including Archie Simpson, Old Tom Morris, James Braid and Ben Sayers, Nairn is no stranger to hosting top tournaments – it has put on a number of prestigious events including the Walker Cup in 1997, the Scottish Amateur Championship in 2006 and the Seniors Amateur Open in 2007.

It is without doubt one of Scotland’s leading links layouts and, sure enough, was in cracking form and looked and played an absolute treat when we tackled it on a beautiful, bright sunny spring afternoon.

But the Highlands has so much to offer golfers and indeed nowadays magical Nairn (£90 midweek, £100 weekends) probably now finds itself third in the pecking order behind Royal Dornoch and Castle Stuart, the stunning new course on the Highlands block.

For just over half the price of Nairn’s Championship course (£50 or £35 twilight round) you can get to grips with the fun but challenging seaside layout of Nairn Dunbar on the other side of the town.

It has a good mix of holes with an unusual par-5 finale – make sure you get some good tips from club pro, top teacher David Torrance beforehand!

TG’s final Highlands fling was in Aviemore, home of the outstanding Spey Valley course which is not only one of Scotland’s longest tracks (7,118 yards off the back tees) but also the most scenic.

Sitting in the shadows of Cairngorm mountain, one of Scotland’s highest peaks, it is an absolute stunner in every sense. No wonder architect Dave Thomas claims it as a must play and one of the best courses he has created worldwide. Check Spey Valley out in more detail in the new issue of Today’s Golfer…

The splendid five star guest house Sandown House in Nairn proved the ideal base for our Highlands sojourn. It is just a short walk from both Nairn championship course and the superbly idyllic beaches.

The rooms are beautifully furnished and our first floor room in the plush new Courtyard complex had its own balcony providing great countryside and coastal views.

Sandown House is owned and run by Andy and Liz Burgess who know all there is to know about the Highlands and the local golfing scene. Andy is a member of both Nairn clubs as well as being a director of the Oldmedrum resort in Aberdeen. Call 01667 451363 or visit www.sandownhouse.com for more details and latest rates & offers.

Getting there

You can fly direct into Inverness but TG took the rail option and experienced one of the great railway journeys: East Coast operates one service per day between our Peterborough HQ and Inverness. Customers travelling First Class can enjoy East Coast’s complimentary food and drinks offer plus unlimited Wi-Fi. Advanced return fares, booked online at www.eastcoast.co.uk: start from £30.30 Standard Class or £99.80 First Class. Times and fares can also be found via 08457 225225 or from any staffed stations.

The golfing spotlight is back on the Scottish Highlands this summer with the 37th staging of the prestigious Curtis Cup at the wonderful links of Nairn GC.

For the first time, the biennial contest between women amateur golfers representing teams from the USA and GB & Ireland will be played over the celebrated links that overlooks the stunning Moray Firth coastline between June 8-10.

Nairn is a simply sensational place to play as is the Highlands as a whole – as TG discovered when we paid it an early-season visit.

Crafted by a host of golfing legends including Archie Simpson, Old Tom Morris, James Braid and Ben Sayers, Nairn is no stranger to hosting top tournaments – it has put on a number of prestigious events including the Walker Cup in 1997, the Scottish Amateur Championship in 2006 and the Seniors Amateur Open in 2007.

It is without doubt one of Scotland’s leading links layouts and, sure enough, was in cracking form and looked and played an absolute treat when we tackled it on a beautiful, bright sunny spring afternoon.

But the Highlands has so much to offer golfers and indeed nowadays magical Nairn (£90 midweek, £100 weekends) probably now finds itself third in the pecking order behind Royal Dornoch and Castle Stuart, the stunning new course on the Highlands block.

For just over half the price of Nairn’s Championship course (£50 or £35 twilight round) you can get to grips with the fun but challenging seaside layout of Nairn Dunbar on the other side of the town.

It has a good mix of holes with an unusual par-5 finale – make sure you get some good tips from club pro, top teacher David Torrance beforehand!

TG’s final Highlands fling was in Aviemore, home of the outstanding Spey Valley course which is not only one of Scotland’s longest tracks (7,118 yards off the back tees) but also the most scenic.

Sitting in the shadows of Cairngorm mountain, one of Scotland’s highest peaks, it is an absolute stunner in every sense. No wonder architect Dave Thomas claims it as a must play and one of the best courses he has created worldwide. Check Spey Valley out in more detail in the new issue of Today’s Golfer…

The splendid five star guest house Sandown House in Nairn proved the ideal base for our Highlands sojourn. It is just a short walk from both Nairn championship course and the superbly idyllic beaches.

The rooms are beautifully furnished and our first floor room in the plush new Courtyard complex had its own balcony providing great countryside and coastal views.

Sandown House is owned and run by Andy and Liz Burgess who know all there is to know about the Highlands and the local golfing scene. Andy is a member of both Nairn clubs as well as being a director of the Oldmedrum resort in Aberdeen. Call 01667 451363 or visit www.sandownhouse.com for more details and latest rates & offers.

Getting there

You can fly direct into Inverness but TG took the rail option and experienced one of the great railway journeys: East Coast operates one service per day between our Peterborough HQ and Inverness. Customers travelling First Class can enjoy East Coast’s complimentary food and drinks offer plus unlimited Wi-Fi. Advanced return fares, booked online at www.eastcoast.co.uk: start from £30.30 Standard Class or £99.80 First Class. Times and fares can also be found via 08457 225225 or from any staffed stations.