Fortrose marking 125th anniversary in style

A visit to Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Club in the Scottish Highlands provides an opportunity to play one of the most unique links courses in the United Kingdom.

To mark 125 years at the links, Fortrose & Rosemarkie will be hosting three national tournaments including the Loretto Scottish Boys & Girls Under-14 Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship from the 11 – 12 August 2013 in addition to two other national tournaments in what is an historic year on the links.

The course was re-designed by the five times Open Champion James Braid in 1932 and in addition to its proud history the Club offers members, their guests and visiting golfers fantastic practice facilities in addition to the real ‘gem’ in the course itself.

The unique course is situated amidst stunning scenery being just 15 miles from Inverness, 30 minutes from the nearest airport at Dalcross which is beside Castle Stuart Golf Links and only 45 minutes from the world famous Royal Dornoch Golf Club.

There is reference to golf being played at Fortrose & Rosemarkie as far back as 1702, though it was not until the 29th September 1888 that the golf club was first established with a membership of fifty playing over six holes.

Play was suspended during the First World War when the clubhouse was used by the Highland Cyclist Battalion as a guardhouse!  The course was extended to 18 holes by 1924 but it was ten years later before James Braid shaped the links to its current design and Sir Hector Munro opened the revamped course 1935.

War intervened again in the early 1940s when the military requisitioned the course and clubhouse as a training ground during the Second World War but all 18 holes were back in play by 1947. 

Fortrose & Rosemarkie lies out on a narrow peninsula named Chanonry Point, just north of Inverness – jutting out into Rosemarkie Bay – protecting the entrance to the Moray Firth. The road to the lighthouse divides the course in two, with just enough land either side to accommodate a 5,890-yard long golf course which is soon to be extended to over 6000 yards.

What Fortrose & Rosemarkie may lack in yardage is more than made up for with its small, subtle, quick greens, strategic bunkering, dense island gorse and the proximity of the sea at nearly half the holes.

Fortrose & Rosemarkie proudly hosted two national competitions during 2010, the first time the club has ever attracted such prestigious events to the Black Isle. The first tournament was the SLGA Scottish Senior Ladies Amateur Championship when Fiona de Vries of St Rule beat defending champion, Heather Anderson of Alyth 1 up in the match play final.

The other contest saw a three-man team of Carrickvale from Lothians win the SGU Scottish Club Championship by a winning margin of three strokes over second placed St Andrews. 

Golfers can now join the Club for as little as £475 per year (this fee includes £55 being put onto the members loyalty card). 

In summary, Fortrose is an extraodinary place to play links golf in a setting  surrounded on three sides by the water, and offering fantastic views. And it offers excellent value for money while you can be sure of a warm welcome.