Royal Dornoch Golf Club has appointed US-based King Collins Dormer Golf Course Design to create a masterplan to further enhance the reputation of the world-famous links.   

Welcoming the partnership with KCD, general manager Neil Hampton said: “These are exciting times for everyone connected with Royal Dornoch and with the clubhouse on target to welcome golfers from around the world next season, our thoughts are already turning to the next project.   

“Usually, the opening of a new clubhouse which has been mooted for 30 years or more would mark the end of the journey for any golf club but for Royal Dornoch it is about what the next step is going to be.   

“The investment being made will pave the way for even greater economic and employment benefits for the wider community and, hopefully, there will be more good news to come as and when the Coul Links project gets the green light from the Scottish Government.  

“Golf has long been the key economic driver in this part of the country and additional, high quality, eco-friendly championship courses created by highly regarded designers can only enhance our reputation as a golfing destination and encourage visitors to extend their stay in the Highlands.”  

“It is early days in the process, but the nine panel members were unanimous in selecting KCD as the preferred architects we will be working with in the years ahead.”   

Members have been briefed on the club’s multi-million-pound vision, which includes the creation of a new 18-hole course.  

 “KCD have also been invited to create new holes for the Struie Course which will complement those being preserved on the existing course,” said Neil.    

“The parcel of land we have secured provides scope for us to offer three fine courses at Royal Dornoch in the future.    

“In addition, we are looking to add a driving range and Par 3 course, along with short game and putting facilities.”   

Royal Dornoch’s plans have been welcomed by Communities for Coul (C4C), the community-led group behind plans for a new golf course at nearby Coul Links. 

A spokesperson for C4C said: “If approved, these new facilities will add to the “cluster” of excellent local golf facilities and complement the proposals for the new world class course at Coul Links, making the Dornoch Firth a mecca for links golf.” 

Prior to forming King Collins Dormer, Tad King and Rob Collins designed, and built, US courses Sweetens Cove, Landmand, Red Feather, Crossroads at Palmetto Bluff, and Overton Park under the King-Collins banner.  

They are currently putting the finishing touches to the Bounty Club, a new 18-hole course in Nashville, and the Royal Dornoch project heralds a first in the UK.  

KCD has been contracted to build the second course at 7 Mile Beach in Tasmania and over the last 15 years Trevor Dormer has helped craft Cabot Cliffs, Yokohama Country Club, Cabot St Lucia and Torch Cay.    

“We were very impressed with all the golf course architects who pitched to us, and we are lucky that so many highly respected players in the industry were eager to be involved with Royal Dornoch,” said Neil.   

“But the KCD team’s imaginative concept and passion for Royal Dornoch and using the land at our disposal in a different way, captured our imagination.   

“They will be very much hands-on from start to finish, taking the project from the drawing board to the construction phase and completion.   

“We are at the early stages of the process and detailed plans and costings will be put before the membership further down the line for their approval.   

“Whatever the final lay-out is for the new course, the Struie must be available as an 18-hole course for members and visitors throughout the construction phase.   

“A driving range has long been on the members’ wish list but working towards a new clubhouse always assumed priority status.    

“With everything moving along smoothly on that front the time is right to broaden our horizons.   

“Now we can look confidently towards leaving an even more impressive legacy that will be embraced by future generations golfing at Royal Dornoch.”   

Principal designer Rob Collins said: “Tad, Trevor and I, along with our COO, Mark Allen, are deeply honored to have received this commission.   

“Our team at KCD is thrilled with the prospect of spending many seasons in Dornoch, helping our shared vision with the club come to life.”