Story of a Golf Club: Brora Golf Club
To kick start our new Scotland 2020 tour series, we’re bringing you ‘Story of a Golf Club’ from the remote town of Brora. Situated a short drive north Dornoch, along the beautiful coastline sits this (previously lesser known) James Braid classic, which is untouched and natural as almost any course you will visit. We say ‘previously’, because the charm, and magical aura surrounding the course and the club has become famous worldwide, with thanks to a number of famous visitors from the US, who left feeling exactly like we did when our time at Brora came to end.
Founded in 1891, benefitting from the influence of John Sutherland of Royal Dornoch, it was redesigned by James Braid in 1923, and very little has changed to the layout since then. It’s a simple out and back links; forgiving off the tee, with intricate green complexes maximizing enjoyment for golfers of any ability, and the terrain you play alongside on your way around whilst you’re sandwiched between the sloping glaciated mountains and the unspoiled coastline out to the East, means there are not many more enjoyable places to play golf in this part of the world.
It’s gained notoriety for the highland cattle that prowl the property, and the electric fences surrounding the greens to keep the animals from interfering with those clutch 10 footers, but there is a lot more to Brora on pure golf course architecture grounds than this. It’s a genuine and authentic links experience, where you can play a variety of shots. With the width you are afforded from the tee you can be strategic around the lines you take, and it forces you to think about the approach shot you want to have in.
The Story of Brora however, is not the same story that has been told before. With the club situated so far north, Brora spends much of the summer months basked in sunlight, with long evenings and plenty of daylight, however its winter is dark and harsh. This means that much of the visitor income that the club depends on for its survival happens in that window between April and October, and when the pandemic in March 2020 took its grip with tee times cancelling from visitors to the area the club was in desperate need of help.
With the benefit of its passionate membership and quick thinking of its club professional Malcolm, Brora quickly marketed the option of International membership, as well as retailing the clubs merchandise through an online store. This all gained momentum online and through social media with No Laying Up supporting the club, directing proceeds from their merchandise store to the club to support the effort. The outcome of all of this is a positive one, with the club surviving a very difficult year against all odds, testament to the benevolent forces in the golfing community who want to see golf clubs like Brora continue to thrive for future generations to enjoy!
If you want to support Brora, then more details can be found on their website and clicking the link here where the option of International, Country and Life membership is still available, and for the modest sum of money we can assure you it’s an investment you won’t regret.
It’s a superb golf course, that is enjoyed by visitors but remains a club to serve its members, and is the lifeblood for many within the local community. With a relaxed approach to dress code and an informal feel, it is doing exactly what many golf clubs around the world need to do to inspire and bring more people into the game of golf… and the game is much better as a result of clubs like Brora!
We hope you enjoy the film!
