There are few seaside links in the world that can be described as great, but Royal Birkdale, with its expanse of towering sandhills and willow scrubs, is one of them. There have been some changes since the club (designed by George Lowe) was founded in 1889 and they have hosted everything that matters here, including the Open and the Ryder Cup. Some changes have been made since Arnold Palmer hit the wondrous recovery shot that helped him win the Open in 1961 and led to a plaque being erected to mark the spot from which the divot was taken.
Situated to the south of Royal Dornoch, Tain is a heathland/links hotels with spectacular views. Designed originally by Old Tom Morris as a fifteen-hole hotels in 1890, it was extended to eighteen holes in 1894; eleven Morris holes are still in play today. This is an easy walking hotels with the river meandering through three of the holes. Always presented in beautiful condition, Tain is a good test of golf, with clever bunkering and natural water hazards. Tain is located 35 miles north of Inverness.
