Course Profile: Nairn Golf Club in Scotland
Nairn Golf Club is in the town of Nairn, against the Moray Firth, in northern Scotland. Nairn is roughly 17 miles northeast of Inverness and 90 miles northwest of Aberdeen. The club has 27 holes of golf and 1,500 members.
The 18-hole Championship Course is considered among the top courses in Scotland. The Moray Firth is visible from every hole of the course, and its beach and waters are a significant hazard on the first seven holes.
Wind and gorse provide plenty of challenge around the Nairn links. The course is on the site of "a Highland wilderness of gorse and heather," the club's website explains, and most holes on this links are completely open to the sea winds. But unlike most links courses, there are also some trees at certain areas of the course.
The club also has a 9-holer known as the Cameron Course.
Address: The Nairn Golf Club, Seabank Road, Nairn, Scotland, IV12 4HB
Website: https://nairngolfclub.co.uk/
Can You Play Nairn Golf Club?
Yes. Nairn is a private membership club, but, as the club's website states, visitors are welcome. "We are delighted to welcome visitors to be a part of our club," a message on the Nairn GC website states, "where you will receive our full members experience."Refer to this page for some of the club's rules for visitors as well as greens fees information. There is an enquiry form on the club website contact page for questions. You can also email bookings@nairngolfclub.co.uk or see the online booking page for info about online reservations.
Nairn Golf Club Course Origins and Architects
Nairn Golf Club was founded in 1887. The original course was laid out by Archie Simpson, who at the time was head pro and greenskeeper at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club. But that original track was soon competely re-done by the legendary Old Tom Morris.Twenty years after Morris' renovation, James Braid — the Scotsman of Britain's "Great Triumvirate" — built new greens while also tweaking multiple teeing grounds and bunkers. Frequent Open Championship participant Ben Sayers plus architect C.K. Cotton also worked on Nairn over the years, but the club states that "Nairn nevertheless remains substantially the links course that James Braid knew and admired so well."
Big Tournaments Played at Nairn GC
Important events staged at Nairn Golf Club, along with their winners:- 1979 British Ladies Amateur: Maureen Madill
- 1994 British Amateur: Lee James
- 1999 Walker Cup: Great Britain & Ireland
- 2012 Curtis Cup: Great Britain & Ireland
- 2021 British Amateur: Laird Shepherd
Scorecard, Hole Names
This the scorecard for Nairn Golf Club (click to enlarge):
As you can see, there are five sets of tees (from longest to shortest): Black (6,832 yards), White (6,426 yards), Blue (6,126 yards), Green (5,633 yards) and Silver (5,199 yards).
Cameron Course: In addition, the 9-hole Cameron Course plays 1,634 yards with a par of 29. There are two par-4 holes and seven par-3s. The longest hole is 326 yards and the shortest is 110 yards.
Championship Course Hole Names
- No. 1 — Sea
- No. 2 — Achareidh
- No. 3 — Nest
- No. 4 — Bunker
- No. 5 — Nets
- No. 6 — Ben Wyvis
- No. 7 — Long
- No. 8 — Delnies
- No. 9 — Icehouse
- No. 10 — Cawdor
- No. 11 — Gate
- No. 12 — Table
- No. 13 — Crown
- No. 14 — Kopjes
- No. 15 — Sutors
- No. 16 — Road
- No. 17 — Burn
- No. 18 — Home
More About Nairn Golf Club
- Ben Wyvis, the name of Hole No. 6, is also the name of a mountain in the Scottish Highlands. In Gaelic, the name translates to "hill of terror."
- Five-time British Open champion James Braid was the first golfer to break 70 at Nairn, recording a round of 69 in 1901. As noted above, Braid later went on to renovate the golf course.
- Great Britain & Ireland won the 1999 Walker Cup played at Nairn, the first of three consecutive wins by GB&I over the United States team. The 6-point margin of victory (final score, 15-9) was the biggest win to that point in Walker Cup history by Team GB&I.
- At that 1999 Walker Cup, the GB&I team was led by Luke Donald and Paul Casey, who each sported 4-0 records. The two partnered twice, winning both matches, and each won two singles matches.
- The 2012 Curtis Cup at Nairn also resulted in a GB&I victory. That squad featured future LPGA Tour players Leona Maguire, Charley Hull, Bronte Law and Stephanie Meadow.
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