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• New course planned for Dornoch area
• Bandon Dunes owner the man behind the bid
• Coore & Crenshaw in the frame to design new layout

NEW GOLF COURSE ALERT!

The Scottish Highlands could be on the brink of getting another championship golf course, with news that top American design firm Coore & Crenshaw are scoping out a site near Royal Dornoch.

According to Ru Macdonald, who produces the excellent Scottish Golf Podcast, the firm has been picked by Mike Kesier, owner of the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in the US, to design a new layout at Embo Estate two miles to the north of Dornoch.

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Macdonald has reported that the Coore & Crenshaw “will be asked to work alongside the local council and environment agencies in routing a truly world class 18 hole, sustainable and authentic links golf course.” He also revealed that Bill Coore, a partner in the firm with two-time Masters champion Ben Crenshaw, has already made two visits to the proposed site.

“The enormity of the property is incredible as it races parallel to the Dornoch Firth before meandering inland to the confinement of Loch Fleet,” wrote Macdonald on his blog. He added that he had met Kesier by chance during a visit to the site.

Coore & Crenshaw are “already in strong dialogue with Royal Dornoch Golf Club, Highlands & Islands Council and Scottish Natural Heritage.

Kesier explained that the site was “certainly large enough for 36 holes” but that environmental concerns mean that it is probable “a routing of a world class 18 hole course will suffice”.

Macdonald also revealed that Coore & Crenshaw are “already in strong dialogue” with Royal Dornoch Golf Club, Highlands & Islands Council and Scottish Natural Heritage over plans for the development.

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This news comes just a day after bunkered.co.uk reported that long-standing plans for a new Jack Nicklaus-designed course near Aberdeen are back on track after developers revised their plans to satisfy concerns lodged by various government agencies.

There are various other proposed new golf courses in Scotland, which are currently at various stages of development, including a second course at Trump International Golf Links Scotland, the Darren Clarke-designed The Angus near Dundee and a brand new 18-hole course on the Isle of Jura.

• All pictures courtesy of Ruairidh Macdonald. 

New Dornoch course :: your thoughts?

What do you make of news that a new course is in the pipeline near Dornoch? Leave your thoughts in our ‘Comments’ section below.

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Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor

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