A Journal for the Thrifty Gowfer
Moray
Duffus, near Lossiemouth, Moray
Plate I — Links course — coastal exposure, firm running turf
Owner-built 9-hole links in a cove beneath the Covesea Skerries lighthouse, between Lossiemouth and Hopeman. Pure turn-up-and-play.
Covesea Links is that rarest thing, a hand-built modern links: Angela and Andy Burnett are credited on their own site as owners, designers and builders, and the nine holes thread through a genuine cove between Lossiemouth and Hopeman, beneath the Covesea Skerries lighthouse, at the end of a windy single-track road. Gorse, rock and cliff edges frame holes that range from a 90-yard drop shot to a 402-yard par 4, and a new first green — a dogleg-right par 4, opened in 2026 — brings the nine to par 32.
The operation is pay-and-play at its most literal: no booking, turn up, drop the fee in the honesty box or scan the QR code. Only parties of eight or more need to arrange things in advance. There are no buggies and never will be on this ground; hire clubs are £15.
Fair warning on price: rates rose sharply in May 2026 to £30 for nine and £50 for the double loop, which repositions Covesea from impulse-cheap to considered. The setting hasn't changed, though, and on the Moray coast run between Lossiemouth's championship links and Hopeman's Prieshach this remains the eccentric, windblown palate-cleanser.
The Full Scorecard
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Conditions This Week
Scored 0–10 for golf — wind, rain, conditions · Full 7-region forecast →
Location
Duffus, near Lossiemouth, Moray · IV30 5QSOpen in OpenStreetMap →
Plan This Round
Where to Stay
Hotels, lodges and self-catering near the first tee. Map-style search via Stay22 covering Booking.com, Expedia, Airbnb and Vrbo.
How to Get There
Inverness (INV) is 60 minutes away by car. Train + onward taxi works for the carless visitor.
Insure Your Round
Most home contents policies don't cover golf clubs in transit. The picker matches you to the right kind of cover in two minutes.
Played here? Consider
Picked for links rounds on the Scottish coast.
Outerwear
Wind off the firth changes club selection two irons. A breathable, fully-waterproof shell that's light enough not to swing in is the single biggest upgrade for Scottish links golf.
Layer
Scottish-made merino — the locals' choice for shoulder-season rounds. Warm enough for a 7am tee time in October, light enough for the back nine when the sun comes out.
Tech
Handles blind tee shots and exposed-coastal yardage cleanly. Battery lasts a 36-hole day; the wind-direction overlay justifies the price on its own.
Stays Nearby
Hotels, B&Bs and self-catering within easy reach of Duffus. Tap any property to check rates.
Rates and availability via Stay22. We may earn a small commission if you book — at no extra cost to you. How affiliate links work.
Frequently Asked
Nearby courses
Aberdeen & Moray golf hub
Browse all Aberdeen & Moray courses →
Royal Aberdeen, Cruden Bay, Trump International — the underrated east-coast links circuit. Plus the Moray clubs at Lossiemouth and Cullen that locals would rather you didn't write about.
While they golf — Cullen
For the non-golfer in Cullen →
Try Cullen Skink at the Three Kings pub, walk the Moray Coast Trail to the Bow Fiddle Rock sea stack at Portknockie, and head to Glenfiddich in Dufftown.
Read more about Moray
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