A Journal for the Thrifty Gowfer
Highlands
Nairn, Highlands
Plate I — Links course — coastal exposure, firm running turf
Nairn's second links. Less famous than the Nairn Golf Club but good value.
Nairn Dunbar is the second of the two main links courses in Nairn — distinct from the Nairn Golf Club (which hosted the 1999 Walker Cup), but on the same Moray Firth coastline and sharing much of the same terrain character. Founded 1899, the course runs east of the town centre along the shore of the firth, with views to the Black Isle and the Sutherland hills.
Par 72, around 6,700 yards — longer than the Nairn Golf Club, and with a layout that uses the natural seaside ground in a less manicured but arguably more characterful way. The course lacks the high-profile tournament history of its more famous neighbour, which keeps both the visitor traffic and the green fee more manageable.
Visitor green fee is £50–75, roughly half the Nairn Golf Club rate. For visitors planning a Nairn golf trip, the natural combination is both courses over two days — Nairn Golf Club in the morning (£100–150), Nairn Dunbar in the afternoon or the following day (£55–75). The two courses give a useful comparison between a formally maintained Walker Cup venue and a club that hasn't had its rough edges polished.
The Full Scorecard
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Conditions This Week
Scored 0–10 for golf — wind, rain, conditions · Full 7-region forecast →
Location
Nairn, Highlands · IV12 5AEOpen in OpenStreetMap →
While They Golf
Highlands isn't only for the golfers. Walks, drives, distilleries, castles, a long lunch — five picks within thirty minutes of the first tee.
The Highlands companion guide →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 Nairn. 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
Highlands golf hub
Browse all Highlands courses →
Royal Dornoch and the long drive north. Six hours from London, three from Edinburgh — and the most consistently brilliant links country in Scotland once you get there.
While they golf — Nairn
For the non-golfer in Nairn →
Cawdor Castle — still a family home with three gardens — is 5 miles from Nairn. Brodie Castle is 7 miles east, famous for 100,000 daffodil bulbs in spring.
Getting there by train
On TripSCOTAbout 10 minutes by taxi from Nairn Dunbar. Inverness in 20 min by ScotRail.
Read more about Highlands
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