
Nairn Dunbar Course
Nairn Dunbar Golf Club

About this course
Nairn Dunbar Golf Club occupies linksland on the southern shore of the Moray Firth in the Scottish Highlands, immediately adjacent to its more famous neighbor, Nairn Golf Club. The course was established in 1899, with the original layout attributed to Tom Morris, though subsequent modifications by Old Tom's contemporaries and later architects have shaped the present routing. The club has maintained its traditional links character while remaining accessible to visitors, serving both local membership and traveling golfers exploring the Highland golf trail. The course runs along relatively flat duneland with the sea visible from several holes, though the routing moves inland through gorse-lined fairways on the back nine. The opening holes play close to the shore, where wind direction significantly affects strategy and club selection. The terrain features typical links undulations rather than dramatic dune formations, and the bunkering reflects both historical placement and practical updates over the decades. Gorse becomes a prominent hazard through the middle section of the round, tightening landing areas and demanding accuracy from the tee. Nairn Dunbar has hosted regional qualifying events and Scottish amateur competitions, though it has not been a major championship venue. The club maintains a welcoming atmosphere for visitors while preserving its links traditions, and the course provides a legitimate test of seaside golf without the premium green fees or advance booking requirements of Scotland's most celebrated links. The town of Nairn offers multiple courses within close proximity, making the area a practical base for golfers touring the Highlands.
Quick facts
- Location
- Nairn, The Highlands, Scotland
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1899
- Holes
- 18
- Par
- 72
- Length
- 6,765 yards
- Difficulty
- 74/135
Getting there
The journey to Nairn Dunbar Golf Club begins at Inverness Airport (INV), a 20-minute drive south through the Scottish Highlands, or alternatively via Aberdeen Airport (ABZ), roughly 90 minutes away through some of Scotland's most dramatic moorland terrain. From either gateway, the route descends toward the Moray Firth coast, where the landscape shifts from rolling heather hills to windswept links country, the salt air and distant glimpses of the Firth announcing your arrival in this remote corner of the northeast. The final approach winds through the quiet seaside town of Nairn itself, a Victorian resort that has long sheltered golfers seeking solitude, before depositing you at the club's austere, weather-beaten clubhouse - a fitting threshold to one of Scotland's most uncompromising and authentic links courses.

FAQ
Common questions about Nairn Dunbar
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Yes. Nairn Dunbar is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Nairn Dunbar is 72.
Nairn Dunbar plays 6,765 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Nairn Dunbar is 135.
Nairn Dunbar is a 18-hole course.


