Located a mere 50 yards from the first tee at Royal Dornoch is the Royal Golf Hotel.
A classic hotel with a long history as the spot to stay in Dornoch, the hotel closed in 2006 after its parent company (Swallow Group) went bankrupt. Entrepreneur Peter de Savary, who once owned Skibo Castle, where he founded the Carnegie Club, immediately bought the hotel with plans to turn it into a top luxury resort.
Two years later, with the hotel untouched, de Savary's plans changed and the hotel was sold to local investors. The investors spent £9m to refurbish the hotel and return it to its former glory, as a perfect little four-star golf hotel.
The lead investor, Grant Sword is also a director of Castle Stuart Golf Links, so there is a marketing connection between the Highlands newest golf course and the restored Royal Golf Hotel.
Royal Dornoch is a must-play on every Highlands golf trip, and Royal Golf Hotel is the perfect complement for a two-night stay.
The entrance of the hotel
There are two suites, this is one of them
The proverbial "Room with a View"
Hanging from the ceiling of the bar are bag tags from around the world
The dining room appropriately set for tables of 8 overlooking the course
This shot illustrates how close the hotel is to the first hole
The view of the hotel from the first hole