Fortrose and Rosemarkie Golf Course on Scotland’s Black Isle
It required the creative genius of James Braid to design a full fledged eighteen-hole course on a sliver of links land on a peninsula projecting into Moray Firth. Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Club was founded in 1888 on Black Isle. In the early 1930s James Braid designed this charming course on the Chanonry Point, a peninsula jutting out into Rosemarkie Bay that guards the entrance to the Moray Firth. It is approximately twelve miles north-east of Inverness in North Scotland.
It is a course like few others any where with the beach and sea on three sides. A road to the end of the promontory where a light house located, divides the golf course into two. As a result there is just enough land on either side in order to fit in a layout that is relatively short by present day standards.
Despite being a tough course to play Fortrose and Rosemarkie has a unique character and charm. It measures 5890 yards and is a par-71 course with fast greens, tight fairways and strategically placed bunkers throughout the course. The wind has a significant role to play and is a part of the defense that Braid built into his well thought out design.
Every tee, fairway and green offers outstanding views of the sea and mountains. The first eight holes of this links course are directly along the seashore. The 4th hole is considered to be the signature hole of the course. It measures 455 yards and does not, on first sight, appear to be worth of a par 5 rating. But taking the wind factor into consideration, this hole is considered to be one of the most challenging in the North of Scotland.
Another attraction of playingm at Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Club is the presence of blue-nosed Dolphins that reside in the waters off the peninsula. A good observation point for these friendly sea mammals is near the lighthouse on the 4th hole. The locals believe that the dolphins put on an extra special show when there are visitors on the course!
