Fortrose & Rosemarkie dates to the 19th Century, although golf had been played in the area and on the Chanonry Peninsula since the 1700s. 

 

The course, as we now know it, was designed by five-time Open Champion James Braid – just one of many courses to his name in Scotland. 

 

The front nine loops around the back nine, with the natural water hazard of the Moray Firth coming into play on most holes on the opening half of the course.  

 

  

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Golf had been played in the area at the start of the 18th Century, but it was not until 1888 that a golf club was formed. 

 

Following the First World War, the course was extended to 18 holes, but it was not until a decade later that it received a legend’s touch. 

 

James Braid – a five-time winner of the Open Championship – was brought in during the 1930s. His work saw the 18-hole layout revised and over the next couple of years, the course was also lengthened thanks to new land being purchased. 

 

In recent years, Fortrose & Rosemarkie has been the host of the Scottish Senior Ladies Championship and the Scottish Boys U16s Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship. 

Fortrose & Rosemarkie is certainly one of the shortest courses that you will find on the NCG Top 100s: Scotland list. It measures just shy of 6,100 yards from the tips, and less than 5,600 yards from the yellows. Although short, it is packed with hazards and small greens that putt beautifully albeit with some subtle borrows. The lack of length may look inviting to some, but the wayward ‘bomber’ will rapidly come to grief here. With plenty of gorse and some unpleasantly deep bunkers, you will be more delighted than usual to find yourself on the excellent greens. 

 

Talking of gorse, it lines the first three holes. Those three holes also run parallel to the coastline, with the water on your left throughout. It’s a gentle, 329-yard start, but it gets tougher from there. The next three holes are 3, 7 and 1 on the stroke index for the card at Fortrose & Rosemarkie. The hardest hole on the course comes at the 4th. It is a par 5 of less than 500 yards from the tips, but that isn’t the issue. The fairway, after reaching the 200-yard mark and unseen from the tee, the ground falls away sharply into gorse and rough. This hole is all about the 3rd, which is fired towards the lighthouse and an undulating green.  

 

The next is the opening par 3 on the course. The 5th might only be a flick downwind, is one of the best short holes and proof that length is not a staple requirement for a testing par three. That is the turning point at the end of the peninsula, with the 6th then making its way back inland. Like the first four, you have water on the left side, but the gorse subsides at this point. Pot bunkers replace the gorse, but at just 470 yards, this par 5 can be reachable in two. 7 and 8 are tricky par 4s, with the closing hole on the front nine being one of two par 3s on the course of more than 200 yards in length. Four bunkers guard the green and it presents a very different challenge to the 5th. 

 

Eight par 4s come in succession to start the back nine at Fortrose & Rosemarkie. Four of those – the 10th, 13th, 14th, and 15th – are all under 320 yards. These can all be driven, especially at 14, which is less than 270 yards from the back tees. In between those, the 11th and 12th are two of the hardest holes on the back nine. 11 is a dog-leg right, playing 415 from the tips, and sharing a double green with the 6th hole. The 12th follows, a 435-yard par 4 with two fairway bunkers and two greenside traps. 

 

The closing stretch at Fortrose & Rosemarkie begins with a shorter par 4. The 16th is just 335 yards in length, and with a relatively wide landing area for the driver to be taken off the tee. From there, a flick of a wedge can be hit to a large green. 17 has the widest fairway on the course and it sets you up ahead of the finale. 211 yards from the tips, the 18th is lengthy par 3 played to a large square green. If you’ve got a good score in your hand, this could well be what undoes all the hard work. Take par and run in for a drink! 

Where is Fortrose & Rosemarkie located?  
Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Club is located on the Chanonry Peninsula, which juts out into the Moray Firth. It sits in the northern section of Scotland, with the towns of Fortrose and Rosemarkie serviced by the A832, which runs from Cromarty and Braemore. Golfers lucky enough to play at Fortrose & Rosemarkie will have views across the Moray Firth to Fort George. The city of Inverness is 15 miles to the south of the golf club. 

 

Thanks to its proximity to the city, Inverness Airport is the nearest major international airport to Fortrose & Rosemarkie. It is on the opposite side of the Moray Firth, which makes it a longer drive than the city of Inverness itself, but it is still only 20 miles from Fortrose & Rosemarkie.  

What golf facilities does Fortrose & Rosemarkie offer?  
Along with the 18-hole golf course, Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Club is also home to a full-length driving range. It plays to the north of the course, and there is also a short game area with a chipping green and practice bunkers. A putting green by the first tee allow you to work on those final touches before taking to the course.  

What are the green fees at Fortrose & Rosemarkie?  
The price of a green fee at Fortrose & Rosemarkie changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend. 

 

For more information on current green fees at Fortrose & Rosemarkie visit their website here. 

 

  

Visit the Fortrose & Rosemarkie website here. 

Go Back To NCG's Top 100s Homepage.