Despite being November 2024, Brora Golf Club was our first stop on the brand new 2025 NCG Top 100s Tour schedule, and what a delight it was!
The Scottish venue is the northernmost on the NCG Top 100s Tour calendar, but it provided us with a glorious sunny day to kick off the season.
There are three sets of the tees at the Highlands course, with the Whites pushing the layout back to just over 6,200 yards. Although it is not the longest course in the world, and it only has a Course Rating of 70.0 – the same as the par for the course – playing off the Whites at Brora is no mean feat.
The Yellows see Brora play at just shy of 6,000 yards, and with a Course Rating of 68.9, while the Reds play as a Par 71 with a Course Rating of 70.3. The extra par 5 comes at the 3rd hole, which is the longest par 4 off the Whites and Yellows – whilst also being the hardest hole by Stroke Index.
- RELATED: NCG Top 100s – Brora
What is the course like and what are the best holes?
Put simply, Brora is beautiful. With the North Sea on your right from the opening tee shot, you need to try and make sure that you are not distracted when it comes to hitting your first shot of the day. The first hole is a driveable one for some, especially with the wind behind. The green is only around 270 yards away, and with the hole playing slightly downhill to a large green, why not get your driver out?
The 5th shows off the Clynelish Burn, which runs across the fairway, effectively cutting the hole in two. A par here is a good result as most will be hitting a long iron with their approach to the green. The first of the par-3s follows, with three bunkers in front of the green, which sits 170 yards away from the back tees. It is the only hole on the outward nine which does not feature the sea on your right side. Even coming inland, water will still be an issue throughout…
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The Achrimsdale Burn cuts across in front of the 7th green, with two bunkers guarding the green. The longest hole on the golf course quicky follows, with the 501 yard par-5 8th. Just a single bunker is greenside, but the hole slides from left to right, with mounds and knolls all over the fairway. The Achrimsdale Burn comes back into play on 11, the last par-5 on the property. with the Clynelish Burn then wrapping its way around the front of the 13th green, which is guarded by five bunkers.
The closing hole at Brora is one that has long been known to wreck a card with a good score on. It is a par 3 of 200 yards, with a large false front to the putting surface. Any shot that struggles to make the green will drop down into that dell in front of the green. There is also danger in the form of three bunkers, with two on the right in front of the clubhouse, and the green runs off at the back as well. Take a 3 and run for a drink!
What did our competitors think of Brora?
Looking for other opinions on Brora? Check out what some of our players had to say about this stunning venue here:
“A great course to start the week, and played in the glorious November sunshine!” – Alex Baker
“There’s a lot of us here, and we all enjoyed playing at Brora. What a course and what a view!” – Malcolm MacPherson
“A cracking day out on a course I have played and enjoyed several times before. The weather was fantastic as well.” – Colin McMorine
What about the off-course facilities?
Although Brora does not have its own driving range, there are decent enough practice facilities for those turning up for a game. There is a practice net to warm yourself up, along with two practice greens, one for putting and one for chipping. There is also a natural pitching area, which is undulating and on the coastline, with a couple of flags at different distances as well.
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The clubhouse sits just inland from the course itself, with the upstairs lounge area overlooking the 18th green and the 1st tee, with those incredible views out to the North Sea as well. The club is welcoming, and the staff make guests feel very comfortable, along with good food and drink being available.
How can you play at Brora?
Tee times are available every day of the week for visitors at Brora, apart from on Saturdays – due to it being the members’ competition day. However, those tee times are only available throughout the summer months, with the course being members-only through the winter.
You can check out the green fees for a game at Brora here, and you can book yourself in for a round by visiting the club’s booking site here.
Brora is the northernmost venue on the NCG Top 100s Tour, sitting 15 miles north of Dornoch, and around 50 miles north of the city of Inverness.
It was the first event of the 2025 NCG Top 100s schedule, and it was teamed up with Golspie and two days at Royal Dornoch. We will be looking to bring that back for late in 2025, to kick off the 2026 campaign, as well.
- Keep up to date with the ever-expanding 2025 NCG Top 100s Tour schedule here.
Get in touch with Brora
For more information about the club and course, visit the club’s website.
To get in touch with Brora, you can call them on 01408 621417 or you can send them an email via this link.
Now have your say
Have you ever played at Brora before, or played on the NCG Top 100s Tour before? Let us know with a post on X, formerly Twitter!
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