Why it matters
Royal Dornoch sits at the same latitude as Anchorage — a tight, firm links on the Dornoch Firth that golfers have played continuously since 1616 and that Donald Ross apprenticed on as a teenager before sailing for America. Tom Watson called it the most beautiful course in the world. The course is consistently ranked top-five outside the Open rota, and the village of Dornoch (population ~1,200) is what it was a century ago — which is the point.
How to play it
Walking only and walkable. The drive from Inverness Airport is 50 minutes. Book six months out for summer; tee times are managed by the club directly. Pair with Brora or Tain on a Highlands week — the value of the trip multiplies when you stay in Dornoch itself rather than as a day-trip from Inverness.