One of the many appeals of golf in Scotland is the fact that one can skip literally from one town to another, clubs in tow, and sample an array of local clubs that although may not be truly “championship” in caliber, uniquely capture the spirit and essence of the game at the local level, with memorable layouts unlike any others. The essence of this can be found at Golspie Golf Club, roughly midway between Royal Dornoch and Brora, perhaps the only course in the world that combines links, heathland, and a bit of parkland golf in the same 18-hole layout. The course begins with a wonderful stretch of links golf along the sea, from the 3rd through the 7th, before turning towards the lovely purple (when in bloom) heather amidst the pines from the 8th through the 12th, and finishing with a stretch of lush, challenging parkland from the 13th to the 18th. All of this in the shadow of Ben Bhraggie and the imposing statue of the 1st Duke of Sutherland, a beautiful and stunning backdrop to the golf. We could think of no finer place for a late afternoon or evening round of golf, especially in the summertime when it is daylight nearly through midnight, than Golspie Golf Club!