'This is a milestone event in the history of our club': Groundbreaking ceremony held for new Royal Dornoch clubhouse
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ROYAL Dornoch Golf Club held a groundbreaking ceremony earlier today to mark the start of work on a new £13.9 million clubhouse.
The 18-month project near the first tee of the world-renowned Championship Course will replace the existing clubhouse, which opened in 1908 and has been extended in piecemeal fashion over the decades.
Proposals for a replacement clubhouse built to modern standards reflecting the club's place in world golf, had been mooted in the past and members finally gave the go-ahead for the development at a special general meeting in the autumn.
Men’s captain Professor David Bell, flanked by ladies captain Wilma Murray and juniors captain Kieran Allan, cut the first turf with an engraved silver shovel as members looked on.
They were joined by Alison Muirhead, construction director at Morrison Construction; Mike Ross, the club’s project director; Alan Ramsey, club president; Cath MacAngus, chairperson of Dornoch and District Community Council and former chairperson Paddy Murray; and Donald McLachlan, managing director of Morrison Construction.
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Professor Bell said: “This is a milestone event in the history of our golf club which dates back to 1877, and also for the town in which I grew up.
“Thanks to our volunteers within the club who have made this 30-year ambition a reality. We are delighted that our new clubhouse is now moving from the drawing board, as the Keppie Design's exciting plans take shape. We look forward to working closely with the Morrison Construction team, a company with its roots in Tain.
“Royal Dornoch is counting down to our 150th anniversary in 2027 and we are all looking forward to welcoming guests from around the world to our new clubhouse to join the celebrations. Steps have been taken to ensure that golf on our celebrated Championship Course will continue uninterrupted as the project takes shape.”
