Royal Dornoch Commits to Long-Term Coastal Monitoring and Sustainability Planning
Royal Dornoch Golf Club has commissioned a Coastal Monitoring Plan as part of its sustainability strategy and legacy planning.
The forward-looking project, led by environmental specialists JBA Consulting, will see Royal Dornoch use drone technology and data mapping to monitor long-term changes to the surrounding shoreline.
While the club is widely recognised for its Championship Course and upcoming £13.9 million clubhouse, the new coastal strategy adds to an ambitious series of projects that also includes enhancements to the Struie Course and a potential third course.
Speaking on the announcement, General Manager Neil Hampton said:
“We are seeking to future-proof the Championship Course by building up data which will monitor any changes along the shoreline in terms of the beach and dunes.”
“The initiative follows extreme weather events such as Storm Babet in 2023, which caused significant damage along the Dornoch Firth, although Royal Dornoch itself was unaffected thanks to its inland positioning and protective dune systems.”
“In recent years, our greenkeeping team has worked on the ‘Green Shores’ coastal defence project in collaboration with NatureScot, St Andrews University and Dornoch Academy. This included natural flood defences for the 10th on the Struie, like chestnut fencing, coir rolls, and saltmarsh restoration.”
The coastline around Dornoch is naturally dynamic.
A site once close to the caravan park beach 50 years ago is now over 200 yards inland, highlighting the unpredictable nature of coastal shifts.
Rock armour has previously been installed at the 9th on the Championship Course, and a planned tee for the 13th hole was postponed after land was lost to coastal erosion.
By engaging JBA Consulting, Royal Dornoch is aiming to be proactive rather than reactive.
The new plan will build a reliable data bank, updated via biannual drone surveys, to inform future decisions.
Doug Pender, Technical Director for Marine and Coastal Management at JBA, said:
“Sustainable development of the golf course requires embracing uncertainty and being able to respond in an agile manner. Our goal is to develop a strong evidence base and create a collaborative adaptation plan to support the club’s continued success.”
The plan will allow the club to track patterns of erosion, flooding, and potential sea level rise, offering a long-term perspective to support Royal Dornoch’s status as one of the world’s most respected golf destinations.
