Much is most definitely afoot on the golfing front in the north of Scotland. The second Trump course at Aberdeen is under construction; the prospect of a course at Coul Links just north of Dornoch rumbles on, with the Highland Council voting in favour of a revised planning application last December; and Royal Dornoch broke ground on its ambitious £13.9 million clubhouse project the same month.
The Moray Firth midway between those projects has been busy, too, with Cabot Highlands, Nairn, Spey Bay and Fortrose and Rosemarkie all catching my eye for various reasons. While some queried my wisdom when I decided to travel up in January, photographer Kevin Murray was very much up for joining me, especially when I found an unbeatable BA flight and car hire deal.
Nevertheless, when Fortrose and Rosemarkie posted photos of its links under snow with ten days to go, I anxiously emailed manager Mike MacDonald. “No problem,” he replied. “I just played 18 holes
