Work starts on demolition of historic clubhouse at Scottish golf club

Royal Dornoch club captain begins process by wielding a symbolic sledgehammer

As members and visitors settle into the new £13.9 million clubhouse at Royal Dornoch, work has started on demolishing the old one.

Club captain Gary Bethune took a symbolic sledgehammer to the former clubhouse to signal the start of a six-week demolition programme.

The works are being project managed and overseen by Nairn-based Helica, with contractor G.F. Job carrying out the “sensitive demolition”.

Royal Dornoch club captain Gary Bethune, holding thesledgehammer, pictured with, from left, Angus Gillies (G.F. Job), Sharon Ellen (G.F. Job) and Ewan MacGregor (Helica) | Contributed

The old clubhouse had served Royal Dornoch for more than 116 years, welcoming generations of local golfers, members and visitors from around the world.

Officially opened on 3 July 1909 at a cost of £1,607, the clubhouse replaced an earlier wooden Golf House with three rooms and a corrugated iron roof.

Among those present at the opening was Scots-born American steel magnate Andrew Carnegie, then the world’s richest man, who served as vice-president of Royal Dornoch Golf Club.

Old building will leave ‘fond memories’

Ahead of the demolition, members were invited to return to the building one final time to collect memorabilia and mementos, ensuring that memories of the much-loved clubhouse will live on.

“In one way, it is sad to see the clubhouse going. It has served us well for most of the last 116 years, but nothing is forever and it was undoubtedly time to move forward,” said Bethune.

“Like many others, I said my fond farewells in early December when I locked the doors one last time. We had raised a glass or two to the old dear and shared fond memories that will be with us forever.

“In a way I grew up in the clubhouse, where my grannie Bunny Bethune was the caretaker in an era. Now we have embarked on a new chapter in the history of Royal Dornoch with the opening of the fabulous new clubhouse – only the third in our near 150-year history - before Christmas.

The new £13.9 million clubhouse at Royal Dornoch has been built close to where the old one currently sits | Matthew Harris / Golf Picture Agency

“We are looking forward to welcoming golfers from around the globe to our stunning new home when they come to play the Championship Course.”

Once demolition is complete, the site will be levelled and landscaped ahead of the start of the new season.

View Original Article