Reay Golf Club
Links golf on Sandside Bay, par 69 over 5,854 yards. The round opens and closes with a par three.
There’s something about a links right on the edge of the country, and Reay is a lovely one.
It runs around the sands of Sandside Bay, 11 miles west of Thurso, and the club says you can see the Pentland Firth and the Atlantic from every hole. The round opens and closes with a par three, and the 235-yard 1st is a tough way to start. The club dates from 1893, James Braid came to advise on the course in 1933, and in 2017 the members bought the land it sits on. It’s open all year with no winter tees or greens, and a day’s golf is £70 in season and £30 from November to March.
The course runs around Sandside Bay, and NCG notes that on a couple of holes the beach itself is in play.
18 holes. Par 69 and 5,854 yards from the white tees, down to 5,090 from the red.
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Beinn Ratha | Sandside | Loch an Eoin | Sahara | Cnocstanger | Braid’s Choice | Pilkington | Machar | Chapel | Isauld | Torran | Chimneys | Spring Lochy | Mary’s Cottage | Vikings Grave | Reay Kirk | Dossie’s Dyke | Clachan | |||
| White | 235 | 428 | 369 | 581 | 144 | 500 | 196 | 399 | 176 | 3,028 | 351 | 406 | 348 | 305 | 476 | 136 | 314 | 328 | 162 | 2,826 | 5,854 |
| Yellow | 225 | 418 | 344 | 566 | 141 | 442 | 192 | 380 | 162 | 2,870 | 345 | 401 | 342 | 295 | 470 | 126 | 309 | 318 | 152 | 2,758 | 5,628 |
| Red | 165 | 409 | 337 | 434 | 139 | 442 | 131 | 383 | 162 | 2,602 | 340 | 320 | 333 | 238 | 429 | 127 | 268 | 292 | 141 | 2,488 | 5,090 |
| Par | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 34 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 35 | 69 |
| Ladies' par | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 35 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 35 | 70 |
| Stroke index | 7 | 5 | 15 | 3 | 17 | 9 | 1 | 11 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 14 | 16 | 4 | 18 | 12 | 8 | 10 | |||
| Ladies' stroke index | 15 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 17 | 7 | 11 | 2 | 13 | 1 | 12 | 4 | 16 | 6 | 18 | 14 | 8 | 10 | |||
| Score |
The holes tinted yellow are the highlights below. Press one to read about it. Read off the club’s course board.
Reay starts with a long par three and finishes with another, and the club rates the seven holes after the 1st as the best on the course.
1Beinn Ratha
Few courses start with a par three, and fewer still with one of 235 yards. There’s trouble on the right off the tee, and the club warns it can do real damage to a medal score.
- 4
Sahara
The longest hole on the course, and the club says it is always a three-shotter. Don’t go long, as NCG warns this is a green you can’t overshoot.
- 6
Braid’s Choice
Named for James Braid, who played the hole and remarked on its quality. The members have since voted it the best hole on the course.
- 7
Pilkington
Played across the Reay Burn to a green above a steep bank, so it looks closer than it is. It’s all carry, and there’s no relief for coming up short.
- 18
Clachan
Reay finishes as it started, with a par three. The green has two tiers and bunkers beside it, so aim for the right level.
A links around the sands of Sandside Bay at Reay, 11 miles west of Thurso, where James Braid came to advise in 1933.
- Holes
- 18
- Par
- 69
- Yards
- 5,854
- Founded
- 1893
- Owned by its members since
- 2017
Green fees, 2026
- A day, to 31 October 2026£70
- A day, November to March£30
To hire
- Buggy (two to hire)£30
The clubhouse
The clubhouse has a bar and catering; ring 07535 356172.
A three-hole short game area, hitting nets and a putting green.
The club is in the village of Reay, KW14 7RE, on the A836 11 miles west of Thurso and 7 miles east of Melvich.
Coming from Thurso, it’s on your right as you enter the village. The nearest railway station is at Thurso.
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More courses in the Highlands, and the collections this one is in.
For further reading, before you go.
- Book a tee timeThe club’s booking page on Masterscoreboard.masterscoreboard.co.uk↗
- VisitorsGreen fees, ratings, buggies, and how to find the club.reaygolfclub.com↗
- Open competitionsThe club’s opens, to enter online.masterscoreboard.co.uk↗
- Play golfThe club’s own description of the course and its best holes.reaygolfclub.com↗
- The club’s historyFrom the Reay Inn in 1893 to the members buying the land in 2017.reaygolfclub.com↗
- NCG on ReayA review of the course, hole by hole.top100.nationalclubgolfer.com↗
- Top 100 Golf Courses on ReayThe club’s history, with James Braid’s visit of 1933.top100golfcourses.com↗