Golf has been played in Dornoch for over 400 years, with the Royal Dornoch Golf Club formally established in 1877 and its renowned Championship Course recognised as one of the finest in the world. The new development provides modern amenities that enhance visitor facilities at one of the world’s most prestigious golf courses while respecting the club’s rich heritage and the character of the surrounding landscape.
Fairhurst provided geotechnical, civil and structural engineering services for the design and construction of the new clubhouse. The project involved the creation of a three-storey clubhouse built sensitively into the landscape, incorporating a partial basement level that provides the main entrance from the adjacent car park. Constructed using traditional sandstone and slate, the building includes a modern restaurant, bar and locker room facilities, with extensive glazing offering panoramic views across the golf course and surrounding area.
Fairhurst designed the primary steel frame structure, reinforced concrete retaining walls and open-plan internal spaces. A key engineering challenge was achieving structural stability while accommodating extensive curtain wall glazing and maintaining the aesthetic requirements of the natural stone façade. The design also incorporated a large vaulted ceiling over the main lounge and dining areas, supported by cranked steel beams and a feature circular column arrangement. Careful coordination between the structural frame, retaining structures and masonry façade ensured the project met both performance and architectural objectives.
Fairhurst’s experience working with traditional masonry and historic buildings in the region enabled the specification of a hydraulic lime mortar solution that allowed wider movement joint spacing within the stonework. This avoided the appearance of excessive movement joints and preserved the architectural quality of the façade.
