Located on the picturesque Dornoch Firth with views of the Struie Hills, the 8,000-acre Skibo Castle estate is truly enchanting. Originally named Schytherbolle, meaning fairyland in Celtic, the estate has a rich history that includes Nordic settlers and the legacy of Andrew Carnegie.
In 1898, Carnegie commissioned John Sutherland to build a private nine-hole links course at Skibo Castle. After Carnegie’s death in 1919, the estate fell into disuse until entrepreneur Peter de Savary revived it in 1990. Architects Donald Steel and Tom Mackenzie were enlisted to redesign the links, leading to the creation of the Carnegie Club links in 1995.
US billionaire Ellis Short acquired the club in 2003, initiating further enhancements by Mackenzie between 2005 and 2007. The course underwent significant changes, including bunker renovations, gorse removal, and the addition of new holes. Today, stretching from 5,400 to over 6,800 yards, the Skibo course offers challenging holes at the outset and culminates in a spectacular finish with standout features like the par three 6th and the risk-and-reward 17th and 18th holes.
In 2012, the Carnegie Club began offering limited public tee times, marking a shift from its exclusive private status.
