After two years extensive renovation Todd Warnock, an American investor with a passion for Royal Dornoch golf, raised the flag for the first time at his Highland country house hotel – Links House at Royal Dornoch.  The hotel overlooks the world-renowned Royal Dornoch Golf Club and in its first week has already welcomed guests from all over the globe including several renowned travel and golf writers.

 

During the last two years, Links House, a historic property in the picturesque Highland village of Dornoch that was acquired by owners Todd and Liz Warnock in 2010, was subject to extensive restoration and renovation overseen by architect James Maxwell of Maxwell & Company Architects & Designers Ltd and interior designer Helen Lyon.

 

The Warnocks – who hail from Chicago and have been long-time visitors to the seaside village of Dornoch – and their professional team spared no expense or creativity in renovating and restoring Links House with a vision of turning the former Church of Scotland manse into one of Scotland’s finest luxury retreats.

 

“After many years reading about famous Dornoch golf architect, Donald Ross, ‘taking links golf to the world’ I was finally able to visit Royal Dornoch to play this wondrous course,” says Todd Warnock. “I later became a member and it has become a very special place for me. Links House at Royal Dornoch was borne out of the special spirit and atmosphere you find here, both on and off the golf course. We hope to have captured that spirit and created a perfect retreat for the most discerning golfers.”

 

A reported £4m was invested into the project with the result being an exquisite, tasteful, intimate, eight-bedroom country manor hotel, replete with open fires, wood-paneled library, garden Orangery dining room, stunning antique and fine art collection, golf equipment drying room and exclusive outdoor putting green built and maintained by Royal Dornoch’s green-keeping team.

 

Guest at Links House will receive a warm Highland welcome and unrivalled comfort and luxury. Each of the eight en-suite bedrooms are individually designed and finished to the highest standards, with bespoke fabrics echoing the colour palette of the Highlands, and every piece of furniture selected for its timeless beauty.

 

Dinner, also available to non-residents, is prepared by Chef Darren Miranda gathering and preparing the finest and freshest local ingredients and accompanied by fine wines from an extensive and hand-picked cellar, is served in the Orangery.

 

After dinner guests can enjoy Links House’s grounds and gardens where a cigar hearth and private putting green, designed and maintained by the Master Greenkeepers at Royal Dornoch Golf Club, lets guests make the most of the long Summer evenings in the northern Highlands.

 

Links House is being seen as a great addition to the luxury Scottish hotel travel market. Its position, adjacent to the 1st tee on the Championship Course at Royal Dornoch (which is frequently ranked in the world’s top 10 and considered by many to be the finest natural links course in the world) is sure to make it popular with traveling golfers.

 

Guests will also be perfectly situated to play golf at the Highlands’ other world-renowned courses including Castle Stuart Golf Links (home to the Scottish Open), The Nairn Golf Club (Walker Cup 1999 and Curtis Cup 2012 host) and Skibo Castle’s renowned Carnegie Links.

 

A concierge service at the hotel will assist guests with all golf-related matters while also offering non-golfers an unparalleled range of activities year-round, including fishing, shooting, horse riding, walking, wildlife tours, distillery visits and cashmere and tweed shopping trips.

 

Links House is taking bookings now. Room rates start from £270 per room, per night. The hotel is also available to book for exclusive use.

 

ENDS

For further information contact Yvonne Crook or Angharad Gronbach at View Marketing on 01463 470990 or e-mail Yvonne@viewmarketing.co.uk or Angharad@viewmarketing.co.uk

 

Editor’s notes:

 

* Donald Ross served as Royal Dornoch's head professional after apprenticing for Old Tom Morris at St. Andrews. Having enjoyed a successful career as a player, finishing 5th in the US Open in 1903 and 8th at the Open in 1910, it was his love of links play that propelled him to become golf's most revered course designer.

 

* Donald Ross designed over 400 courses in the United States often relying on the charm and subtleties he came to love at Royal Dornoch. He become the founding president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects 1947 and was among the first non-players admitted to the World Golf Hall of Fame.

 

* Donald Ross’s major design achievements, including Pinehurst No.2, Seminole, and Oakland Hills, have only grown in stature and are currently viewed as among the finest courses in North America and the world.

 

* Guests of Links House will be perfectly situated to play golf at the Highlands’ other world-renowned courses including Castle Stuart Golf Links (home to the Scottish Open) and The Nairn Golf Club (Walker Cup 1999 and Curtis Cup 2012 host). 

 

* Skibo Castle's newly renovated Carnegie Links is just minutes away from Links House. More historic links gems such as Brora Golf Club (James Braid, 1891), Golspie Golf Club (James Braid, 1889) and Tain Golf Club (Old Tom Morris, 1890) are just brief jaunts along the Dornoch Firth.

 

* Links House will also offer bespoke concierge service to access the numerous sporting activities in the Highlands including world-class salmon and trout fishing, upland shooting, stag stalking, hill walking, beach walking and horse riding.

 

* Links House can arrange private tours for guests keen to explore the Highlands' ancient castles, formal gardens, historic sites, and unique antique and specialty shops.

 

* Guests can also immerse themselves in the history, imagery and wonder of the Highlands, enjoying a visit to legendary Loch Ness and even be fitted for a cap or jacket in Links House’s very own proprietary tweed.