Entrance alcove
The first alcove entered shows advances to Dornoch in the 20th Century. Today Dornoch’s main industry is tourism. During the 1890s John Sutherland, Secretary to Dornoch Golf Club, tirelessly promoted the town and the golf club in the national press. Every summer wealthy visitors either rented house for the summer months or built their own residences. The opening of the railway and the Station Hotel at the beginning of the century attracted even more visitors.
Donald Ross was born in St Gilbert Street, Dornoch in 1872 and became America's best known golf course architect. After his schooling in Dornoch, Donald served a five year apprenticeship with Peter Murray to become a joiner (carpenter). In keeping with other young men in Dornoch he played golf and at an early age he was recognised as a fine player. Probably around 1886 Donald met Tom Morris, the patriarch of St Andrews, when he visited Dornoch. Members of the Dornoch Golf Club needed a professional to make clubs and give lessons and, with his training as a joiner, Donald was ideal for the appointment. To learn the skills of club making, Donald spent a year at Forgan's in St Andrews and a further year at Carnoustie, returning to Dornoch around November 1893. In March 1899 Donald left Dornoch to take a position at the Oakley Country Club in Watertown, Mass. His move to the USA followed advice from Professor Robert Wilson, who held the chair in physics at Harvard and spent summers playing golf in Scotland. Donald was granted American citizenship in 1921 but he steadfastly remained loyal and supportive to his relatives and friends in Scotland, returning on summer visits to Moniave and Dornoch.
Dimensions: digital image