Picture this: the wind-whipped Scottish Highlands, where the gorse bushes stand at attention and the sheep outnumber the golfers.
Now, imagine that backdrop hosting one of the most prestigious events in amateur golf.
Thatโs rightโRoyal Dornoch, the grand old dame of links courses, has been tapped to host the 2028 Curtis Cup.
If youโre not already booking your trip, well, you might want to check your pulse.
Royal Dornoch isnโt just any golf course. This is a place where history and nature conspire to create a golfing experience thatโs as beautiful as it is brutal.
The Championship Course has seen its share of titanic struggles, from The Amateur Championship in 1985 to the recent Scottish Menโs Amateur in 2023.
And let’s not forget the R&A Women’s and Men’s Senior Amateur showdowns just last year.
But come 2028, the stakes get even higher as the best women amateurs from Great Britain and Ireland face off against the cream of the American crop in the Curtis Cup.
Now, if youโve never had the pleasure of hacking your way around Royal Dornoch, let me set the scene.
This isnโt the kind of course that rolls out the red carpet and serves you a pint of Ale at the turn.
No, this is golf as it was meant to beโrugged, raw, and utterly captivating. Youโre not just playing against the field here; youโre squaring off with the land itself.
And thatโs precisely why the Curtis Cup is going to be such a cracker.
Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, the Executive Director of Championships at The R&A, is understandably chuffed about the whole thing.
โWe look forward to staging the Curtis Cup at such a historic venue in 2028. We want to give elite amateur golfers world-class platforms to show us how well they can perform and that will certainly be the case at Royal Dornoch.
The Championship Course has earned worldwide acclaim, and it promises to be a wonderful occasion in the rich history of the Curtis Cup,โ he said.
You can practically hear the excitement in his voice, canโt you?
And letโs not forget Neil Hampton, the General Manager at Royal Dornoch, who must feel like a kid whoโs just been told Christmas is coming early.
โWeโre proud to be chosen to host the Curtis Cup in 2028. As a Club, we want to support the highest level of amateur golf and believe our Championship Course will provide a fitting platform for the players.
We have worked closely with The R&A on a number of championships in the past and we look forward to continuing that relationship to make it one of the best matches possible.
The Curtis Cup is also going to be a tremendous occasion for the local area. With the Championship Course consistently ranked highly in global standings and the investment in our infrastructure as we build a new clubhouse, a match of this standing and stature will only enhance the reputation of Royal Dornoch, the town, and the local area.โ
Itโs hard to overstate just how much this means for Royal Dornoch, a course thatโs as revered as it is remote.
This isnโt just a golf match; itโs a statement. Itโs a declaration that Royal Dornoch isnโt just one of the best courses in Scotlandโitโs one of the best in the world.
So, while we wait for the official dates to be announced (because the anticipation just adds to the drama), thereโs plenty of other Curtis Cup action to keep us busy.
Sunningdale in Berkshire is the site for this weekโs contest, and in 2026, the action shifts across the pond to Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles. But letโs be honest, 2028 is the year weโre all looking forward to.
In the meantime, if youโre lucky enough to be near Sunningdale this weekend, tickets are still up for grabs.
Grab them in advance and youโll save a few quidโยฃ22 for adults, ยฃ11 for youths (16โ25), and free for the under-16s.
If youโre the spontaneous type, though, walk-up tickets are ยฃ25 for adults with half off for the young guns.
But really, who are we kidding? All eyes are on 2028. Royal Dornoch, weโre ready for you.
