Since hosting the British Amateur Championship in 1994, Nairn Golf Club has shot to prominence. Prior to that, this idyllic spot had nestled unassumingly on the shores of the Moray Firth and had contented itself with modest local acclaim.

However, with the building of the new clubhouse, and the provision of facilities to match the quality of the layout, Nairn's ambitions have risen to an appropriate level. These ambitions were realized last year as Nairn played host to the 1999 Walker Cup, where the GB & I team's final day singles display gave them an emphatic victory over their more favoured American counterparts.

For the coming of the Walker Cup, the finishing touches were put to a set up which has to be the envy of most clubs. A new pro-shop was added and the practice tee, previously on a fairly steep slope, was tiered to provide a tremendous area for honing your swing. With these additions, along with the large practice putting green situated in front of the clubhouse, Nairn really is a golfer's paradise!

However, do not be deceived, Nairn is no place for the faint hearted. It is a true classic, designed to challenge at every juncture. The carries are often demanding, the fairways usually hard and fast, and the greens quick and true.

Nairn seems to relish the fact that it unashamedly throws down a challenge that few can meet. But being outfoxed by this course is common, and there is more than sufficient consolation offered by the amazing scenery and the sheer quality of the architecture.