Golfers at the Royal Dornoch in Sutherland get spiritual advice from the Queen's chaplain
GOLFERS at a top course can now do more than pray for luck as they tee off - they can get spiritual advice from the Queen's Chaplain.
Members of Royal Dornoch in Sutherland are being inspired by the Reverend Susan Brown
Members of the prestigious Royal Dornoch in Sutherland are being inspired by the Reverend Susan Brown's thought-provoking reflections.
They aim to "exercise the body, mind and spirit".
Each of the club's 18 holes has its own message penned by Mrs Brown, 57.
She walked the course at different times of the day to capture the unique feel of the stunning landscape as part of a new project to mark 400 years of golf in the area.
The thoughts offer an opportunity to help the game to also exercise body, mind and spirit
Dubbed the "Holy Round", the "inspiring and uplifting reflections" are included in the course guidebook.
Mrs Brown, minister of 13th-century Dornoch Cathedral and a member of the golf club for 20 years, said the messages were designed to help quieten the minds of golfers and give them a sense of perspective.
Each of the club's 18 holes has its own message penned by Mrs Brown
She said: "Royal Dornoch is a stunning course and golf, for many people, is a spiritual experience.
"From what I saw, I created a simple 'thought' for all 18 holes - plus another for the obligatory 19th, which is the clubhouse.
"The thoughts offer an opportunity to help the game be a more complete experience that exercises body, mind and spirit."
The entry for the first hole states: "Draw breath and enjoy the clean score sheet and all the possibilities that lie ahead. Choose now to take one step at a time and enjoy what that step holds."