Golfers shown fairway to heaven

Golfers at one of the world’s most prestigious courses are being given spiritual advice by a chaplain to the Queen.

The Rev Susan Brown, the minister who married Madonna and Guy Ritchie at Skibo Castle in December 2000, has written thought-provoking reflections for each of the 18 championship course holes at Royal Dornoch in the Highlands.

The 57-year-old, who is minister of the 13th Century Dornoch Cathedral, walked the course to create the so-called “Holy Round” as part of celebrations to mark 400 years of golf in the area.

The guide for the first hole states: “In the beginning, 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.”

Mrs Brown, who is one of the Queen’s chaplains in Scotland, said: “Royal Dornoch is a stunning course and golf, for many people, is a spiritual experience.

“As the local minister I wondered how the church could participate positively in the 400-year anniversary celebrations, so I came up with the idea of creating a Holy Round.

“I went out at different times of the day and walked the course to get a sense of the uniqueness of each hole and then from what I saw, created a simple ‘thought’ for all 18 holes – plus another for the obligatory 19th which is the clubhouse.

“The thoughts are not designed to provide people with the perfect excuse to go golfing instead of to worship, but offer an opportunity to help the game be a more complete experience that exercises body, mind and spirit.”

Minister the Rev Susan Brown has created the Holy Round.