Royal Dornoch Golf Club, which has just been named ‘junior club of the year’, has installed an insulated unit in its halfway house to ensure defibrillators will still work in very hot or cold temperatures.
Royal Dornoch has become the first golf club in the world to install an insulated unit in its halfway house to ensure the defibrillators housed there will still work, even in freezing or very hot temperatures.
In 2023, the Highland club decided to fit potentially life-saving defibrillators to all its buggies on the Championship Course.
Now Code Blue CPR campaigner David Sullivan has selected Royal Dornoch for the pioneering defibrillator unit which can be relied on to operate even when the mercury dips.
“While Royal Dornoch enjoys our own microclimate here in the north of Scotland, it is reassuring to know that this casing will protect the defibrillator even if the temperatures tumble well below zero over the winter,” noted general manager Neil Hampton.
“Another positive from our perspective is that the insulated cabinet doesn’t require electric cabling to operate an internal heater. That is a big plus.
“I really do think this will make a huge difference in terms of where defibs can be installed easily and economically on golf courses and elsewhere.”
Surrey-based businessman and former military trainer David has been championing CPR training and defibrillators after losing four golfing friends to cardiac arrests.
“More than 350 people die on British golf courses every year and that is unacceptable in this day and age with the technology at our disposal,” he said.
“We lag way behind other countries in cardiac arrest survival rates because we have been reactive rather than proactive.
“If you can get a defibrillator on a patient within three minutes the chances of survival leap from seven or over 70 percent.
“We have harnessed aerospace material to keep the defibrillator at an ambient temperature and fully operational anywhere between plus 45 and minus 15 degrees Centigrade.
“Until now, a power source has been required to trigger a protective thermostat.
“That’s not the case with this insulated unit so it is ideal for the far reaches of any golf course, outside business premises, in vehicles or even up mountains and in national parks.
“You don’t need an electrician to install them, there’s no electricity bill or maintenance.”
Meanwhile, the golf club has been raising funds for the 800-year-old Dornoch Cathedral, the location for Elon Musk’s wedding in 2010, which last year revealed was £50,000 in debt.
In October, the Struie Course hosted a fundraising golf day.
The Rev. Carol Anne Porter, locum minister, said: “We are so pleased to have support from Royal Dornoch Golf Club.
“The club’s generosity will help us ensure the cathedral stays open and in the best condition possible for all those who, in visiting or sharing in worship here, find peace and perspective.
“We are grateful to everyone involved in organising and participating in the event.”
“It was worrying to learn that Dornoch Firth Parish and the cathedral are facing financial challenges, and the club is eager to help,” said Neil Hampton.
“The cathedral dates to 1224 and, with a Grade A listing, it is regarded among Scotland’s most historic church buildings.
“The cathedral and the golf courses are vital to the economic wellbeing of the town, attracting visitors in their droves every year.
“There have always been close ties between the church and the golf club, with several past captains serving as ministers, and local members and visitors worshipping at the cathedral.
“Written evidence of golf being played here dates to 1616 and historians believe it was brought north from St Andrews by visiting clergymen.”
And this comes as the club has been hailed as the ‘UK Junior Club of the Year’ by junior golf charity the Golf Foundation.
Some of the youngsters joined coaching pros Gary Dingwall and Ally McNaughton at the prestigious awards ceremony presented by former Tour professional and Sky Sports commentator Nick Dougherty at Wentworth Clubhouse.
The award is named after Charles Harrison, in honour of the former Golf Foundation chairman who passed away in 2022 aged 73. Harrison was a huge believer in making the sport accessible to all young people and teaching valuable life skills through golf.
The judges noted: “Royal Dornoch are a special club, who have worked hard to give every child in the town the opportunity to try golf and the chance to join their extensive junior programme.
“Each year, the club runs 75 golf sessions in all of the local primary and secondary schools, delivered by their team and trainee PGA professional coaches from the nearby University of the Highlands and Islands.
“Every child is then invited to take part in competitions and coaching sessions back at the club.
“More than a hundred juniors take part weekly and it is estimated that over 50 percent of the primary age children in the area are actively involved at the golf club.”
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