Muir of Ord is a typical heathland/moorland course which has steadily improved and lengthened throughout the years to 5542 from the Medal tees, 5229 from the yellows and 5128 for the ladies. Partly laid out by James Braid, the course dates from 1875 and is divided in two by the Inverness to Wick railway line. With play increasing over the course, the crossing of the busy road became such a hazard that three new holes were opened, making the two very short par 3 holes redundant. This led to a new 9th hole, which previously shared a fairway with the 8th hole, and also created a new 10th and 11th hole, while the 2 redundant holes have been turned into practice holes for the juniors, with funding from Club Golf.
On the new ground purchased was built the 414 yard 9th hole, which rises to a plateau green, then from the same level a par 3, measuring 169 from the whites downhill to the level of the 9th tee.
Unaffected by the changes, but now numbering 12 on the course, is perhaps the toughest par 3 to be found anywhere in the north. It measures 214 from the medal tees and there is only one place to land your ball, and that is on the green. There is a wood on the left and thick heather on the right, as well as a greenside bunker. There is also a dry ditch which runs at an angle across the fairway and to the left of the green.
The 13th , known as "Castle Hill" is the only 106 yards long, but is played from approximately 100 feet below the green, which is very small and has bunkers front and right, which punish approach shots which are too long or too short with a very testing recovery shot.
The finishing hole is a demanding one of 404 yards requiring an accurate approach to an elevated green, with the railway out of bounds on the left. It is also out-of-bounds past the green, so accuracy is of utmost importance.