Strathlene sits high above the Moray Firth, stretched across the headland between Portessie and Findochty.

From up here, the sea is rarely out of sight. Fairways climb, fall and fold through the ground, broken by the gullies that run towards the coast below. Offshore, Craigenroan rises from the Firth; behind, the old fishing communities of Scotland's north-east coast frame a course that has occupied this ground for almost 150 years.

At just under 6,000 yards, Strathlene has little interest in length for length's sake. Its character comes from somewhere else — exposed greens, uneven ground, changes in elevation and, inevitably, whatever the wind has brought in from the Moray Firth that day.

The club dates to 1877. The original course consisted of nine holes laid out between Portessie and Strathlene House, with two occupying ground that is now part of the neighbouring caravan site.

Nearly sixty years later, Strathlene grew.

In 1936, additional land was acquired across the headland towards Findochty and George Smith of Lossiemouth designed an extended eighteen-hole course. Yet the old Strathlene was never completely replaced. Four holes from the original layout survived and today form the closing stretch of the round.

In 1936, additional land was acquired across the headland towards Findochty and George Smith of Lossiemouth designed an extended eighteen-hole course. Yet the old Strathlene was never completely replaced. Four holes from the original layout survived and today form the closing stretch of the round.

There is something rather fitting about that. After travelling across the newer ground, the final holes bring you back onto fairways that have formed part of Strathlene since the earliest days of the club.

Its clubhouse has travelled too.

Strathlene's earliest clubhouse stood at the entrance to Portessie railway station. Later, when the course was extended across the headland, a former Highland Railway station building was moved to Strathlene and given a new life as the club's home. It stood overlooking the course until the present clubhouse replaced it in the 1970s.

The railway itself has disappeared, but its story belongs to a time when Strathlene was more than somewhere to play golf.

Below the course stood Strathlene House Hotel, while visitors arrived by train to spend their days beside the sea. Steps led down from Portessie station towards the beach, and an open-air swimming pool formed part of a small coastal resort that drew day-trippers from towns further inland.

Much of that Strathlene has faded away.

The golf has remained.

In 2027, Strathlene will mark its 150th year. Almost a century and a half after those first nine holes were laid out, golfers still cross much of the same ground, finishing their rounds over four holes that reach right back to the beginning.

The railway has gone. The hotel has gone. The old clubhouse has gone.

The final four remain.