Scotland Golf Courses
West Coast | Southeast Coast
| East Coast | Northeast Coast
| Highlands
West Coast of Scotland
Scotland’s Ayrshire coast, located just south of Glasgow, is the
original home of the British Open Championship. The region can claim no
less than three venues to have hosted the Open Championship through the
years - Ailsa, Prestwick and Royal Troon.
In addition, a wide variety of other fine links courses are conveniently
available to the traveling golfer in this area. Just off the coast lie
Machrie and Machrihanish, perhaps two of Scotland’s finest links
courses, yet still undiscovered by many golf travelers due to their somewhat
remote locations - but they are well worth the trip!
 AILSA
& KINTYRE COURSES: Turnberry Hotel: Immortalized by the
Watson v Nicklaus British Open dual in 1977, the Ailsa course is
one of Scotland’s finest true links layouts. The hotel's recently
remodeled Kintyre Course (formerly the Arran), now also offers a
good test of championship level links golf.
Local Knowledge: Must be a resident of the hotel to play
the Ailsa and Kintyre Courses.
GLASGOW GAILES: The name is somewhat misleading,
as the course is actually adjacent to Western Gailes. Glasgow Gailes
is the secondary course for the primary club in Glasgow - Glasgow
GC. This links course is another of the challenging Open Qualifying
venues in the area.
Local Knowledge: Limited weekend play is available.
MACHRIE: Part of the Machrie Hotel on the
island of Islay, this course once hosted a rival tournament to the
British Open. This demanding links course should be at the top of
the golf connoisseurs play list.
Local Knowledge: Well worth the trip! Direct air service
available from Glasgow to Islay.
MACHRIHANISH: Located on the Mull of
Kintrye. Old Tom Morris designed this classic links course. If not
for its remote location, Machrihanish would no doubt have hosted
many Championships.
Local Knowledge: Well worth the trip! Drive, fly or take
the ferry.
PRESTWICK: One of golf’s most historic
courses. The first twelve British Open Championships were played
on this unique links layout.
Local Knowledge: No visitors on Thursday afternoons and weekends.
ROYAL TROON: The renowned Royal Troon
GC has been the stage for a number of British Open Championships,
most recently in 1997. Royal Troon boasts the shortest and longest
holes in Open competition. Royal Troon’s secondary track, the
Portland Course, is an enjoyable compliment to its more famous sibling.
Local Knowledge: Early booking highly recommended to secure
a confirmed time (9 to 12 months prior to travel). The maximum permissible
handicaps for play are Men - 20 and Ladies - 30. See our Scotland
- Know Before You Book section for more detailed availability information.
WESTERN GAILES: Venue of many Championships
and a regular site for Open Qualifying when held at nearby Royal
Troon or Turnberry.
Local Knowledge: Golfers clubhouse lunch included in green
fee. Visitors accepted on Monday, Wednesday and Friday only.
Other courses of note: Kilmarnock (Barassie), Southern Gailes
(scheduled to open 2003).
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Southeast Coast of Scotland
This region, which includes Scotland’s capital city of Edinburgh,
has a renowned collection of championship links courses, most of which
are situated on the dramatic Firth of Forth. Many of these courses are
also used for Open qualifying when the Championship is held at nearby
Muirfield.
DUNBAR: Although formally established in
1856, golf was played on this wonderful links land for many years
before. This excellent links layout played host to British Open
Final Qualifying in 1992.
GULLANE: Three courses make-up the Gullane
Golf Club with #1 being the most famous and challenging. The course
differs slightly from other links courses in that it sweeps along
Gullane Hill instead of stretching along a narrow piece of links
land. It is often used as an Open Qualifying site when the Championship
is held at nearby Muirfield.
Local Knowledge: Great opportunity to play 36 holes by combining
#1 and #2.
 NORTH
BERWICK: An Open qualifying course, North Berwick's West Links
has an antiquated charm all its own with walls, burns, yawning bunkers
and in No. 15, 'Redan', probably the most frequently copied short
hole in the world. Each hole on this venerable links sets a different
problem of length, judgement, skill and direction.
Local Knowledge: North Berwick is the thirteenth oldest golf
club, second only to St Andrews for continuous play over the same
course.
Other courses of note: Craigelaw, Dalmahoy G & CC, Longniddry,
Muirfield.
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East Coast Of Scotland
This region includes the "Home of Golf"-- St. Andrews. In addition,
just along the coastline from St. Andrews, lie a number of championship
courses such as the 1999 British Open venue Carnoustie and the most recent
addition to Scottish links golf - Kingsbarns. The area is also blessed
with many lesser known layouts such as, Crail, Scotscraig and Lundin Links
which we highly recommend experiencing. A short drive from St. Andrews
is the famous inland destination, and future Ryder Cup venue, of Gleneagles
Hotel with its three picturesque and challenging courses.
 CARNOUSTIE:
The revered links course returned to the British Open rotation in
1999. A very demanding layout, Carnoustie has hosted five previous
Opens.
Local Knowledge: May require a stay at the Carnoustie Links
Hotel to receive a confirmed tee time on the Carnoustie Championship
course.
CRAIL: Founded in 1786, Crail Golf Club is
the 7th oldest in the world and can boast of two outstanding links
courses. Balcomie Links, modified by Tom Morris, is the primary
course. The new Craighead Links has the features of many of the
best aspects of Scotland's classic links.
Local Knowledge: Great opportunity to play 36 holes with
the addition of their new course.
DUKES: One of the most recent courses to the
area and designed by five time Open Champion Peter Thomson, the
Dukes Course is a parkland style layout set in a picturesque location
overlooking the town of St. Andrews and the North Sea.
Local Knowledge: Ideal course for weekend play in the St.
Andrews area. Complimentary to guests of the Old Course Hotel.
GLENEAGLES - KINGS COURSE: Situated in
the beautiful Perthshire hills, the Kings Course at Gleneagles Hotel
provides majestic views of the Scottish Highlands. Although an inland
course, it is no less challenging than its links neighbors. It is
a past host of the Scottish Open Championship.
Local Knowledge: Residency of the hotel no longer required
for play.
GLENEAGLES - QUEENS COURSE: One of the most picturesque inland
courses in all of Scotland.
Local Knowledge: Residency of the hotel no longer required for
play.
GLENEAGLES - PGA CENTENARY COURSE: The Jack Nicklaus designed
layout (formerly known as the Monarchs Course) is the newest addition
to this venerable hotel and resort. The course is home to the Scottish
PGA Championship.
Local Knowledge: Residency of the hotel no longer required for
play. Motorized carts available. Venue of the 2014 Ryder Cup.
KINGSBARNS: Opened in July 2000, Kingsbarns
is one of the most recent additions to the Scottish links golf landscape.
Located just down the coast from St. Andrews, Kingsbarns has drawn
rave reviews from all who play it. It offers spectacular views of
the North Sea on every hole.
Local Knowledge: Ideal course for weekend play in the St.
Andrews area.
SCOTSCRAIG: Part inland, part classic
links, Scotscraig is always used as a qualifying layout when the
Open is held in nearby St. Andrews.
Local Knowledge: Ideal course to play en route between Carnoustie
and St. Andrews.
ST. ANDREWS - OLD COURSE: The most famous
course in the world and the one that all golfers dream of playing
at least once in a lifetime. Golf has been played on this site since
as early as 1547. The unique layout offers shared fairways, double
greens, intimidating bunkers and an abundance of history.
Local Knowledge: Early booking highly recommended to secure
a confirmed time (12 to 18 months prior to travel). The maximum
permissible handicap for play is 24 for men and 36 for ladies. See
our 2003 Old Course section for more detailed availability information.
ST. ANDREWS - NEW COURSE: Very often overlooked, the New Course
(still over 100 years old) offers similar challenges as the more famous
Old Course-undulating fairways, hidden greens and difficult bunkers.
Local Knowledge: The course most favored by the 'locals.'
ST. ANDREWS - JUBILEE & EDEN COURSES: These occupy the same
classic terrain as their more famous sister course.
Local Knowledge: Many 'locals' claim that the Jubilee is a more
challenging test of golf than the Old or New Courses.
Other courses of note: Blairgowrie, Elie, Ladybank, Leven Links,
Lundin Links, Monifieth, St. Andrews Bay (Torrance Course).
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Northeast Coast Of Scotland
The Aberdeen area has some superb golfing venues. Located overlooking
the North Sea, Cruden Bay, Murcar and Royal Aberdeen all provide a pure
'links' experience with undulating terrain and plenty of sand dunes to
play through! This area is ideally situated to connect stays in St. Andrews
with visits to the northern Highlands of Scotland.
 CRUDEN
BAY: This rugged links layout has been consistently ranked as
one of the British Isles Top 50 courses and has been included in
Top 100 Courses of the World rankings. It lies in the shadow of
Slains Castle, inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
Local Knowledge: Offers some of the most spectacular views
to be found on any links course.
MURCAR: Adjacent to Royal Aberdeen, Murcar
occupies the same outstanding links terrain. Although the undulating
fairways still make the course a test of golf, Murcar is considered
less demanding than its famous neighbor.
Local Knowledge: Great option for 36 holes in one day as
it is virtually 'back to back' with Royal Aberdeen.
ROYAL ABERDEEN: Founded in 1780, Royal
Aberdeen is the sixth oldest golf club in the world. Many major
events have been played on the club’s Balgownie Links, which
is characterized by numerous bunkers, heavy gorse and the constant
weather elements!
Local Knowledge: The first course to adopt the five minute
rule when looking for a lost ball!
Other courses of note: Newmachar, Peterhead.
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The Highlands Of Scotland
Perhaps the most scenic region of Scotland. Over the years, this area
has become a much sought after golf destination, due primarily to the
presence of Royal Dornoch and Nairn. It is dotted with a collection of
Championship caliber courses, as well as shorter yet equally challenging
links layouts, which make the journey North very worthwhile.
LOSSIEMOUTH (Moray): Similar to St. Andrews,
this links style championship course begins and ends in the center
of the town.
NAIRN: An outstanding links course and venue
of many major golfing championships including the 1999 Walker Cup
Matches.
Local Knowledge: Well worth the drive north.
 ROYAL
DORNOCH: One of the finest links courses in the world. If not
for it's somewhat remote location, this course would surely host
a British Open Championship. It was here that famed golf architect
Donald Ross learned his trade.
Local Knowledge: Well worth the drive north. For a full day,
warm-up on Royal Dornoch's Struie course before your round on the
Championship course.
Other courses of note: Boat of Garten, Brora, Carnegie Club at
Skibo Castle, Elgin, Golspie, Tain.
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Scotland Golf Courses by Destinations
Ayrshire & Surrounds
Glasgow
Gailes | Machrie
| Macrihanish
| Prestwick
| Royal
Troon | Turnberry
| Western
Gailes
Fife & Perthshire
Crail
| Dukes
Course | Gleneagles
| Kingsbarns
| Ladybank
| Scotscraig
| St.
Andrews Old Course
Edinburgh Region
Dunbar
| Gullane
| North
Berwick
East Coast
Carnoustie
| Cruden
Bay | Royal
Aberdeen
Highlands
Brora
| Golspie
| Nairn
| Royal
Dornoch
Scotland Golf Courses by Regions
Border | Dumfries
| Strathclyde
| Lothian |
Central | Fife
Tayside | Highland
| Grampian
| Western
Isles | Orkney
| Shetland
|
