The Home of Golf, Scotland
Golf has been played in Scotland for more than 600 years and is undisputedly the home of the modern game. With more than 550 courses to choose from there is something for everybody. Scotland has plenty of great accommodation, whether you're looking for hotels, B & B's, golf resorts, castles or home rentals. The options are endless. A golf trip to Scotland is the ultimate bucket list experience for every golfer!
St Andrews, Fife
When one thinks of golf in Scotland, ones thoughts go quickly to St Andrews and the ‘Old Course’. Golf has been played over the ancient links since the early 15th century, it is truly the 'cradle of the game'. Not only is St Andrews a testament to the history of the game of golf but the Old Course is a monument to golf course architecture.
The shire around St Andrews is called ‘The Kingdom of Fife’ and has around 60 golf clubs. The highlights are such classic links as Lundin & Leven Links, Crail, Elie and for a change of pace the heathland course of Ladybank. In recent years a few modern links have been build, Kingsbarns, the Craighead Course at Crail and in 2020 Dumbarnie Links.
Southern Scotland
Just 40 min east of Edinburgh lies the shire of East Lothian and its coast offers an amazing amount of great golf. The most famous being Muirfield Golf Club, home to The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers. Muirfield has hosted 16 Open Championships and the club dates back to 1744. But don’t fret, if Muirfield is a bit tough to organise! North Berwick, Gullane, Kilspindie, Longniddry, Dunbar & The Glen Golf Club are all wonderful places to spend a day on the links. Looking for a modern links, try The Renaissance Club or Archerfield.
On the west coast is the Ayrshire region and it doesn’t disappoint with the world famous courses of Royal Troon, Prestwick and Turnberry. A little less well known, or hidden gems are Western Gails, Dundonald, The Irvine, Kilmarnock and Prestwick 'St Nicholas'. The Old Prestwick has a particularly special place in golf history being the host club of the first Open Championship back in 1860.
Looking for something a little bit more on the wild side, head out to the Western islands and play golf ‘as it was meant to be’. Visit the links of Machrihanish and Machrihanish Dunes or Dunverty on the Kintyre Peninsular. Further afield on the island of Islay is 'The Machrie'.
Northern Scotland 'The Highlands'
A trip up to Inverness and the Highlands is a must with Royal Dornoch being the biggest drawcard. But the links at Tain, Brora, Golspie, Fortress & Rosemarkie are all superb and a lot of fun. In and around Inverness is the traditional links of Nairn, the incredible modern links of Castle Stuart. Plus the lesser known courses of Boat of Garten, Inverness, Muir of Ord, Nairn Dunbar and further to the east is Moray golf club.
North East Scotland or Aberdeenshire is sometimes overlooked in Scottish golf but with the arrival of Trump International it has blown new life into the area. Never lacking in good golf Cruden Bay & Royal Aberdeen Golf Clubs are among some of the best courses in Scotland. But the great golf continues up the coast with Fraserburgh, Peterhead and Murcar Golf Clubs.
Perthshire & Kinross
Located in the middle of Scotland so it doesn’t have any links golf, but it does have Gleneagles. Otherwise there're the delightful Pitlochry, Crieff and Blairgowrie Golf Clubs to keep any golf enthusiast happy.
After Golf
Scotland has many activities to keep you busy after golf. Starting with the authentic local cuisine, a visit to the pub and interaction with the locals or a wander around one the picturesque towns and villages. How about a city trip to Edinburgh or Glasgow. Or take in the stunning scenery that Scotland has to offer. The North Coast 500 has grown in popularity and entails a trip around the top of Scotland. Along the way are several stops particularly on the east and north coast to play golf. And to round it all off, a few drams of whisky to wash it all down!
Click on photos for more region information
Map of Scotland