golf in scotland
More than 550 years ago golf was born in Scotland. It was not the fastest growing sport by any means, as by 1850 there were fewer than 20 golf courses in Scotland.
However, in the early 1900s there were 275 and today there are over 550 golf courses across Scotland. Figures suggest that 1 in 10 play golf and when you’re travelling, Scotland simply reads with golf courses at every turn and you can always see someone pulling or pushing their golf cart along the pavement.
Scotland is the birthplace of golf and unsurprisingly, Scottish golf courses are second to none.
Golf was originally played by the sea and the first links golf courses were born. Today, Scotland powers many of the world’s best, including the hallowed turf of St Andrews Old Course, to the last major finish on the Open Tour, Turnberry, which today is often hailed as the best golf courses from Scotland.
South West Scotland Golf
Argyll, The Isles, Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway
Every region of Scotland is literally literate with a lifetime of quality golf courses, links, parks and moorland included. But the south west of Scotland stretches from Gretna in the south to Oban in the north and offers over 100 golf courses combined with stunning scenery and tourist attractions at every stage.
Regardless of where you start your visit, we recommend that you take a trip to the Isle of Arran, where you’ll find 7 courses to choose from. Our personal favorite would be Shiskine, closely followed by Brodick and Lamlash. A new course is Machrihanish Dunes, which is receiving wide acclaim as one of Scotland’s newest links courses. It sits on the Mull of Kintye.
Ayeshire is a golfer’s paradise with Open Championship courses to test all golfers – Royal Troon and Alisa (Turnberry) come to mind testing all golfers to the limit. Let’s not forget Dundonald, Loch Lomond’s sister course. Dundonald was designed by Kyle Phillips who gained worldwide recognition with Kingsbarns.
It is a magical region with a superb coastline, excellent accommodation and hospitality and a lifetime of golf.
South East Fields, Scotland
Edinburgh, East Lothian, West Lothian, Boarders
Any visit to Scotland should be combined with a visit to its capital, Edinburgh. What sets Edinburgh apart from any other capital in the world is that it is surrounded by the widest selection of the best golf courses, all within a 30-minute drive.
The Boarders offers the Dave Thomas designed Roxburghe and near Peebles, Cardrona sits alongside the River Tweed with a stunning backdrop. If you are in the region add Peebles, Minto, Innerleithen and The Hirsel as they all offer challenging golf.
To the east of Edinburgh is East Lothian, and I think you’ll be hard pressed to find a stretch of coastline so packed with some of the best golf courses to play. Muirfield is one of the Tour’s favorite Scottish venues, but combined with the 3 courses at Gullane (No 1 in particular) Cragielaw, Dunbar and my personal favourite, North Berwick, it’s an exceptional region less than 30 minutes from Edinburgh.
Within Edinburgh, you have some courses like Braids No.1, Duddingston, Bruntsfield Links, and Royal Bursges. Just outside and to the west is the Marriott Dalmahoy, a premier resort with the West Course listed as one of Scotland’s best golf courses.
Edinburgh is a very vibrant and beautiful city that is the perfect backdrop for a quality golf holiday or a base from which to start exploring the rest of Scotland.
Central Golf Courses, Scotland
Central
The Scottish Midlands is the most populous area in Scotland and is home to some of the best inland courses. Many of the courses can be accessed from Glasgow, which was the former European City of Culture. It is the creative hub of Scotland and with it comes restaurants, museums, bars and cafes, as well as a lively nightlife.
Haggs Castle is one of the best golf courses in Glasgow and has hosted many professional tournaments. It is still considered one of the best golf courses in the interior of the country. Cawder must also be visited.
Further afield is Carluke, which combines beautiful views over the Clude Valley with some quality parkland countryside. Renfrew Golf Club has been used on a number of occasions for open qualifying and the same goes for Erskine and Ranfurly.
A little further north you’ll find Loch Lomond and Carrick on Loch Lomond, which are well worth a visit. It was opened in 2007 and designed by Doug Carrick, the Canadian architect.
Traveling towards Stirling, you will find Stirling Golf Club and Glenbervie, an excellent test of golf. Cross the River Forth and once again you will be spoiled for choice with Tulliallan, Braehead and Alloa.
The central region of Scotland is another golf delight. You could spend a year playing the courses in the region and never get bored.
Heartlands Courses, Scotland
Perthshire, Angus, Dundee and Fife
It makes no sense to describe the Midwest as anything more than a golf mecca. A list of the best golf courses in the world that would bring most golfers to their knees and if you want to play the best golf courses then there is no better place on earth.
For any visit to this region, a base in or near St Andrews is ideal. Just being in St Andrews is a golf experience that no one can deny. It has the hallowed ground of St Andrews Old Course, which you can reserve a year in advance or enter on the daily ticket. St Andrews Links Trust also has 6 other courses including the new Castle Course. Less than 3 miles away you have St Andrews Fairmont and another 3 miles you will play at Kingsbarns.
Enter Perthshire and you have the jewel of Gleneagles with the Kings, Queens and the PGA Centenary Course hosting the Ryder Cup in 2014. Let’s not forget the hotel, the Gleneagles Resort, which is 5 star luxury in the beautiful Perthshire countryside.
Further north is the monster of Open Championship golf courses, Carnoustie, a simply amazing test of golf with the hotel and bar to recount, relive and reassess your golf completely. It has to be played.
There are also indoor park courses like Ladybank which deserves a lot of praise, and let’s not forget Scotscraig, Crail or Lundin Links. These courses are often overlooked, but situated anywhere else, they would be the best courses in any region.
The Heartlands is simply an amazing experience for any golfer and with so many options it’s hard to make a decision. We have in-depth knowledge of the region, the golf courses, the golf hotels and how to make it the most memorable golf trip.
North East Golf Courses, Scotland
Aberdeen and Grampian
The North East of Scotland has over 70 golf courses to choose from and is getting a lot of attention right now with Donald Trump’s new golf course on the move.
Throughout the region, quality golf courses dot the fantastic links coastline. This includes Cruden Bay, which is perfectly situated among the rolling dunes. And then you have Royal Aberdeen and Murcar along the coast. Murcar Links organized the Challenge Tour event in 2006 and Royal Aberdeen has hosted a wide range of major competitions, including the Seniors Open in 2005, being the sixth oldest club in the world. The Balgownie course is a classic link with 9 round-trip holes hugging the shore.
With distilleries and castles everywhere, the region offers a great golf destination, whether for short golf breaks or long golf vacations.
Newburgh-on-Ythan is another gem south of Aberdeen and let’s not forget Royal Terlair, Peterhead, Fraserburgh or Duff House Royal.
The North East of Scotland combines brilliant golf with excellent value for money. Hospitality is excellent.
Golf Courses Highlands & Island Scotland
The Scottish Highlands offer golfers something special. They combine an incomparable landscape where the naked eye becomes a pleasure, with golf that challenges the best in Scotland.
Inverness is the capital of the Scottish Highlands and combines local charm with a bustling city. Nairn, a golfing paradise, is just a few miles down the road and both Nairn and Nairn Dunbar should be played if possible. And let’s not forget Castle Stuart, the new golf course in the Highlands with the course reopening in April 2010.
Further north, we have what many believe to be the best golf course in the country: Royal Dornoch. The reason it doesn’t appear on the Open Championship Tour is because of its far north location and unpredictable weather. For mere mortal golfers like us, this is fantastic news as the green fees are reasonable and the club retains its personal and lovable character. A few kilometers away you can also play Brora, a golf course loved and admired by those in the know.
If you are looking for remote golf then continue north and combine the Orkneys or even the Shetlands. Whalsay is the northernmost course in Britain.
Moving further up the west coast, the scenery is personally the best in Scotland and for any golfer visiting this region try a visit to Durness golf course. Forget the luxuries of manicured greens and perfect lies, Durness Golf Course offers golf as it should have been and golf as it perhaps should be. The 9-hole course has 2 different tees that form an 18-hole circuit and if you like golf, you will simply love it. The Par-3 9/18 hits the ball over the Atlantic and the views are breathtaking.
We have expert knowledge of this region so get in touch if you are looking for a golf break or golf vacation.
