Dundonald Links originally set out to be part of a golf and residential complex called Southern Gailes but when that didn’t happen, Loch Lomond Golf Club bought the course in 2003 and commissioned Kyle Phillips to finish the design.
Dundonald Links originally set out to be part of a golf and residential complex called Southern Gailes but when that didn’t happen, Loch Lomond Golf Club bought the course in 2003 and commissioned Kyle Phillips to finish the design.
Dundonald Links originally set out to be part of a golf and residential complex called Southern Gailes but when that didn’t happen, Loch Lomond Golf Club stepped in to snap up the course for its members in 2003, commissioning Kyle Phillips to put the finishing touches to the design.
Dundonald translates to “Fort Donald” and fortifications have been located near here dating as far back as 200 BC. A golf course existed on the site in the 1900s but this was later turned into a military station named Dundonald Camp. It was here that D-Day landings were rehearsed during the Second World War.
Lying next to the long established courses of Kilmarnock Barassie, Glasgow Gailes and Western Gailes, Dundonald is obviously situated in prime golfing country. The course yardage can vary from 6,415 to 7,300 yards so it can be played as a comfortable member course or as a championship venue.
Only opened in 2005, Dundonald has since proved to be a links of some repute and was the proud host venue for the 2017 Scottish Open, which Rafa Cabrera-Bello won in a play-off. If you like the pampering that goes with golf at the top tracks then this is the place to enjoy such millionaire’s golf for a relatively modest green fee.
The Dundonald experience begins at the gatehouse when the security man lifts the barrier to let you in – everyone from then on seem to know your name. It’s a mirror of the treatment you get at Loch Lomond, but the course here on the Ayrshire coast is a true links layout and the polar opposite of the private layout on the shores of the famous loch.
In 2019 Loch Lomond Golf Club sold Dundonald Links for £4.5 million to Darwin Leisure. Work began on a new clubhouse and lodge accommodation in 2020, to be delivered in two phases. Phase one will see the clubhouse built, eighteen lodged developed and twenty-two private rooms constructed next to the clubhouse by the end of 2021. Phase two will result in the expansion of the lodge accommodation up to a further seventy-nine lodges.
The latest ranking of the Top 100 Golf Courses in the World serves as the ultimate global golf bucket list. Most members of our World Top 100 Panel are seasoned golfers, each playing 20-30 of these courses annually while travelling extensively over decades to form their opinions on others. We recognise that opinions vary—even among our panel members. Rankings are subjective, and there are undoubtedly 50 or more courses in the UK and USA alone that could easily fit onto this list. Links Golf Pilgrimages The rankings
California, United States
New Jersey, United States
Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
New York, United States
New York, United States
Top 20 Golf Courses in Ayrshire & Arran 2015 Ayrshire & Arran Best in Region rankings updated Birthplace of the Open Championship at Prestwick in 1860, Ayrshire & Arran is obviously one of the most historically significant regions in the golfing world. The Open has been held thirty-six times in this area, and it’s set to return next year to Royal Troon, when the competition will be held on the Old course for the 9th time. With the Ailsa course at Trump Turnberry currently undergoing major improvement work under the watchful eyes of architects Tom Mackenzie and Martin Ebert, it surely can’t be too long before the world’s most prestigious tournament will return yet again to the Ayrshire coast. This trio of world famous courses occupy the top three positions of our newly updated Best in Region rankings for Ayrshire & Arran and all three courses retain the same position as last time. Indeed, the top six spots in our latest table all remain the same, which might appear a little boring to some, but we think it’s a sign that we might just be getting things right with the rankings! The modern links at Dundonald (tipped by many to host a Scottish Open in the very near future) appears at number 5 in the listings and this highly acclaimed Kyle Phillips design is sandwiched between the fabulous old 18-hole links layouts at Western Gailes and Glasgow Golf Club’s Gailes Links, both of which date back to the 1890s. There are no spectacular climbers or fallers in our new chart, though mention should be made of several courses, all of which rise a modest two places to their current positions. The former Open Qualifying track at Irvine, which James Braid extensively upgraded in 1926, makes a commendable move up to number 7. The Portland course at Royal Troon, currently involved in a bunker refurbishment program, becomes our new number 13 and it’s immediately followed at number 14 by Largs, one of the few parkland courses in our chart. We’re very grateful to all the club champions and professionals in this region who contributed to our re-ranking process. To view more details of the courses in our Ayrshire & Arran Top 20 rankings, click this link. If you’ve played extensively across this region and would like to help shape the next edition of the chart then please drop Editor-in-Chief Keith Baxter an email at keith@top100golfcourses.com. We don’t publish definitive golf course rankings but we like to think they’re the most informed. Jim McCann Editor Top 100 Golf Courses
No stretch of coastline in Britain delivers more championship links golf in less than 50 kilometres than the Ayrshire coast. From the clifftop drama of Turnberry in the south to the unspoilt shoreline at West Kilbride in the north, this is where The Open Championship was born and where serious golfers have been making pilgrimages for well over a century. Factor in a short ferry crossing to the Isle of Arran and its one-of-a-kind 12-hole Shiskine course, and an Ayrshire golf trip becomes something genuinely difficult to top anywhere in the world. The region is anchored by three Open Championship venues, namely: Turnberry, Royal Troon, and Prestwick. It is, however, the courses that surround them that give Ayrshire its depth. Western Gailes, Dundonald Links, Glasgow Gailes, Kilmarnock Barassie, Irvine, and West Kilbride all sit within a 20-minute drive of each other. Most visiting golfers appreciate just how accessible, welcoming, and varied the full roster really is. Why Ayrshire Should Be on Your Golf Travel List 🌊 The Case for the Ayrshire Coast The density of quality here is the key selling point. A golfer with a week to spare and sensible logistics can play ten or more ranked courses without ever driving more than 40 minutes. Glasgow Airport sits roughly 40km (25 miles) from Troon, Prestwick Airport is on the doorstep, and the A78 coastal road effectively threads the entire course network together. The full range runs from bucket-list championship tests at the very top of the world game to excellent value traditional links that charge well under £100 for a round, even in peak season. Ayrshire also punches above its weight for non-golf days and partner trips. Burns country, Culzean Castle, the Isle of Arran, and some genuinely good restaurants make this a properly rounded destination. Open Championship pedigree: Prestwick (24 Opens), Royal Troon (9 Opens), Turnberry (4 Opens) – no comparable cluster anywhere in golf Accessibility: Glasgow Airport is 40 minutes from the heart of the coast; Prestwick Airport is virtually on the doorstep Depth of choice: 13 top-tier ranked courses within a 40km (25-mile) corridor, from world-class to B-sides, providing excellent value The Gailes Effect: Dundonald, Western Gailes, and Glasgow Gailes are practically neighbours, making back-to-back or 36-hole days effortless Island escape: 55 minutes by ferry brings you to Arran and the unique 12 hole Shiskine Golf & Tennis Club The Big Four: Ayrshire's Championship Links ⛳️ These are the courses that draw golfers from every corner of the world. Three have hosted The Open Championship, and all four remain accessible to visitors. Trump Turnberry Resort (Ailsa Course) Trump Turnberry Resort (Ailsa) is, by any honest measure, one of the finest links courses in the world right now. The Martin Ebert redesign – completed under Trump Organisation ownership – transformed a very good course into something genuinely transcendent. The stretch of holes along the Firth of Clyde, particularly the run from the 10th to the 16th, delivers coastal scenery and is one of the world's great golf experiences. The lighthouse and the views to Ailsa Craig combine to make a round here unforgettable. The Ailsa hosted The Open four times, most famously the 1977 Duel in the Sun between Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus, and the 2009 championship, where a 59-year-old Watson nearly won again. Green fees are the highest in Scotland and among the highest in the world. Prestwick Golf Club Prestwick Golf Club is like no other course in golf. The first Open Championship was played here in 1860 over 12 holes, and Prestwick went on to host the event 24 times before the crowds outgrew it in 1925. Six original greens survive, along with three original holes, and the course retains a genuinely Victorian character that elsewhere has long been smoothed away. Blind shots, massive bunkers with names like the Sahara and the Cardinal, a railway that threatens every drive at the first. The club is warm and welcoming to visiting golfers, encouraging proper use of the temporary membership that comes with the green fee. The Wednesday 'Prestwick Experience' – which includes a round and a three-course lunch in the historic Dining Room – is worth booking in advance as a genuine piece of Scottish golf culture. Visitors are welcome on weekdays only (Saturday is members only). Royal Troon Golf Club (Old Course) Royal Troon Golf Club (Old) divides into three distinct acts. The opening six holes march out along the shore, where they generally play downwind. The middle section weaves through the dunes in both directions, with the legendary par-3 8th (the 'Postage Stamp') demanding a perfect shot to a tiny target surrounded by bunkers. The closing six holes, often played directly into the prevailing south-westerly, are as demanding a finish as any links in Scotland. Xander Schauffele won the 2024 Open here in testing conditions. Troon hosted its ninth Open in 2024 and remains on the active rota. Visitors are welcome on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays only, between mid-April and early October. Western Gailes Golf Club Western Gailes Golf Club is the course that most visitors underestimate before playing and find very difficult to leave behind afterwards. The layout occupies a narrow strip of linksland between the railway and the sea, running out and back with the clubhouse at the midpoint, and the nine southbound holes from the 5th to the 13th along the Firth of Clyde represent one of the finest stretches of coastal links anywhere in Britain. The par-3 7th, played into a natural amphitheatre of dunes and guarded by six deep bunkers, is a particular favourite of those who know the course well. The club was founded in 1897 and has changed remarkably little since. The welcome to visitors is genuine and warm. The oak locker rooms, the atmospheric clubhouse with its soup and sandwiches at the turn, and the general lack of fuss make this many people's favourite course on the coast. Excellent Ayrshire Links – Essential on Any Longer Trip 🏌️ Dundonald Links Dundonald Links is the newest addition to the Gailes cluster but has rapidly established itself as a destination in its own right. Kyle Phillips designed a modern championship links that sits just across the railway from Western Gailes. The club hosted the Women's Scottish Open on multiple occasions and serves as an Open Championship Final Qualifying. The resort infrastructure includes luxury lodges, a superb clubhouse with panoramic views, the Canny Crow restaurant, and a proper whisky room. This makes Dundonald the obvious base for a group planning multiple days on the Ayrshire coast. It is open seven days a week, which matters considerably when planning around the access restrictions at Prestwick and Troon. Glasgow Golf Club (Gailes Links) Glasgow Golf Club (Gailes Links) is the overlooked member of the Gailes trio but deserves more credit than it typically receives. The club belongs to Glasgow Golf Club, which was founded in 1787, making it the ninth oldest in the world. The links at Gailes, laid out by Willie Park Jr in 1912, represent their away course on the Ayrshire coast. The 6,903-yard layout is also used for Open Championship Final Qualifying. The Gailes Golf Experience (combining Glasgow Gailes, Western Gailes, and Dundonald) is the smartest way to book all three and represents genuine savings over individual rounds. Kilmarnock (Barassie) Golf Club Kilmarnock (Barassie) Golf Club offers 27 holes of proper links golf just outside Troon and is a “if you know you know” pick. Founded in 1887, the championship Barassie Links layout combines nine holes from the original course with nine built in the 1990s, and has served as an Open Championship Final Qualifying venue on multiple occasions. The club is perhaps best known for its exceptionally fast, well-prepared greens. Barassie station sits directly opposite the course entrance on the Glasgow Central to Ayr line, making this one of the very few Scottish links courses that can be reached by train from Glasgow city centre without a car. Irvine Golf Club Irvine Golf Club at Bogside is one of the more deceptive courses on the Ayrshire coast. James Braid redesigned the layout in 1926 and left behind a test that looks deceptively open and flat from the outside but demands real precision to score on. The gorse and heather lining every fairway is unforgiving, the greens are among the best maintained on the coast, and the absence of sea views is more than compensated for by the absorbing quality of the golf. Bogside has hosted Open Championship Final Qualifying when the event has been at Troon or Turnberry. The West Kilbride Golf Club The West Kilbride Golf Club is the northernmost of Ayrshire's true links courses and enjoys some of the finest views on the entire coast. Every tee provides a different prospect – from the Kyles of Bute to the north, across to Arran, and down towards the Heads of Ayr – and the course follows an anti-clockwise route similar to St Andrews, with a loop at the far end. Out of bounds is a persistent threat, and holes like the 3rd, 13th, and the masterful 16th reward accurate thinking over brute force. Isle of Arran: A Golf World Apart 🚢 The ferry crossing from Ardrossan to Brodick takes approximately 55 minutes and arrives on an island that feels completely removed from the mainland. Arran rewards the golfer willing to build a day or two around the crossing, and Shiskine makes the journey absolutely worthwhile. Shiskine Golf & Tennis Club Shiskine Golf & Tennis Club is the most unusual course on this list and, for many who play it, the most memorable. The 12-hole layout above Blackwaterfoot on Arran's west coast was originally designed in 1896 by Willie Fernie of Royal Troon. Willie Park Jr extended it to 18 holes, but six were lost during the First World War. Rather than re-establish the lost 6 holes, the club simply pressed on with the twelve remaining holes, which are played to this day. What Shiskine lacks in conventional length, it more than compensates for in character. Seven of the twelve holes are par 3s, and three of those involve blind tee shots aimed at a marker pole. The 3rd plays almost vertically up to a green on the side of the Drumadoon Cliffs; the 4th then plays back down from that same shelf to a green set against Kilbrannan Sound with one of the most dramatic views in Scottish golf. A round takes roughly two hours, which means a double round before the ferry home is perfectly achievable. Further Ayrshire Courses Worth Considering 🏴 Trump Turnberry (King Robert the Bruce) Trump Turnberry (King Robert the Bruce) opened in 2016 as Turnberry's second championship course, designed by Martin Ebert around the ruins of Turnberry Castle – said to be the birthplace of Robert the Bruce. The 7,203-yard par-72 layout features gorse-lined fairways, views of the Turnberry Lighthouse and Ailsa Craig, and a character that sits somewhere between Ailsa's grandeur and a more playable resort course. Prestwick St Nicholas Golf Club Prestwick St Nicholas Golf Club sits in the shadow of its famous neighbour but deserves credit as a proper links in its own right. Founded in 1851, this is one of Scotland's oldest clubs, and the course shares some of the same terrain and gorse-laced character as Prestwick itself. I Royal Troon Golf Club (Portland Course) Royal Troon Golf Club (Portland) is the sister course to the Old and is included in the £495 Royal Troon day ticket. Originally designed by Willie Fernie in 1895 and subsequently redesigned by Alister MacKenzie in the 1920s, the Portland is shorter and more sheltered than the Old but carries its own charm. MacKenzie's dome-shaped greens are difficult to hold, and for a golfer completing both courses in a single day, it offers a genuinely different test. Getting There and Getting Around 🚗 Flying In Glasgow International Airport (GLA) is the main gateway, with direct flights from most UK cities and many European hubs. The drive to Troon or the central Ayrshire coast takes approximately 40 minutes. Glasgow Prestwick Airport (PIK) is closer still, practically on the doorstep of Prestwick Golf Club itself, but has a significantly smaller route network. Edinburgh Airport (EDI) is approximately 90 minutes by road and worth considering for those coming from the south or east. Hire Car A hire car is essentially non-negotiable for an Ayrshire golf trip. The coast road (A78) connects virtually every course on this list, and navigating between venues, hotels, and the Ardrossan ferry without a car would be complicated. All the major hire car companies serve both Glasgow airports. Basing Yourself Troon is the natural hub for most Ayrshire golf itineraries. The Marine Hotel overlooks Royal Troon's 18th green. Dundonald Links lodges are the best option for groups who want everything on site. Turnberry's own accommodation is the obvious choice for those prioritising the Ailsa experience. Weather & Packing Ayrshire is a west coast Scottish destination: mild rather than cold for much of the year, but reliably windy and subject to rain at any time. Summers (June–August) bring long evenings – sunset after 10 pm in June – and the firmest, fastest conditions. May and September are ideal shoulder months with fewer visitors and still-playable weather. Pack waterproofs regardless of the forecast, and bring a range of layers. Smart casual clothing is expected in most clubhouses; Prestwick requires a jacket and tie for the Dining Room. Equipment & Caddies Caddies are available at Prestwick (approximately £70 per round plus gratuity, booked in advance) and Turnberry. Most other courses are walk-only or trolley-friendly, with electric and pull trolleys available at almost every club on the list. Buggies are restricted to golfers with medical certificates at traditional links courses. Explore Beyond the Fairways 🏰 Burns Country Robert Burns was born in Alloway, just south of Ayr, and the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum is the centrepiece of a well-organised collection of sites including Alloway Kirk and the Brig o' Doon. Burns' influence on the culture here is pervasive, and the museum makes an excellent half-day for genuinely curious visitors rather than just a box-ticking exercise. Culzean Castle National Trust for Scotland's Culzean Castle (pronounced 'Cullane') sits on a dramatic clifftop 25km (15 miles) south of Turnberry and is one of the finest Robert Adam buildings in Scotland. The country park surrounding it is extensive and gives a proper sense of the Ayrshire coastline away from the golf course perspective. Worth combining with a Turnberry visit on the same day. Isle of Arran Even for golfers making the crossing primarily for Shiskine, Arran rewards more than a hurried round-and-ferry. The island is often called 'Scotland in Miniature' – the northern half is rugged and mountainous (Goat Fell at 874 metres (2,867 feet) is a proper hill walk), while the south is gentler farmland and coastline. The Arran Distillery near Brodick and the Lagg Distillery in the south both offer tours and tastings. Whisky Johnnie Walker has strong roots in this part of Ayrshire. In fact, the Piersland House Hotel in Troon was the former residence of Sir Alexander Walker, and local distilleries are increasingly part of the visitor offer. Insider Tips for an Ayrshire Golf Trip 💡 Book Prestwick midweek and avoid Saturdays: The club is completely closed to visitors on Saturdays. Tuesday and Thursday mornings sometimes have restricted availability due to club competitions – check the tee sheet carefully when booking. Stay at Dundonald if travelling as a group: The 4 and 6-bedroom lodges with their own putting greens and beer chillers are built for exactly this purpose and make logistics considerably simpler than juggling multiple hotel rooms across different towns. Factor ferry times carefully for Arran: CalMac operates the Ardrossan–Brodick crossing, and sailings are weather-dependent. Check the timetable at www.calmac.co.uk and book car spaces in advance in summer. Allow time for delays when planning the day around a specific Shiskine tee time. Turnberry stays beat day visits: The resort's pricing structure means hotel guests access considerably better rates than walk-in visitors during peak season. The 'block out' pricing of £1,000 for non-hotel pre-1 pm slots is explicitly designed to drive overnight bookings rather than day trippers. Play the system accordingly. The Gailes courses are genuinely different experiences: Dundonald (modern, resort feel, open 7 days), Western Gailes (traditional, members' club ethos, superb links quality), and Glasgow Gailes (slightly more inland, Open qualifying-standard test) complement each other well across three consecutive days. Play in May or September for best conditions and value: June, July, and August deliver the longest days and firmest conditions, but also maximum visitor traffic and highest fees. May and September offer lower fees at many courses, less congestion, and often excellent playing conditions. Take a caddie at Prestwick: The course is genuinely confusing on first visit – blind shots, the famous Himalayas hole, and a layout that looks nothing like a scorecard map suggest. The local knowledge adds greatly to the experience. Bring your handicap certificate: Troon requires one. Prestwick strongly recommends one. Most other courses will not ask, but having it removes any awkwardness at check-in. The Dundonald-Prestwick-Western Gailes 'Ultimate Links' package is worth investigating for groups as it bundles accommodation and three top-tier rounds at a saving. Planning Your Ayrshire Golf Trip ✈️ Ayrshire delivers the kind of golf trip that genuinely exceeds expectations for almost every visitor who makes it. The combination of three Open Championship venues, a supporting cast of excellent traditional links, the community warmth of clubs like Western Gailes and Kilmarnock Barassie, and the pure escapism of a day on Arran at Shiskine – all within a single region accessible from a major international airport – is essentially without parallel in British golf. The practical keys are: book early at Turnberry, Prestwick and Troon, choose accommodation at Dundonald for central access, plan Prestwick for a weekday, and do not skip the Arran ferry. The rest organises itself around the A78 coast road with remarkable ease.
Scotland has golf courses for every standard of golfer. While its famous championship links attract visitors from around the world, some of the best places for beginners are shorter, less intimidating and considerably easier on the wallet. Top100 has compiled 10 courses that offer an enjoyable introduction to Scottish golf, taking into account their length, difficulty, green fees and overall atmosphere. Some are classic links, others are inland parkland courses, but all offer something that makes them worth considering for a golfer still finding their feet. 1. Gullane No.3 Why play it: Short, scenic East Lothian links Length: 5,134 yards (4,695m) - Par 67 Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆ Price: £70 Best for: First taste of links golf Gullane No.3 may sit in the shadow of its more famous neighbours, but it's an excellent introduction to East Lothian links golf. At just over 5,200 yards, it's short enough to be approachable for beginners, with only one par four exceeding 400 yards, while strategically placed bunkers and slick greens still provide plenty of challenge. The biggest reward comes between the fourth and 15th, where the course climbs Gullane Hill before opening up to spectacular views across the Firth of Forth. With Muirfield, North Berwick, Luffness New and Kilspindie all visible from the higher ground, it's a brilliant way to experience one of Scotland's great golfing regions without the price tag or pressure of its more famous neighbours. 2. Kilspindie Golf Club Why play it: Quirky seaside golf packed into a compact layout Length: 5,494 yards (5,024m) - Par 69 Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆ Price: £120 Best for: Fun, informal links golf Kilspindie is almost tailor-made for beginners looking to experience traditional Scottish links golf. Measuring just under 5,500 yards, the course places far more emphasis on accuracy than distance, with seven of its 13 par fours measuring less than 300 yards. Its compact layout beside Aberlady Bay also means you can enjoy a genuine seaside golfing experience without the intimidation of a long championship course. Founded in 1867, Kilspindie is steeped in history, while its secluded setting beside the nature reserve gives the course a wonderfully peaceful atmosphere. From the opening ‘Point’ to the 252-yard closing hole, ‘Home’, the layout is packed with quirky, old-fashioned holes that reward beginners who learn to plot their way around rather than simply reaching for the driver. 3. St Andrews Links - Strathtyrum Course Why play it: The easiest route into playing St Andrews Length: 5,628 yards (5,146m) - Par 69 Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆ Price: £60 Best for: First-time visitors wanting to play St Andrews The Strathtyrum is arguably one of the best options for beginners wanting to play at St Andrews. Opened in 1993 and designed by Donald Steel and David Thomas, the 5,628-yard layout is shorter and more forgiving than the Old Course, with generous fairways and relatively straightforward greens giving newer golfers room to enjoy themselves. Its fairways are framed by 15 bunkers, while cleverly positioned hazards and several water features provide enough challenge to keep experienced golfers interested. The Strathtyrum allows beginners to experience the atmosphere of St Andrews Links without the pressure associated with its more historic courses. 4. The Glen Golf Club Why play it: Spectacular coastal views and approachable links golf Length: 6,275 yards (5,738m) - Par 70 Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆ Price: £100 Best for: Scenic golf The Glen is a brilliant choice for beginners who want to experience Scottish links golf without being overwhelmed by length. Nine of its 12 par fours measure under 400 yards, while relatively gentle greens and generous opportunities from the tee make it possible to enjoy the course without needing a perfect game. The real highlight, however, is the scenery, with much of the course perched above the Firth of Forth and views towards Bass Rock, Fidra and Fife. The famous 13th, known as the ‘Sea Hole’, runs alongside the coastline, while the dramatic downhill 18th at ‘Jacob's Ladder’ provides a memorable finish. With the beaches and walking trails of North Berwick surrounding the course, The Glen has a relaxed, holiday atmosphere that makes it particularly appealing to newer golfers. 5. Hopeman Golf Club Why play it: Affordable clifftop links with spectacular views Length: 5,624 yards (5,143 m) - Par 68 Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆ Price: From £60 Best for: Affordable coastal golf Hopeman is a great reminder that Scottish links golf isn't all about length. The Moray Firth course rewards accuracy rather than power, with gorse lining its fairways and just one par five on the scorecard. For beginners, that makes it an inviting place to learn how to plot your way around a links rather than simply trying to overpower it. The highlight is the 12th, a 150-yard par three played from an elevated tee more than 100 feet above the green at Clashach Cove. With panoramic views across the Firth, it's the sort of hole that can make a beginner fall in love with Scottish golf. The course has been played since 1909 and remains a wonderfully traditional, unpretentious links experience. 6. Crieff Golf Club - The Ferntower Course Why play it: Friendly parkland golf in a spectacular setting Length: 6,493 yards (5,937m) - Par 71 Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆ Price: From £70 Best for: Relaxed inland golf For beginners who want to experience Scotland beyond the links, Crieff is an excellent alternative. Set among the rolling parkland of the Strathearn Valley, the course offers generous fairways and relatively forgiving rough, making it possible for newer golfers to enjoy their round without constantly searching for their ball. Crieff has plenty of golfing pedigree, too, with an original nine-hole layout designed by Old Tom Morris in 1891 before Robert Simpson and James Braid helped develop it into an 18-hole course. Add in its friendly welcome and excellent value, and Crieff offers a relaxed way for beginners to experience Scottish golf away from the country's famous links. 7. Prestwick St Nicholas Why play it: Traditional links golf without the championship price tag Length: 6,044 yards (5,526 m) - Par 69 Difficulty: ★★★☆☆ Price: £110 Best for: Traditional Scottish golf Prestwick St Nicholas is proof that a golf course doesn't need to be long to be a challenge. Described by Henry Cotton as a “miniature championship course”, its generous fairways make it approachable for newer golfers, but blind shots, strategically placed bunkers and tricky greens mean course management is essential. There's plenty of history here, too. The club's members originally played on the neighbouring Prestwick course, which hosted the first 12 Open Championships between 1860 and 1872. For beginners, it offers a chance to experience traditional Ayrshire links golf without having to take on one of the region's more intimidating championship layouts. 8. St Andrews Links - Eden Course Why play it: Authentic St Andrews links with a little more challenge Length: 6,140 yards (5,614m) - Par 70 Difficulty: ★★★☆☆ Price: £80 Best for: Beginners ready to step up If the Old Course feels too intimidating, or its £355 green fee is simply out of reach, the Eden offers a far more accessible way to play at St Andrews. Designed by Harry Colt in 1914, this par 70 layout provides a genuine links experience without the pressure or price tag of the Old Course. The Eden is strategic rather than brutally difficult, with generous fairways giving beginners room to find their feet. The challenge comes around the greens, where deep bunkers, humps and hollows demand a little more thought. With a two-tiered fifth green and the tricky 17th among its highlights, the Eden is an ideal next step for golfers who want to experience the Home of Golf while testing themselves. 9. Dunbar Golf Club Why play it: Classic links golf with a little more bite Length: 6,547 yards (5,987m) - Par 71 Difficulty: ★★★☆☆ Price: From £145 Best for: Beginners ready for a challenge Dunbar is a step up in difficulty from some of the shorter courses on this list, but it offers an excellent introduction to the more demanding side of Scottish links golf. The course hugs the North Sea coastline for much of its back nine, with spectacular views towards Bass Rock and the wind adding an extra layer of challenge. For beginners, it's a chance to discover why links golf requires more than simply hitting the ball straight and far. There's plenty of history to enjoy along the way, too. Golf has been played around Dunbar since the 17th century, while the course has benefited from the influence of Old Tom Morris, Ben Sayers and James Braid. 10. Brora Golf Club Why play it: Wild, natural links golf with a relaxed atmosphere Length: 6,211 yards (5,679m) - Par 70 Difficulty: ★★★☆☆ Price: From £180 Best for: An adventurous first links trip Brora offers beginners something that the famous championship courses often can't: the chance to experience a truly natural Scottish links without the pressure of a world-famous name. The 6,211-yard course isn't overly long, but its exposed coastal setting means the wind can quickly change the challenge. The opening nine runs remarkably close to the North Sea, with the second tee perched beside the beach and spectacular views stretching along the coastline. James Braid redesigned Brora in 1923, and relatively little has changed since. The 162-yard ninth, named the ‘Sea Hole’, is a particular highlight, while the closing par three provides a suitably challenging finish. Five-time Open Champion, the late Peter Thomson regularly played Brora and called it one of his favourite links courses in the world. Which Course is Best for You? With so many excellent options, the best Scottish golf course for a beginner depends on the type of experience you're looking for. Best for a first links experience: Gullane No.3 - Short enough to be approachable, but still delivers the classic East Lothian links experience. Best for experiencing St Andrews: St Andrews Strathtyrum - A more forgiving introduction to the Home of Golf than the Old Course. Best scenery: The Glen - Few courses on this list can match its views across North Berwick and the Firth of Forth. Best value: Hopeman - Affordable green fees and spectacular Moray Firth scenery make it an excellent option for golfers on a budget. Best traditional experience: Prestwick St Nicholas - A chance to experience traditional Ayrshire links golf without tackling one of the region's toughest championship courses. Best inland option: Crieff - A scenic alternative to links golf, with a more relaxed setting for golfers still finding their feet. Best for a challenge: Dunbar - Longer and more demanding than some of the other courses on this list, but a good choice for beginners looking to test themselves. Best for character: Kilspindie - A short, quirky and highly memorable links where no two holes quite feel the same. Green fees quoted are summer 2026 rates where available
