Golf has been part of the sporting landscape in Scotland since at least the 15th century when King James II banned the game by Act of Parliament in 1457 and there is mention of the game being played on a number of sites along the east side of the country during the 16th century, including Stirling (1505), Carnoustie (1527), Montrose (1562) and St Andrews (1574). Courses that developed at these locations, and many others that emerged along the eastern coastline, from Dornoch in the north to Dunbar in the south, still present a formidable challenge to golfers in the modern era.
Fife, United Kingdom
No other course has hosted more Opens than the Old Course at St Andrews. Its 29th Open and the 144th Open Championship returned “to the Home of Golf” in 2015.
Lothians, United Kingdom
Ayrshire & Arran, United Kingdom
North Scotland, United Kingdom
Angus & Dundee, United Kingdom
Lothians, United Kingdom
Fife, United Kingdom
North Scotland, United Kingdom
North East Scotland, United Kingdom
Muirfield is the course of “The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers” (HCEG), the world’s oldest golf club – according to direct written evidence – formed in 1744.
Trump Turnberry Ailsa stands on the Ayrshire coastline 82km (51 miles) south of Glasgow, commanding views across the Firth of Clyde towards the Isle of Arran and Ailsa Craig. The par-71 links hosted four Open Championships between 1977 and 2009, most famously the 1977 "Duel in the Sun" between Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus.
Royal Dornoch Golf Club is spellbinding. It seems to mesmerise amateur and professional golfers from all over the world and many make the pilgrimage to this natural links at some point in their lives.
Carnoustie is a big natural seaside golf links and the Championship course is considered to be one of the most difficult in the British Isles.
The West Links at North Berwick Golf Club is an immensely enjoyable golf course, located on the Firth of Forth with stunning sea views across to Craigleith Island and Bass Rock.
One of the many delights of Kingsbarns Golf Links is that you can see the North Sea from virtually every part of the course.
Bob Harrison's 2017 clifftop layout occupies Jura's southern peninsula, where six years of construction transformed peat and rock terrain into world-ranked golf holes. The exclusive estate rental includes 18 guest bedrooms and unlimited course access across 240 hectares overlooking the Sound of Jura. Plan your Scottish island golf holiday.
Cabot Highlands Castle Stuart now offers some serious competition to both Royal Dornoch and Nairn when it comes to attracting visiting golfers, but that's a good thing for the Highlands where the golfing bar of excellence is very high.
Cruden Bay is an inspirational golf course, regarded by some as quirky and considered by others as a masterpiece. Either way, this is a thrilling place to play golf because the designers used the original lie of the land to fantastic effect.
