North & South Lanarkshire

North and South Lanarkshire may lack the sea air of Ayrshire or the links drama of Fife, but this central Scottish county offers a golf heritage of genuine distinction. At its heart stands Lanark Golf Club, founded in 1851 and the world's 25th oldest golf club — a course perched 183 metres (600 feet) above sea level on glacial sands that lend the fairways a surprisingly links-like character. For a landlocked inland venue, few Scottish courses can claim such an unusual playing surface. The ranking was updated in March 2026.