
Scotland
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.
St Andrews Links (Old)
Fife, United Kingdom
St Andrews Links (Old)
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.
Trump Turnberry (Ailsa)
Ayrshire & Arran, United Kingdom
Trump Turnberry (Ailsa)
The Ailsa course at the Turnberry Resort is probably the most scenic Open Championship golf course. Located right next to the Firth of Clyde, with craggy rocks and superb views across to the Mull of Kintyre...
Royal Dornoch Golf Club (Championship)
North Scotland, United Kingdom
Royal Dornoch Golf Club (Championship)
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 Golf Links (Championship)
Angus & Dundee, United Kingdom
Carnoustie Golf Links (Championship)
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.
North Berwick Golf Club (West)
Lothians, United Kingdom
North Berwick Golf Club (West)
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.
Kingsbarns Golf Links
Fife, United Kingdom
Kingsbarns Golf Links
One of the many delights of Kingsbarns Golf Links is that you can see the North Sea from virtually every part of the course.
Cabot Highlands Castle Stuart
North Scotland, United Kingdom
Cabot Highlands Castle Stuart
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 Golf Club (Championship)
North East Scotland, United Kingdom
Cruden Bay Golf Club (Championship)
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.
Trump International Golf Links - Scotland (Old Course)
North East Scotland, United Kingdom
Trump International Golf Links - Scotland (Old Course)
Occupying a three-mile stretch of North Sea coastline, Trump International Golf Links is the latest American-inspired, high profile course to open in Scotland since the start of the new millennium.
Royal Aberdeen Golf Club (Balgownie)
North East Scotland, United Kingdom
Royal Aberdeen Golf Club (Balgownie)
The Balgownie at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club is a traditional out and back links course running along the shore of the North Sea and it has one of the finest first nine holes in golf.
Prestwick Golf Club
Ayrshire & Arran, United Kingdom
Prestwick Golf Club
The course at Prestwick Golf Club is a traditional monument, an authentic affair with a layout of holes that snake to and fro through rugged dunes and rippled fairways.
Royal Troon Golf Club (Old)
Ayrshire & Arran, United Kingdom
Royal Troon Golf Club (Old)
Royal Troon is a traditional out and back links course on the current Open Rota. Host of the 152nd Open Championship, it is best known for the short par 3 Postage Stamp and strategic 11th, named Railway.
Machrihanish Golf Club (Championship)
Argyll & Bute, United Kingdom
Machrihanish Golf Club (Championship)
Machrihanish Golf Club must be one of the most natural, romantic and enjoyable places to play golf in the whole of the British Isles. It’s not long, but it's sheer fun...
Gleneagles (King's)
Perth & Kinross, United Kingdom
Gleneagles (King's)
Gleneagles is the perfect setting for a game of golf and the King’s course is surely the best moorland track in the world.
Loch Lomond Golf Club
Dunbartonshire, United Kingdom
Loch Lomond Golf Club
Loch Lomond Golf Club is set in more than 600 acres of sheltered seclusion, sandwiched between the mountains and the historic lochside.
Western Gailes Golf Club
Ayrshire & Arran, United Kingdom
Western Gailes Golf Club
The holes at Western Gailes Golf Club are wonderfully varied. The fairways undulate gently, interrupted occasionally by three meandering burns...
Dumbarnie Links
Fife, United Kingdom
Dumbarnie Links
Dumbarnie Links lies within the 5,000-acre Balcarres Estate, a property that’s been in the hands of Lord Balniel’s family for more than four hundred years. It’s a Clive Clark design which first opened its doors to the public as a pay-and-play facility in the spring of 2020.
Nairn Golf Club (Championship)
North Scotland, United Kingdom
Nairn Golf Club (Championship)
The Championship links at Nairn Golf Club is one of the most spectacular seaside courses in Scotland, boasting sea views from every hole.
Another Place, The Machrie
Argyll & Bute, United Kingdom
Another Place, The Machrie
The refurbished Machrie golf course reopened for play in May 2017 and it's now geared up to handle visitors long into the future... the 48-bedroomed hotel opened in 2018.
Gullane Golf Club (No.1)
Lothians, United Kingdom
Gullane Golf Club (No.1)
Gullane Golf Club is blessed with the most exquisite turf – winter rules are not needed here. If you hit the No.1 course fairways, a perfect lie awaits, even in the depths of winter.
Skibo Castle - Carnegie Links
North Scotland, United Kingdom
Skibo Castle - Carnegie Links
The Carnegie Club is located on the edge of the beautiful Dornoch Firth with views of the Struie Hills, the 7500-acre Skibo Castle estate is something very special. It’s a place where fairytales meet reality.
The Renaissance Club
Lothians, United Kingdom
The Renaissance Club
The Renaissance Club opened in April 2008 with future tournament golf in mind and it's Tom Doak's first Scottish course design.
Gleneagles (Queen's)
Perth & Kinross, United Kingdom
Gleneagles (Queen's)
The Queen’s course is the pretty little sister at the Gleneagles Hotel. She’s only short course but she's exquisitely delicate and stunningly beautiful.
Machrihanish Dunes
Argyll & Bute, United Kingdom
Machrihanish Dunes
Machrihanish Dunes was the vision of Australian tycoon Brian Keating. Only a small fraction of this 270-acre property was disturbed by architect David McLay Kidd and associate Paul Kimber when they laid out the golf course.
Brora Golf Club
North Scotland, United Kingdom
Brora Golf Club
Brora Golf Club is a fine, natural seaside links. A Highland delicacy to be tasted alongside Royal Dornoch. Brora is one of the jewels in James Braid's crown.
St Andrews Links (New)
Fife, United Kingdom
St Andrews Links (New)
Situated adjacent to the Old course, the New course at St Andrews is often referred to as the local’s favourite because it is tighter and more defined than the Old.
Murcar Links Golf Club
North East Scotland, United Kingdom
Murcar Links Golf Club
Murcar Links Golf Club is located on a classic stretch of links land with huge sand dunes, crumpled fairways, whins, burns and heather.
Panmure Golf Club
Angus & Dundee, United Kingdom
Panmure Golf Club
There is a gentle beginning on Panmure Golf Club's Open Qualifying course before it opens up beyond the pine forest.
St Andrews Links (Castle)
Fife, United Kingdom
St Andrews Links (Castle)
The Castle course is the newest member of St Andrews Links Trust’s portfolio and may be seen by some as the black sheep of the family due to its unnatural links character...
Lundin Golf Club
Fife, United Kingdom
Lundin Golf Club
Lundin Golf Club has a bit of everything: burns, blind drives, out-of-bounds, a nimiety of bunkers (many of which are deep and punishing), the ever-present wind and truly excellent greens.
Moray Golf Club (Old)
North Scotland, United Kingdom
Moray Golf Club (Old)
The Old course at Moray Golf Club is a traditional treasure - a links which starts and ends in the town. The closing hole is one of the finest in the British Isles.
Dundonald Links
Ayrshire & Arran, United Kingdom
Dundonald Links
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.
Blairgowrie Golf Club (Rosemount)
Perth & Kinross, United Kingdom
Blairgowrie Golf Club (Rosemount)
The Rosemount course at Blairgowrie Golf Club is charmingly situated at the feet of the Grampians, amongst the majestic pines, birch and heather.
Dunbar Golf Club
Lothians, United Kingdom
Dunbar Golf Club
Dunbar Golf Club is laid out on a narrow strip of land with the best holes hugging the rocky coastline affording resplendent views across the North Sea to Bass Rock, a huge volcanic lump rising up out of the water.
Boat of Garten Golf Club
North Scotland, Scotland
Boat of Garten Golf Club
Make no mistake – this is exciting golf. The lovely course at the Boat of Garten Golf & Tennis Club wends its way, up and down, through heather, whin, pine and birch.
Gullane Golf Club (No.2)
Lothians, United Kingdom
Gullane Golf Club (No.2)
Many prefer the No.2 at Gullane Golf Club to No.1 - it's a course of great variety and challenge...it was used for Open Championship Qualifying in 1980.
Southerness Golf Club
Dumfries & Galloway, United Kingdom
Southerness Golf Club
Southerness Golf Club is set on the edge of a remote headland on the peaceful Solway coast and is virtually unknown by the golfing masses.
Luffness New Golf Club
Lothians, Scotland
Luffness New Golf Club
Luffness New Golf Club is the custodian of probably the oldest “new” golf course in the world, dating back to 1867.
Fraserburgh Golf Club (Corbiehill)
North East Scotland, United Kingdom
Fraserburgh Golf Club (Corbiehill)
Fraserburgh Golf Club was founded in 1777 with the present course opening in 1891 and redesigned by James Braid in 1922.
Glasgow Golf Club (Gailes Links)
Ayrshire & Arran, United Kingdom
Glasgow Golf Club (Gailes Links)
Glasgow Gailes Links is a classic golf course. “The turf is something softer – at least in my imagination – than that of the East Coast courses,” wrote Darwin, “and the greens are wonderfully green and velvety.”
Archerfield (Fidra Links)
Lothians, United Kingdom
Archerfield (Fidra Links)
Situated between Gullane and North Berwick, the Fidra course at Archerfield Links (rather like Formby in England) has a contrasting mix of pine-flanked and traditional styled links holes.
Trump Turnberry (King Robert the Bruce)
Ayrshire & Arran, United Kingdom
Trump Turnberry (King Robert the Bruce)
The exhilarating King Robert the Bruce course at Trump Turnberry opened for play in 2017 after Martin Ebert returned to redesign the Kintrye course which the architect laid out in 2001.
Spey Valley Golf
North Scotland, United Kingdom
Spey Valley Golf
The golf course at Spey Valley has an old fashioned out and back routing and water comes into play along the way on several occasions.
St Andrews Links (Jubilee)
Fife, United Kingdom
St Andrews Links (Jubilee)
The Jubilee’s raised tees provide unparalleled views across St Andrews Bay to the east and the fluttering flags on the other St Andrews golf courses to the west.
Montrose Golf Links (1562)
Angus & Dundee, United Kingdom
Montrose Golf Links (1562)
Did you know that Montrose Golf Links is considered to be the seventh oldest course in the world? Records state that golf has been played here since 1562 but its mighty neighbour Carnoustie has long overshadowed it.
Askernish Golf Club
North Scotland, United Kingdom
Askernish Golf Club
The Askernish golf course was created by Old Tom Morris back in 1891 but over the years, it fell into disrepair. In 2008 the Askernish Golf Club came back to life.
Scotscraig Golf Club
Fife, United Kingdom
Scotscraig Golf Club
Scotscraig Golf Club is situated close to the sea, it's part heathland and part links. The hybrid course plays over undulating terrain and is used for Open Qualifying when the Open is at St Andrews.
Leven Links
Fife, United Kingdom
Leven Links
Leven Links Golf Course measures a modest 6,551 yards from the medal tees against a par of 71, but the wind often laughs in the face of the yardage figures.
Irvine Golf Club
Ayrshire & Arran, United Kingdom
Irvine Golf Club
Irvine Golf Club represents a tough test of golf. It's a classic traditional links course and plays host to Open Championship Final Qualifying...
Ladybank Golf Club
Fife, Scotland
Ladybank Golf Club
The Howe of Fife provides Ladybank Golf Club with a natural shelter in the valley of the River Eden. It’s a Top 100 regular because it is one of Scotland’s best inland courses.
Prestwick St Nicholas Golf Club
Ayrshire & Arran, Scotland
Prestwick St Nicholas Golf Club
Prestwick St Nicholas Golf Club is a traditional links course with commanding views across the Firth of Clyde to the Isle of Arran.
West Kilbride Golf Club
Ayrshire & Arran, United Kingdom
West Kilbride Golf Club
West Kilbride Golf Club really gets the pulse racing around the turn with a nice loop of holes.
Longniddry Golf Club
Lothians, Scotland
Longniddry Golf Club
With four of the very best golf course architects having left their distinguished marks on Longniddry Golf Club, it is a rather special place to play golf.
Golspie Golf Club
North Scotland, United Kingdom
Golspie Golf Club
Golspie Golf Club is a vintage seaside course with a varied and enjoyable mix of links, heathland and parkland holes.
Kilspindie Golf Club
Lothians, United Kingdom
Kilspindie Golf Club
Although it's not long, Kilspindie Golf Club is everything that links golf should be. Step back in time and enjoy this true gem.
Monifieth Golf Links (Medal)
Angus & Dundee, United Kingdom
Monifieth Golf Links (Medal)
There are two golf courses at Monifieth but it's the Medal course that's used as an Open qualifying venue when the Open is played at nearby Carnoustie.
Crail Golfing Society (Balcomie)
Fife, United Kingdom
Crail Golfing Society (Balcomie)
The Balcomie Links is the relatively modern home of the Crail Golfing Society, the ninth oldest golf club in the world, which was formed in 1786.
Nairn Dunbar Golf Club
North Scotland, United Kingdom
Nairn Dunbar Golf Club
Situated on the shores of the Moray Firth, Nairn Dunbar Golf Club is a classic course, steeped in history.
Peterhead Golf Club (Craigewan Links)
North East Scotland, United Kingdom
Peterhead Golf Club (Craigewan Links)
Butch Harmon declared to those members present when he visited the golf club in 2005 that Peterhead Craigewan Links course was a "hidden gem" which he really enjoyed playing.
Downfield Golf Club
Angus & Dundee, United Kingdom
Downfield Golf Club
On the outskirts of Dundee, lies Downfield Golf Club, a lovely James Braid-designed parkland course little known outside Scotland.
Archerfield (Dirleton Links)
Lothians, Scotland
Archerfield (Dirleton Links)
Compared to the Fidra, the Dirleton course at Archerfield is a more traditional Scottish links with deep pot bunkers and sand dunes flanking each fairway.
Lanark Golf Club
Lanarkshire, United Kingdom
Lanark Golf Club
Founded in 1851, Lanark is the world’s 25th oldest golf club and the course is sited 600 feet above sea level where the ground is sandy and links-like thanks to Ice Age glacial sands.
Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Club
North Scotland, Scotland
Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Club
Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Club lies north of Inverness on a narrow peninsula which juts out into Rosemarkie Bay...
Blairgowrie Golf Club (Lansdowne)
Perth & Kinross, United Kingdom
Blairgowrie Golf Club (Lansdowne)
The Lansdowne course at Blairgowrie Golf Club is routed through swathes of pine and silver birch trees which put a premium on accuracy off the tee.
Pitlochry Golf Course
Perth & Kinross, United Kingdom
Pitlochry Golf Course
If you can survive the climb up the first few holes at Pitlochry Golf Club, then the views are quite possibly the most breathtaking in golf.
Kilmarnock (Barassie) Golf Club
Ayrshire & Arran, United Kingdom
Kilmarnock (Barassie) Golf Club
Kilmarnock (Barassie) is a classic golf links, used for Open Championship Final Qualifying when the Open comes to the Ayrshire coast.
Crail Golfing Society (Craighead)
Fife, United Kingdom
Crail Golfing Society (Craighead)
It’s a mystery as to why the Craighead course at Crail did not feature in any golf course ranking tables since it came into play in 1999 until we first ranked it in 2008...