Scotland Golf Courses

A gloriously quirky and historic links (1832) on the East Lothian shore — stone walls, blind shots, the Bass Rock offshore. Home of the original Redan, the most copied par-3 in golf.

A classic out-and-back Ayrshire links, 10-time Open host (most recently 2024). Home of the par-3 "Postage Stamp" 8th — the shortest, and one of the most feared, holes in Open golf.

A classic East Lothian links (1884) climbing over 200-foot Gullane Hill, with one of the great views in golf from the 7th tee and greens rated among the best in Britain. A two-time Scottish Open host.

The birthplace of The Open — host of the first Championship in 1860 and 24 in all. A gloriously old-fashioned Ayrshire links of blind shots and history, home of the sleepered "Cardinal" bunker.

A classic Moray Firth links (1887) shaped by Old Tom Morris and James Braid — the sea in play on the opening holes, superb greens. Host of the 1999 Walker Cup, twenty minutes from Inverness.

One of the world's oldest golf clubs (1780), whose Balgownie Links has one of the finest outward nines in golf, threading through towering North Sea dunes. Walker Cup and Scottish Open host.

A classic 1897 Ayrshire links on a slender strip between railway and shore — Open final-qualifying venue with sea views to Arran and Ailsa Craig. A purist's favourite.

Kyle Phillips's modern Ayrshire championship links (2003), owned by Loch Lomond — host of the 2017 Scottish Open, with a stay-and-play lodge and clubhouse.

An 1845 links at Barry beside Carnoustie where Ben Hogan practised before winning the 1953 Open. A subtle, heathery Open-qualifying test with a celebrated 6th hole.

A classic James Braid links (1909) on Largo Bay west of St Andrews — tumbling seaside holes, an old railway embankment and Forth views. A hidden Fife treasure and an Open Final Qualifying venue.

One of the world's oldest golfing grounds (golf here since the 1820s) on Largo Bay — an honest, old-fashioned links with a classic closing hole over the Scoonie Burn. Historic and fairly priced.

One of the world's oldest golf clubs (1817) at Tayport — a links-heathland hybrid between the Tay and the sea, an Open Final Qualifying venue with Braid-refined greens. Uncrowded and superb value.

One of the oldest courses in the world — golf here since 1562 — a magnificent natural links through tumbling Angus sandhills, refined by Old Tom Morris. Historic, uncrowded and superb value.

The quieter, keenly priced middle sibling of the three links on Gullane Hill — magnificent springy turf and panoramic Firth of Forth views, nearly the equal of its famous No. 1.

One of the oldest courses in the world (golf here since 1793) on a slender spit into the Moray Firth — a James Braid links with sea on both sides, a lighthouse, and dolphins off Chanonry Point.

A 15th-century links where James Braid learned the game — famous for the submarine periscope on the 1st tee and a par-70 with no par-5s. Quirky, historic and a bargain.

A classic 1909 Aberdeenshire links (Archie Simpson, revised by James Braid) among big dunes beside Royal Aberdeen — nearly as good as its famous neighbour, at a fraction of the price.

A centuries-old public links next to Carnoustie; the Medal Course is an Open final-qualifying test of par 71. Superb value Angus links golf, with a second course alongside.

A classic narrow shoreline links (1856, extended by Old Tom Morris) at the east end of East Lothian — an Open final-qualifying test hard against the Firth of Forth.

A James Braid links (1923) in Sutherland where sheep and cattle still graze the fairways behind electric fences — timeless, remote and much-loved. Home of the James Braid Golfing Society.

One of Britain's loveliest inland courses — a serene James Braid heathland (1934, with MacKenzie input) through majestic Scots pine, birch and heather in Perthshire. Tranquil, beautiful and great value.

The Home of Golf — the oldest and most famous course in the world, where the 18-hole round and the game itself grew up. Public links, par 72, with the legendary Road Hole 17th and the Swilcan Bridge.

Kyle Phillips's modern links masterpiece (2000) on the Fife coast near St Andrews — every hole has a sea view. A co-host of the Dunhill Links and a fixture in the world top 100.

The hardest of the Open links — "Carnasty" — on the Angus coast. Eight Opens since 1931, the brutal Barry Burn finish, and the scene of Jean van de Velde's 1999 collapse.

Home of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers (1744) — the oldest golf club in the world. Often called the fairest of the Open links, with a unique two-loop routing and revetted bunkers.

The Ailsa — a cliff-top Ayrshire links beneath its famous lighthouse, with views to Ailsa Craig and Arran. Four-time Open host, scene of the 1977 "Duel in the Sun", with a clifftop par-3 by the lighthouse.

The "king of Scottish links" — a revered, remote Highland masterpiece ranked among the best courses on earth. Old Tom Morris, the birthplace of Donald Ross, and the bunkerless 14th, "Foxy."

A modern Highland links (2009) by Mark Parsinen and Gil Hanse on the Moray Firth — infinity greens above the sea, big generous fairways, and three straight Scottish Opens. Now Cabot Highlands.

A wild, eccentric, much-loved links (1899) among huge Aberdeenshire dunes beneath the Dracula-inspiring ruins of Slains Castle. Blind shots, hidden greens and a place in the world top 100.

James Braid's moorland masterpiece (1919) — the historic soul of Gleneagles and one of Britain's greatest inland courses, tumbling over heathery Perthshire hills with glorious Highland views.

Scotland's grandest golf resort, high in the Perthshire hills — three courses including Jack Nicklaus's 2014 Ryder Cup venue (the PGA Centenary) and James Braid's classic 1919 King's and Queen's.

A cult 1876 links on the remote Kintyre peninsula, reshaped by Old Tom Morris. Home of one of golf's most famous opening tee shots — the drive across the beach at the 1st.

A wild, remote links on the whisky island of Islay - an 1891 cult favourite rebuilt by DJ Russell in 2018, wrapped in big dunes along Laggan Bay. One of Britain's great golf escapes.

Old Tom Morris's 1895 links running alongside the Old Course to the Eden estuary — rated by many locals as the best of the St Andrews seven, and far easier to get on. Par 71.

Clive Clark's acclaimed modern links (2020) above Largo Bay in Fife — fifteen holes with a Firth of Forth view, generous fairways and up to 7,600 yards.

Martin Hawtree's dramatic — and controversial — 2012 links through the giant dunes of the Menie estate north of Aberdeen. A big, muscular test with a second course alongside.

Tom Doak's modern private links (2008) on the Archerfield estate in East Lothian — host of the Genesis Scottish Open since 2019, blending wooded and coastal holes.

The toughest of the St Andrews Links public courses — a 1989 Donald Steel redesign of the 1897 Jubilee, the most exposed and undulating of the town's links, running closest to the sea.

The best of East Lothian's modern links — a traditional Donald Steel design (2001) at Aberlady with firm turf, revetted bunkers and sea views, playing far older than its years.

The seaside links of Glasgow Golf Club (one of the world's oldest, founded 1787) — a Willie Park Jr championship links (1892) of heather and fescue on the Ayrshire coast, and an Open Final Qualifying venue. Great value.

An Old Tom Morris links (1890) on the Dornoch Firth — a charming, varied course where the Aldie Burn defines a nervy finish. Superb quality at astonishing value, near Royal Dornoch.

One of the world's oldest clubs (1786); its Old Tom Morris Balcomie Links wraps around the rocks at Fife Ness, with the sea in play on hole after hole. Par 69, and a bargain.

The finest links in south-west Scotland - a 1947 Mackenzie Ross original on the Solway Firth, natural and understated, quiet and keenly priced despite its quality.