WHY PLAY?

DUNBAR GOLF CLUB

£145

SUMMARY

A mixture of everything the perfect golf experience needs, Dunbar Golf Club is located on Scotland’s beautiful East Coast. It provides golfers with stunning surroundings, an incredible championship course, and great facilities. A challenging but fair course, Dunbar is a gem within East Lothian and is regularly voted as one of Scotland’s best, along with widespread high regard.

SUMMARY

ROYAL TROON

£285

SUMMARY

Royal Troon Golf Club is a magnificent links golf course in Scotland and is one of the famous golf clubs in the world.  It is a Privilege and a treat for any golfer to follow the footsteps of golfs legends and play on this magnificent course.  The Old Course continues to be the sternest of golfing examinations and in particular, the back nine at Royal Troon still has the toughest par 4 of all the Open Championship hosts courses and is widely accepted as the most demanding of any Course on the Championship rota.

The groundsmen are outstanding and have done a great job keeping the course in wonderful condition, especially the greens. The course starts out with 3 relatively friendly par 4’s, but then progressively gets more challenging, but then who cares when you are on such a wonderful course!

Host course of the 152nd Open Championship the Old Course is part of the Open rota of links courses.  The club dates to the 1870s and also includes second 18-hole links, and on the championship course one of the most famous holes in the world of golf, the one called “Postage Stamp.”

In true links fashion, many of the holes are guarded by heather and gorse, pot bunkers and strong winds that typically blow across the links as a southwesterly crosswind. Do your scoring early at Troon, they say because the second nine is much tougher than the front nine.

Royal Troon had a men-only membership policy for its entire existence until voting, in 2016, to begin allowing women to join the club as members. (Women were always able to play the golf course.)

Founded in 1878 by a few enthusiasts Troon Golf Club soon outgrew its purely local reputation.  The Open returned to the Ayrshire town for the ninth time in 2016 when the 145th Championship was played at Royal Troon. Golfers the world over vie to play Royal Troon’s famous courses and we encourage visitors to experience one of the most demanding Championship courses on the circuit. Visitors are most warmly welcomed at Royal Troon Golf Club from mid-April until mid-October each year on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Great golf course, outstanding service, and full of history. A world-class golf experience. The course is one of the very best anywhere and is in great condition and challenging. Hosted The Open and other major golf events. Caddies are wonderful and make the experience even better. The clubhouse has a lot of history. Highly recommended.

WHY PLAY?

TURNBERRY AILSA

£250

SUMMARY

Turnberry Ailsa Course, one of Scotland’s Crown Jewels of Golf,  reopened after extensive redevelopment on 1st June 2016. Until that time Turnberry Ailsa had long been regarded as one of the finest courses in the world.  However, the changes introduced by Donald Trump and Martin Ebert raised Turnberry Ailsa to a whole new level of excellence.  As a result, the course is now regarded as Scotlands Finest.

The Ailsa came to international prominence in the 1977 Open Championship with the famous ‘duel in the sun’ between Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson.  The weather was wonderful and a capacity crowd was treated to an exhilarating display of golf from two of the best golfers the world has ever known.

Scene of some of the most memorable moments in Open history, the Ailsa Championship course is a legend in the world game. Watson, Norman, Price, Cink; they’ve all won The Claret Jug, golf’s most coveted trophy here on the Turnberry links.

No hole has been left untouched but the main changes have been to the 4th, 6th, 9th,10th 11th, and 14th. Expect to experience ingenious architecture at one of the greatest golf links as you follow in the footsteps of Watson, Norman, Price, Cink with an unforgettable golf experience in Scotland’s historic West Coast.

The first 3 holes always a tough opening into the prevailing southwest wind have been improved by extending the 1st and the greens of all three holes have been modified to allow extra options for pin positions.

The 4th to 11th hug the coast of The Firth of Clyde and the walk from the 5th green to the new shorter, but demanding, 6th hole provides a stunning view over Turnberry bay to Ailsa Craig, The Isle of Arran, and Northern Ireland on a clear day.

The new 9th hole, now a long par 3, with the green adjacent to the iconic lighthouse, now the halfway house, replaces the hogs back fairway. The 10th is now a long par 5 sweeping around the bay to the par 3 11th which has been moved close to the sea.

The 14th now snakes uphill to the green with the lighthouse and Arran as a spectacular backdrop and the finishing hole now extends from the dunes overlooking the sea directly towards the famous hotel providing a stunning finish.

Quite simply If you are putting together your ‘Bucket List’ of must-play courses.  As the Golf Gurus said ‘any trip to Scotland devoid of Ailsa would be borderline Unforgivable’.  We agree.  The Ailsa course at Turnberry is one of the great golf courses anywhere in the world.  Live your dash and join the long list of golfers who for centuries have walked these hallowed links.

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WHY PLAY?

ROYAL ABERDEEN

£195

SUMMARY

The Balgownie Links at Royal Aberdeen is probably the best course that most golfers will ever play.   This incredible course, which is steeped in golf history, should be close to the very top of any golfers must-play list.  There is a reason that Royal Aberdeen is not only Rated as the Number 1 Course in Scotland’s North East but also Top 10 in Scotland and just outside of the World Top 50.

The course is recognised for being one of the most genuine pure links golf experiences anywhere. Like most ancient links Royal Aberdeen is a traditional out and back course which follows the sublime North Sea Coastline shared with Murcar LInks. Local golfers believe that the best 18 holes in links golf is the front nine at Royal Aberdeen followed by holes 2-10 at neighbouring Murcar Links Golf Club

The World-Renowned Front Nine is truly exceptional.  Your round starts right under the clubhouse window and the fairway takes you to the sea.  The holes now run parallel to the shore, weaving their way through towering sand dunes. Many believe this to be the finest front nine holes in all of links golf.  Play the course that keeps on giving and decide for yourself ?. Hole-after-hole the course just keeps on delivering world-class holes for golfers to enjoy, savour and remember for a lifetime.

As you make the turn for home and head towards the clubhouse. The back nine is played on much higher ground and you can expect to experience many stunning Vistas and the North Sea views.  All 18 holes are a joy as the routing takes you on a thrilling journey of discovery through the massive dunes on the outward half. 

The Royal Aberdeen Golf Club was founded in 1780 and claims to be the sixth oldest golf club in the world. It was founded as the Society of Golfers at Aberdeen and became the Aberdeen Golf Club in 1815 subsequently receiving royal patronage in 1903. The members originally played over a public strip of common land between the Don and the Dee. In 1815 the society changed its name to the Aberdeen Golf Club. The common land was becoming over-crowded, so in 1886 they decided to move to their present home, the Balgownie links, north of the river Don, which opened for play in 1888. The royal title was finally applied in 1903, despite the fact that Prince Leopold granted patronage more than 30 years earlier.
A trio of Simpsons had a hand in fashioning this course, brothers Robert and Archie and then the flamboyant Tom Simpson. J. H. Taylor, James Braid and most recently Donald Steel also made revisions.

Royal Aberdeen produces the perfect mix of challenge, fun, exasperation and rewards its accolades include the Hosting of The 2005 & 2014 Senior British Open and the European Tours 2014 Scottish Open.

WHY PLAY?

MURCAR LINKS

£150

SUMMARY

Murcar Links is a fantastic addition to any golf tour on Scotland’s North East Coast.  These classic links are located right next to Royal Aberdeen on a stunning stretch of linksland.  The course is defined by its huge sand dunes, magnificent elevation changes, rock and roll fairways, and an abundance of bonnie Scottish Heather and Yellow Gorse.

The Golf experience here includes magnificent vistas from many elevated tees.  One of the highlights of your round will be at the 15th Tee where you can expect a stunning  360-degree view of the whole of the City of Aberdeen and the North Sea all the way to Peterhead.  The course has a wild rugged appearance with lots of natural features created by Mother Nature and the weather elements over many centuries.

Murcar Links Golf Club was founded in 1909 and quickly became one of Scotland’s leading seaside courses.  The course was initially designed by Archie Simpson who at the time was the Golf Professional at neighbouring Royal Aberdeen. Simpson, and later the renowned James Braid, together created a magnificent layout with many wonderful elevation changes.  Many holes have a wonderful sloped-tiered effect that not only provides stunning views but also creates a perfect terrain for exciting and unpredictable links golf. As you look down the greens are exquisitely sited on majestic tiers and surrounded by dunes and the odd bunker.

Murcar is a championship course that has hosted an array of Prestigious events including The European Tours Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match Play.  The course is not a monster in length but you can expect a seriously challenging round of golf.  The narrowness of many of the early fairways at Murcar sends an early warning that straight hitting will be the order of the day. Scoring here will require imagination, creativity, and shot-making rather than distance to master this impressive venue  The golf courses ultimate defence will be the weather which can play havoc at any time with rain, sleet and ever-changing wind gusts and direction. Murcar Links can be an absolute brute but whatever the weather, this is a must-play golf course. It’s fun. exhilarating and is guaranteed to provide you with some tremendous entertainment.

WHY PLAY?

NAIRN CHAMPIONSHIP

£190

SUMMARY

Nairn Golf Club is one of Scotland’s most spectacular seaside Links courses.   If you are in this remote area of Scotland, this Hidden Gem is a must-play Course.

The Nairn Championship Links was founded in 1887 and in the years that followed a who’s who of some of the world’s leading golf course designers has been responsible for many changes and improvements to the course.  The Elite list includes  Archie Simpson the original designer, the legendary Old Tom Morris, James Braid, and even Ben Sayers!.  Together Nairn was shaped from a rugged coastline topography of rolling sandhills into a Championship Golf Course fit to Host the 1999 Walker Cup and the 2021 Amateur Championship

Despite its excellent reputation.  The course stayed under the radar of worldwide golfers for many years.  That all changed with the emergence of Royal Dornoch, now rated as a Top 10 Course in the World by Golf Magazine and The New Castle Stuart Links which has already become a host Course for the European Tours Scottish Open.  The subsequent exposure of the area firmly put the Highlands of Scotland on the Map as a World Class Golf Destination.

Like many Links, Courses in Scotland the first item in your bag should be your waterproofs.  A round of golf at Nairn can sometimes result in wind and quickly changing weather.  Some golfers have even been known to experience all 4 seasons of weather during the same round!.  Your golf experience is likely to include superb Perfectly maintained greens, traditional deep revetted bunkers, tight fairways, and a lot of danger.

Expect a tough start to your round as The North sea is in play on six of the first seven holes so expect.  Nairn enjoys a stunning setting along the Moray Firth Coastline so golfers will experience beautiful views of the North Sea from every single hole. The course has built a reputation for its conditioning and its greens are recognised amongst as some of the best in The Highlands.

If you are a walker this is the course for you. You will be hard-pressed to find an easier stroll on a golf course anywhere.  The routing at Nairn also helps as many of the greens are close to the next tee making it a quick round of golf.

WHY PLAY?

TRUMP INTERNATIONAL

£295

SUMMARY

The Trump International Golf links in Aberdeen was built on a stunning 3 mile stretch of the majestic Scottish coastline.  The green fees are expensive, but in a post-pandemic world, many golfers are clamouring to add new incredible golf experiences to their portfolios. If you are in the market for world-class golf and hospitality this would be a fantastic choice.

The course was designed by Dr Martin Hawtree who was promoted from cheif adviser to Designer.  He comes from a family of golf design and his forefathers were best known for their work at the Open Championship course, Royal Birkdale,  Hawtree was given the job to produce a wonderful natural links golf course using the abundance of natural sand dunes and tremendous coastline Topography.  Hawtree produced breathtakingly wild-looking natural links which opened for play in July 2012.  Trump International was recently added to Golf Magazines Top 100 Golf Courses in The World.,

Trump Scotland is well worth the long trip to the North of Scotland  Golfers can expect a Top Quality day out which for many has been a dream long overdue.  The course serves up a superb collection of par-3s and some wonderful Par 5s.  . The standout holes are the par 5 10th  which is set amongst an area of native heather to an Amphitheatre Green, the 14th, with its valley fairway and breathtaking views of the North Sea and rugged coastline, and the monstrous 18th which plays to 650 yards.

As you would expect from a ‘Go Big or Stay Home’ mentality every detail here is done right.  The Green complexes are huge and undulating, surfaces and fringes are meticulously manicured to a truly incredible standard.  The Traditional Grass pathways between the tees and greens are perfect.

The views are second to none.  Hole after hole you will be blown away with many unbelievable panoramic views of the North Sea and Coastlines.

Trump International opened to some fanfare when PGA and European Tour officials claimed that the course was a venue worthy of staging International events. The course has not received the recognition it deserves from the golf community both local and International for non-golf reasons.

Designers Perspective on Trump International.

“I was made aware of Mr. Trump’s ambitions to produce a world-class, 18-Hole links course, following the great tradition of Scottish links golf, capable of one day hosting a major golf championship. My inspection of the site left me in no doubt of its exceptional qualities of environment as well as potential for golf of a very high order and I very quickly came to share his vision and seize a rare opportunity to create a new links course of quite extraordinary power, beauty, challenge and interest.

The design of the golf course has involved an iterative process of studying the site in great detail, entering into a dialogue between the norms of classic and championship golf course layout on the one hand the physical, ecological, economic constraints of the site on the other; working out ideas and schemes for the layout as hypotheses and then testing them against the site. The dialogue was enriched by the client on the one side and the project’s environmental consultants on the other. Indeed the iterative process has not stopped and will not stop until grass starts to germinate. Working closely with the environmental scientists the vision pivots on sensitive integration into this landscape.

The golf course follows a classic pattern of two out-and-back loops of nine holes. All 18 holes thread their way engagingly through the dunes, rising here to find views of the sea and coastline, plunging there into secluded valleys, offering a sequence of superlative topographies, landscapes, alternating between spaciousness and enclosure, then panoramic view, and the whole time a rich texture of vegetation and wildlife habitats surrounding the golf holes. The golf course will lack for nothing. The landscape framework of the site comes close to an ideal. There is nothing missing and the layout as conceived would contain no weak holes. It will produce simply the most dramatic, stimulating, invigorating stretch of golf anywhere I have seen in my career”. Dr. Martin Hawtree

WHY PLAY?

ROYAL DORNOCH

£195

NOW ON THE TEE SUMMARY

The Links at Royal Dornoch has grown in reputation to the point where it has now taken its rightful place amongst the crown jewels of Scottish Golf.  The course, which is steeped in golf history, has no weaknesses and is described as a spiritual golf experience by many.   Royal Dornoch takes links golf to a new level and has become one of The Worlds Top 10 Rated courses.

Dornoch is located in the heart of the Scottish Highlands and is actually the most remote Championship Golf course in all of Scotland and the UK.  The course was under the radar for many years because of its remote location.  Surprisingly it has yet to host a Major event but the emergence of the nearby Castle Stuart Championship Course has helped put Dornoch and the Highlands of Scotland firmly on the map as a world-class golf destination.

Your visual Golf experience starts as you take the walk from the second Green to the third Tee.  All of a sudden the entire course spectacularly opens up and the course layout and coastline come into view.  It’s no surprise that The 2021 Golf Magazines Top 100 has it listed at number 10 in the world.  To give you some perspective Augusta National which hosts the Masters is Listed at Number 9!.

The course itself is ancient, despite being founded in 1877 golf has played on these links for hundreds of years.  Dornoch is steeped in golf history. Donald Ross one of the world’s most acclaimed Designers was born in Dornoch and grew up playing the course. Later he became the ‘keeper of the Greens’ and the first-ever Professional Golfer.

In keeping with early golf course architecture, the routing of Dornoch is an out-and-back design exactly as The Old Course. The attention to detail, that makes Dornoch such a wonderful experience,  is around you everywhere.  There are just so many different small things that elevate Royal Dornoch and its playability.

The course always seems to be in perfect condition.  The greens are fast and pure, and the bunkering and the green complexes are standout features.  Your best Course Management is required to Score well.  Many of the greens are elevated and missing the green by just a few feet can be disastrous as your ball finds a run off area amd funnels down and away into the hollows.

The Yardage book is essential reading.  If you follow the advice and give thought to some of the searching questions posed you will have an immersive golf experience.  Dornoch is not a course to obsess about your score or the match you are playing.  Take your right of passage as Donald Ross, Old Tom Morris, and all Golfers have done.  Dornoch for some is a spiritual experience as they reflect on those who have gone before them anbd walked these fairways.  If there was ever there was a course to immerse yourself in Scottyish Golf, its history, and traditions, you’ve come to the right place.

If you are on the fence about the long drive my advice is to make this trip, you won’t regret it. Before you go leave your home club Ballmarker in the Dornoch Shrine as  homage to all the golfers who have gone before you.

WHY PLAY

MURRAYSHALL GOLF

£60

SUMMARY

Long in the shadow of the 3 magnificent Gleneagles Courses in the area.   Murrayshall is a lovely Par 73 championship course set on 350 rolling acres of the beautiful Perthshire Estate.  Overlooking the vale of Strathmore and the mountains of Perthshire.  Golfers playing Murrayshall can expect to experience an enthralling layout, impeccable course conditions, and stunning panoramic views. The course has recently hosted the PGA under 25 and the Scottish Team Championships.

Designed by Hamilton J. Stutt, the grandson of James Braid’s right-hand man. The golf course, which opened in 1981, is built around the stunning Murrayshall Country Mansion which offers superb accommodation and hospitality in the Heartlands of Perthshire.

Expect tree-lined fairways, too many bunkers to count, and a number of challenging holes with tricky water hazards in play.  Accuracy is the name of the game and the course will provide an excellent challenge to golfers of all abilities. The Feature Hole is a 379-yard dogleg right, with a narrow entrance to the green, protected by dense trees and a lovely Scottish burn.

If you are on a golf tour,  another great warm-up option before you challenge Scotland’s best courses.  is Murrayshall’s Lynedoch Course.  The beautiful 10-hole parkland layout is ideal for golfers seeking a quick game of golf or for juniors and those new to the game. Shorter, but equally as challenging as the Murrayshall Course, the layout features slightly narrower fairways, framed by tall Scots pine trees.

WHY PLAY?

GULLANE NO.1

£210

SUMMARY

Gullane Golf Club, located in the heart of Scotlands Golf Coast, boasts 3 wonderful courses.  Gullane 1 is the Championship Course where golf has been played since 1600.  The course is regarded as one of the finest links golf courses anywhere in Scotland.  Established as Gullane Golf Club in 1884 the course is carved into the ancient links turf offers a unique challenge for all golfers. The course is renowned for its fantastic conditions.  Golfers will love the smooth-running greens, pot bunkers, and wispy grasses.  The course recently hosted a European Tour Event – The Scottish Open Championship.   Add to that the fabulous views across to Edinburgh, the Firth of Forth, Fife, and beyond and you have one of the world’s most cherished golfing experiences.

Not surprisingly, the course has been the setting for a host of highly acclaimed tournaments including the 2018 ASI Scottish Open and Ladies Scottish Open, the 2015 Scottish Open, and Final Qualifying for the Open Championship on five occasions. The Scottish Amateur Championship and the Ladies British Open Amateur Championship have both been hosted over No. 1 on four occasions. In 2018, Gullane hosted the European Tour: the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open, won by Brandon Stone, was played over a Championship composite course featuring 16 holes from Gullane No. 1 and two holes from Gullane No. 2.

With every hole having its own distinct character, Gullane No. 1 is both memorable and enjoyable, and undoubtedly one of Scotland’s finest and most scenic links courses.

The architect, of Course No. 1 is unknown but golf has been played over the links since the 1600s. The type of grass is predominantly Bent on the fairways and Fescue on the greens. There are 124 bunkers scattered across the course and the average green size is 550m Sq. There are distance markers on the sprinkler heads on Gullane No. 1 to the front, middle, and back of each green.

Gullane 1 has received much acclaim over the years from The Golf Industry.  The National Club Golfer Magazine rated Gullane 1 as the 18th best course in the Top 100 Courses in Scotland. Golf Magazine (USA) recognised Gullane No. 1 as having one of the best holes in the world in the form of the spectacular par five 3rd.  PGA.com rated Gullane as the world’s 5th most picturesque golf spot. Golf Digest ranked Guallne Scotland’s 20th Best Course in Scotland.

WHY PLAY?

PRESTWICK LINKS

£200

SUMMARY

If you are interested in the history of golf then Prestwick Golf Club, the birthplace of The Open Championship in 1860, is a must-play.  Prestwick, located on the West Coast of Scotland in Ayrshire is one of the world’s oldest golf clubs. The club is steeped in the history of golf.  Renowned Father of Golf and acclaimed course designer Old Tom Morris, then just 30 years old, was appointed from St. Andrews to be the first ‘Keeper of the Green’, as well as Ball and Club Maker. The club purchased two cottages opposite the Red Lion Inn, one to be the clubhouse and the other to accommodate Tom Morris and his family.  Both buildings still exist to this day but have been reconstructed.

Old Tom Morris laid out the original Prestwick course, the first of many that he was to do. A stone cairn, to the west of the Clubhouse, marks the first tee of that 12-hole course. The old first hole measured 578 yards 1 foot and 9 inches and stretched to what is now the 16th green. In 1870, Young Tom Morris holed out in 3 on his way to his third successive Open victory. This was in the days before par or bogey ratings, but on the assumed basis that it would have been given a bogey 6, then this could be considered the first known ‘albatross’.

Willie Park won the inaugural Open in 1860, staged on just 12 holes. The club has since been expanded to 18 holes and championship yardage. Be sure to stop into the clubhouse after your round to examine the many historical artifacts preserved here over the club’s incredible history.

Prestwick has many defenses and audacious features that can frustrate first-time visitors.  Expect the unexpected as you encounter many blind shots, heavy gorse, and the evil 17th hole with the enormous “Sahara” bunker.

The Open Championship has been contested at Prestwick 24 times, second only to The Old Course at St. Andrews, but hasn’t hosted the event since 1925. The list of Open Champions at Prestwick is incredibly impressive and includes most of golf’s great players from that time, including Old Tom Morris (four-time Open Champion at Prestwick), his son Young Tom (four times), Willie Park Sr. (four times), Harry Vardon (three times) and James Braid (once).

While the course would likely still be a challenge for the world’s best, the land upon which the course lies and the surrounding infrastructure simply isn’t large enough to host an event of that magnitude any longer. Prestwick continues to regularly host major amateur championships, including the British Amateur, which has been played 11 times at the club, most recently in 2001.

Prestwick lies just off the Ayrshire coast and shares its northern boundary with Royal Troon GC.

WHY PLAY?

CASTLE STUART LINKS

£215

SUMMARY

Castle Stuart is the newest Championship Links Golf Course in the Scottish Highlands. Designed by the late Golf Visionary Mark Parsinen who saw it as his personal destiny to create a major golfing resort at Castle Stuart and the ‘Pebble Beach of the British Isles’.

After their highly acclaimed work at the Kingsbarns Links in Fife.  Parsinen once again worked with fellow American Gil Hanse on Castle Stuart.  Together they once again produced a modern, visually stunning, Championship course.  The course opened for play in the summer of 2009 and just 18 months later staged the Scottish Open.  This was the first time such a major European Tour golf event had been held in the Scottish Highlands.

Castle Stuart is a modern links Golf Course with great character.  It was built on a magnificent piece of land which runs along an estuary with spectacular views overlooking the Moray Firth, has so far held the prestigious Scottish Open four times in 2011, 2012,-2013, and again in 2016. The Highland’s setting is simply stunning and the design of the course is magnificent with views over The Moray Firth to the Black Isle. Every hole on the course is memorable in one way or another. Beautifully scenic with perfect infinity greens and natural bunkers.  A round of golf on these links is sure to live long in your memory.

The course design makes the most of some great elevation changes to add more character to a course that is renowned for always being kept in perfect condition. Add to that the very changeable weather elements that come in from the coast and you can expect a unique fun and challenging round of golf!.

The course is widely regarded as a contemporary classic among Scotland’s rich heritage of links courses,.  Castle Stuart succeeds as a course that challenges the very best players in the world but is enjoyable and playable for every-day golfers of all abilities.  The fairways are wide and generous so not too intimidating off the tee.  No forced carries and plenty of safe or bail out options. Also, expect some risk or reward holes with those taking the braver line likely to be rewarded with easier approach shots into the infinite greens.  The course looks stunning from every tee box.

After your pre-round warm-up on the superb range and huge putting green in front of the great Art Deco clubhouse, it’s a short walk to the first tee where you are greeted by a decent length par 4 with the estuary to contend with on your right and a lovely fairway stretching out in front of you.

WHY PLAY?

CARNOUSTIE LINKS

£270

COURSE SUMMARY

WHY PLAY?

WESTERN GAILES LINKS

£185

SUMMARY

Western Gailes is fun to play Scottish links course located in Ayrshire just down the Firth of Clyde coast from The Open Championship venue Royal Troon.  The Course has a very linear routing that directly follows the narrow strip of land between the railway and the Firth of Clyde. The first four holes follow the coast straight out North.  Golfers then before turn around and head back South with the next nine holes along Irvine Bay. The Remaining holes follow the Train Tracks back to the clubhouse.

Western Gailes is one of Ayrshire’s most acclaimed Hidden Gems and holds its own despite its close proximity to the historic courses of Prestwick, where the first Open Championship was held in 1860, and Royal Troon. The views over the Firth of Forth seduces golfers into loving these narrow links just as much, if not more, than its prestigious neighbors. Like many of the true links golf courses in Scotland such as The St Andrews Castle Course, the course was allowed to develop naturally by nature and the elements. The course was used for tank

Western Gailes with its wild natural sand dunes provides a very authentic Scottish links golf experience.  There is very little gorse and only a few blind shots to navigate.  The course’s close proximity to the Firth of Clyde can result in wind and very changeable weather making it vitally important to keep your ball in play here. maneuvers during the war which resulted in the reshaping of the original 10th and 17th holes,

in keeping with its reputation as a fantastic venue.  Western Gailes has a long history of hosting top amateur and Professional events including The PGA Championship, The Curtis Cup, The Scottish Professional, The Scottish amateur, British Seniors, and European Tour Team events.

NOW ON THE TEE FULL REVIEW

Rockstar Golf has partnered with On The Tee Golf Blog to bring you great original content on many of Scotland’s top courses and Hidden Gems.   Along with great images of the courses, we will provide links to in-depth Course reviews written by a Golfer for Golfers. WESTERN GAILES FULL REVIEW

WHY PLAY?

GLENEAGLES QUEENS COURSE

£250

SUMMARY

The World-Class Gleneagles Golf Estate is celebrated for having 3 of the top inland courses in Scotland.  Kings, Queens and PGA Centenary.  Over the years Gleneagles has played host to some of the world’s top golfers, celebrities, and championship golf tournaments.  The Queens Course, which was designed by renowned Scottish Architect James Braid,  is the shortest of Gleneagle’s three courses. Queen’s was designed to be a reprieve from the tougher and adjacent Kings course.  However despite having a front that plays just 3,192 yards long the challenge and difficulty of Queens are often underestimated.  Over the years some of the best golfers in the world have found the course to be a good test to make par into the predominant fresh southwesterly breeze.

Due to the Queen’s shortish length.  James Braid who was known as a designer who throws in plenty of challenges for golfers of all abilities did not disappoint.  The course follows the hollows of the land and threads through high ridges on the north and west sides of the estate.  Expect to experience beautiful woodland settings, lochs, ditches, and water hazards, as well as many moorland characteristics.

The Queen’s Course completed a renovation program in 2017. Eighty-nine bunkers of the original bunkers were rebuilt to improve drainage and enhance the sand line visibility on each of these hazards. Fairway mowing lines were also modified to return the course to James Braid’s original design plan. Additionally, the 16th green, which is laid out in a natural bowl shape, was also upgraded to improve drainage.

To sum up.  The Queen’s delivers many of the same ‘to die for’ scenery as the King’s course next door but has fewer blind shots. Many golfers and locals are torn between the Queens and The Kings as they are both unique and extraordinary in their own way.

WHERE IS THIS

GLENEAGLES GOLF KINGS COURSE

£250

SUMMARY

The world-class Gleneagles King’s Course, a Ryder Cup Venue,  is located in Perthshire just 60 minutes drive from St Andrews as you head North towards the Highlands of Scotland. This stunning course is widely regarded as the top Heathland style Course in all of Scotland. Its Sibling Courses, Queens and The PGA Centenary are also magnificent.

The King’s course screams everything Scottish. Elevation changes, monstrous bunkers, heather, great sightlines and some great golf holes   Braid employs Forrest, woods, water features, and utilises the lands natural hollows to shape out many of the holes.   Keeping with the Estates 5 Star Experience the course is always immaculately presented and a joy to play.

Expect huge deep bunkers, blind shots, and danger around every corner.  The course is not long with some superb short holes and an overall sense that this is the ideal amount of challenge you would want to experience in a round of golf.

The Gleneagles area of Scotland is spectacular.  Some of the views you will experience will live with you forever.  The Course and its beginnings are steeped in Golf history.  In 1921 there the first-ever International Golf challenge between America and Britain took place on The Queens Course.  The British team made up of many Scots, including Braid himself, defeated the team of American amateurs.  Shortly after it the challenge became a regular event and this is believed by many to have evolved into what is now The (Sam) Ryder Cup.

If you are planning on heading up to the Scottish Highlands to Play Royal Dornoch, Castle Stuart, or one of the other Hidden Gems like Boat o Garten.  Then you might want to stop en route and spend an evening at the world-class Gleneagles Golf Resort.  The Queen’s course was designed by Renowned Scottish Golf Architect James Braid. The PGA Centenary is a Jack Nicklaus Design.

WHY PLAY?

GLENEAGLES CENTENARY COURSE

£250

SUMMARY

If you are looking to discover one of Scotland’s very best golfing gems. Gleneagles with its magnificent 5 Star Hotel and 3 Championship courses is a stunning location.  Any trip to the Scottish Highlands would not be complete without a visit to the world-class Golf Resort that is Gleneagles.

Located in the heart of Perthshire, just 60 minutes from St Andrews. Over the years in addition to hosting many Championships. The resort has become a playground for some of the world’s top golfers and the rich and famous. The PGA Centenary, The Queen’s, and The King’s Courses are all rated as amongst the Top 10 best non-links golf courses in Scotland.

The Centenary Course at Gleneagles was designed and created by Jack Nicklaus and the eyes of the golfing world were on his new course when it staged the 2014 Ryder Cup. Unlike the neighbouring King’s and Queen’s Courses, the PGA course has a North American parkland design did invoke some controversy as the Ryder Cup was being hosted on a non-Scottish course layout for the first time.  However, since hosting the Ryder Cup the course has grown in popularity.

Nicklaus’s new PGA Centenary Course offers a stark contrast to the original and more established King’s and Queen’s Courses and is a great addition to the Gleneagles Golf Resort. One thing all 3 courses have in common is the same ‘to die for’ spectacular views of the beautiful Perthshire countryside. The Centenary is currently the longest non-links course in Scotland Measuring well in excess of 7,000 yards.  The course has 5 tee blocks to provide a great test for golfers of all abilities.

In keeping with the goto characteristics of a Nicklaus design.  Big hitters can be aggressive off the tee as there is plenty of fairway to hit.  That said the Centenary course is truly a 2nd Shot course.  Once you have located your drive the real fun begins. Now to hit the green you need to avoid the Huge Undulating greens, deep, well-placed bunkers, and the strategically placed water hazards. Manage these obstacles and your round and time spent at Gleneagles will be an unforgettable experience that you will always treasure.

WHY PLAY?

ST ANDREWS – JUBILEE

£85

SUMMARY

The Jubilee Course opened in 1897 to commemorate Queen Victorias Diamond Jubilee.  Originally a 12 hole course for Ladies and beginners to work on their skills.  The links is now is considered by golfers to be the most challenging of the 7 St Andrews Links Courses.

The Jubilee is the closest course to the sea.  It occupies a very narrow piece of land between the New Course and the coastline.   As a result, the fairways are very narrow and the close proximity to the sea makes the weather and conditions very changeable

In 1905 the rising demand for golf resulted in the course being expanded to 18 holes. in 1938 by Champion Golfer Willie Auchterlonie made further improvements to the course such as elevated tee decks.

In 1988 The R & A decided that the Jubilee would be modernised and brought up to a Championship standard. That prestigious project was given to distinguished amateur golfer David Steele now known as ‘The Open Doctor’.  Steele gave the course some real tough characteristics.  He did this by narrowing many fairways, introducing out of bounds boundaries and Deep (Hell) Bunkers on many of the holes.  His masterstroke was the further narrowing of the fairways.  This resulted in a very narrow first cut of rough immediately followed by thick wild rough and Gorse.  These changes made the course the challenging Championship Course that it is today.

The Jubilee will be an unforgettable challenge and experience for all golfers.  Expect tough greens and remember to stay well away from the gorse and deep Rough.  If the wind is blowing you really need to hit the ball straight and keep your wits about you until your safely back in the majestic clubhouse.

WHERE IS THIS

KINGSBARNS GOLF COURSE

£268

NOW ON THE TEE SUMMARY

Kingsbarns reopened as a Golf Course for the third time in 2000. Recognised by golfers as one of the most scenic and challenging links golf courses in Scotland. Expect to experience a lot of elevation changes and be enthralled by the spectacular scenery. Kingsbarns is a new jewel that shines bright in the Scottish golf scene. After your round be sure to spend some time at the beautiful clubhouse.

From the moment you arrive at Kingsbarns Golf Course, you will sense that you’re in for something special during and after your round.  If you like whisky then you will have already driven past and planned a post-round visit to Kingsbarns Distillery.  Kingsbarns staff are friendly, the practice facilities are top class and the Pro shop is well stocked.  There’s just enough time to buy a few authentic Scottish golf collectibles to take back to the friends you left behind!

The course routing is ingenious, crescent-shaped as it follows the Fife coast.  There are holes with separate levels providing sea views from every fairway.

Golf has been played in and around Kingsbarns since 1793. The original Kingsbarns Golfing Society was established in 1815 and its members played on the original 9-hole Kingsbarns course until it closed in 1850

The course was re-established in 1922 and the golfing society was reformed as Kingsbarns Golf Club which remains in existence today. Course Designer Willie Auchterlonie laid out the course in 1922 which closed again at the onset of the Second World War. Land mines were buried on the course site as part of the national security defence effort and the ground reverted to rough pasture.

Construction of the current Kingsbarns Golf Links began in November 1997 under the direction of architect Kyle Phillips and the course opened in July 2000. The course has no membership and welcomes visitors.

WHY PLAY?

MUIRFIELD HCOEG

£285

NOW ON THE TEE SUMMARY

Muirfield provides golfers with an experience that will last a lifetime.  Any visit to Scotland would not be complete without taking a pilgrimage to the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers in Gullane who wrote the first 13 Rules of Golf in 1744.

Experience this world-class British Open rotation course and walk in the shadows of Champion Golfers Faldo, Els, Nicklaus,  Watson, and Trevino who all won the Claret on these links. The course which has a unique ingenious layout was originally designed by Old Tom Morris.  After your round you will be amazed by some of the artifacts you will see in this historic clubhouse which is steeped in Golf history.

And what a golf course this is! Muirfield is on the very short list of the most ingeniously bunkered golf courses in the world, with very well-defined edge work, some incredible artistic flair, and most significantly, some of the most superb and strategic bunker positioning I’ve ever seen. There is great variety in shot values throughout and the greens are well-contoured, very well protected and all provide great interest both on the putting surfaces themselves and in the immediate surroundings.

The fact that this was accomplished on what would normally be considered a pretty routine and unremarkable piece of land, set well away from the sea, further accentuates the greatness of the design.

The club is steeped in history and that’s never more apparent than when you are walking through the clubhouse and seeing the incredible artifacts lovingly displayed throughout. The locker room is a treat and as indicated, the famous Muirfield lunch is not to be missed.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

When can you play Muirfield?
Visitors can play at Muirfield on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 8 and 10:30 am.  Prebooking a Tee Time is mandatory.

Are there any handicap restrictions?
Golfers are required to have a handicap of 18 or less.

What format of golf do you have to play at Muirfield?
Fourball golf is restricted to morning play only. Those playing in the afternoon have to play foursomes

Muirfield – The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers
Gullane, East Lothian, SCOTLAND

PAR 6728

YARDS (PAR 71) |

RATING/SLOPE: Not Rated |

ARCHITECT: Old Tom Morris (1891)

ACCESSIBILITY: Private |

NOW ON THE TEE FULL MUIRFIELD REVIEW