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In2Scotland
The Travel Company Edinburgh
Murrayburgh House
17 Corstorphine Road
Edinburgh
EH12 6DD
Tel. +44 (131) 467 7000
Brora is picturesque and is the most northerly of the James Braid courses in Scotland. The golf course today is little changed from Braid’s original design for the course which was to provide the golfer with a mix of bent grass and beach sand, burn water and yellow gorse. There is even a railway that comes in to play on the tenth hole. This course is testing but not too long so can be enjoyed by the shorter hitter.
Tain was designed by Tom Morris in 1890 and in many ways, is reminiscent of St Andrews. Tain tests even the best of golfers with its hard and uncommonly fast greens and the 3rd and 11th holes are truly outstanding and among the best in all of Scotland. Overlooking the Dornoch Firth, Tain offers one of the best settings imaginable in the Highlands for a round of golf. With sea on one side and the backdrop of the mountains behind, every day brings a different aspect to this challenging and beautiful course. The sheltered location of the course ensures favourable weather conditions for most of the year. Tain offers one of the finest settings and challenges for a round of golf in Scotland.
Founded in 1887 Nairn is a traditional Scottish links course that boats spectacular
views of the Moray Firth from nearly every tee and green and with its highland wilderness
of gorse and heather it tests the talent of professionals and amateurs alike. It
has hosted the British Amateur Open and on 1999 the Walker Cup. The Championship
course was fashioned by Old Tom Morris and later James Braid, and boasts fine green-
The championship Moray Golf Club on the east coast boasts seaside links, with gorse-
Cruden Bay is regarded by some as quirky and others as a masterpiece. It was originally designed by Tom Morris and later revised but serves as a fine example to modern golf course architects of what a course created primarily by nature should look like. It boasts magnificent views and the holes weave in and out of the sand dunes. Cruden Bay offers a fun and testing round of golf with blind tee shots, back to back par threes and driveable par fours.
The course runs out and back along the North Sea Shore, the outward nine through
some wonderful dune formation and is regarded as one of the best opening nine holes
of any golf course. The ever-
Blairgowrie offers two courses. The Rosemount is the traditional course designed by James Braid and the Lansdowne course is a more modern in layout offering a more challenging test. Both courses are a combination of woodland and heathland and the pine trees, silver birch and heather lined fairways provide a natural habitat to be enjoyed not just by the golfers, but shared with the wildlife, which includes deer and red squirrels, woodpeckers and oyster catchers. The holes weave through the trees and the rather wide fairways offer any golfer a chance. The course regularly features in the top twenty golf courses in Scotland and definitely provides a tranquil round of golf and may be ideal for golfers who have been battered by the winds at the seaside courses.
Alyth is a heathland course that demands accuracy rather than distance although both are required. The course has a combination of tree lined fairways and diverse rolling terrain and its tranquil setting and clever layout makes it very easy to lose yourself and barely notice other golfers. The challenge of this course lies to the side of most holes where tress and gorse bushes are ready to gobble up wayward shots. Yet, the relatively wide fairways and larger than normal greens offer all golfer’s the chance of a good score.
Sitting high in the hills above the town of Pitlochry this parkland course offers stunning views, wildlife and excellent golf. With mountains to the north and the river Tummel flowing in the distance this golf course is one of the most scenic in Scotland. The first three holes are a gradual climb to take you up to admire the views and appreciate the challenging golf course which rewards accuracy.
Gleneagles offers a magnificent choice of three courses, the King’s, Queen’s and PGA Centenary Course. Situated in the heart of central Scotland with magnificent views of the Perthshire hills and wildlife including red deer, you could be forgiven for just enjoying the walk. Among the most scenic and challenging in Scotland, Gleneagles truly does provide golfers with an unforgettable experience. The Queen’s course is the shortest in length but has a natural beauty with ponds, gorse and heather lined fairways and a stunning finishing hole which involves a tee shot over a ravine. The King’s is a masterpiece of design and has many memorable holes but one that sticks in the mind is the third which requires a blind shot over an incredibly steep hill to reach the green nestled at the bottom on the other side. The PGA Centenary Course was designed by golf’s twentieth century hero jack Nicklaus and will host the 2014 Ryder cup and hosts the Johnnie Walker tournament annually.
Carnoustie offers three courses; Championship, Burnside and Buddon Links. The Championship course is well thought of among the professional tour golfers with Tiger Woods describing it as ‘hard, but it's fair. I think it's a fantastic test.’ It is recognized as one of the toughest tests in Open Championship golf with a par 72 but with a Standard Scratch Score for amateurs of 75! The Burnside course runs alongside the Championship course and offers a slightly milder test but has dramatic par threes and one of the hardest par fours in golf. The Buddon Links is a newer course and is shorter than the Burnside so can act as a good introduction to links golf.
Founded in 1817, Scotscraig is the 13th oldest golf club in the world. It is a heathland
course situated just fifteen minutes from St Andrews. The proximity to the coast
means that players sometimes have to battle the sea breeze. The course was used
in 2005 as the final qualifier for The Open at St Andrews and from the championship
tees stands at 6669 yards. Scotscraig is the sixth-
St Andrews is the home of golf and offers eleven courses which are open to all. St
Andrews offers a vast range of courses in order to accommodate all abilities and
budgets and whichever course you choose to play you will not be disappointed. The
most famous is the Old Course which was named the second best course to play in the
world, outside the USA, by American golf magazine Golf Digest (2007). The 18th hole
with the Swilcan Bridge is one of the most photographed in golf. Aside from its
proud heritage, it remains a public course and welcomes any golfer with a handicap
of 24 or under (36 for ladies). Another course is Kingsbarns Golf Links. Kingsbarns
was positioned 5th in the world rankings for ‘Must Play Golfing Experiences’, as
compiled by Golf World in November 2005 and was also named ‘Golf Course of the Year’
in the 2006 Scottish Golf Tourism Industry Awards. It co-
Balcomie Links at Crail is the seventh oldest course in the world and if you play it you will appreciate the views of the sea from each tee and the beauty of the course. It is not too long and several of the fairways run alongside golden sandy bays and rocky outcrops of the Firth foreshore. The fifth hole is called Hell's Hole, where you have to decide whether to carry the beach or take the east way round. Craighead Links provides a worthy alternative and is a testing but fair challenge. However, there are many bunkers just waiting to swallow a ball and no two consecutive holes face the same direction meaning that golfers have to focus on the changing conditions.
Ladybank is a heathland course of Championship status (Par 71) set amongst heather,
pine trees and silver birch. The Championship course (6754 yards) has two loops of
nine holes but visitors generally use the blue course (6299 yards). The course offers
true natural beauty, a range of flora and fauna and is home to both red and grey
squirrels. Ladybank is a test for every golfer as if you miss the fairway you are
likely to be in trouble. ‘But woe be unto the Man with the exaggerated slice or pull!
He may not again see his ball, and the only consolation will be that probably nobody
else will find it!’
(Extract from the Dundee Evening Post -
Dalmahoy East and West are another two courses from the James Braid Golf Trail. The East is set among 1000 acres of wooded parkland and gives views of the Pentland hills. The East course has hosted prestigious tournaments like the Solheim Cup. The tee shots are not too daunting however the bunkers are typical Braid style, big and deep and the greens are testing. One of the comments about Dalmahoy that is mentioned time and again is the great condition the course is kept in. The West course is 5168 yards so it is significantly shorter than the 7475 yard East course so it offers a more leisurely approach.
Gullane Golf Club offers championship golf and has three courses simply named Gullane 1, Gullane 2 and Gullane 3 to reflect their age. Situated just south east of Edinburgh Gullane has beautiful views over the Forth to Edinburgh and Fife. Gullane Number 1 is regarded as the toughest of the courses frequently hosting final qualifying for the British Open and has also hosted many major amateur events. The course has no water hazards, no trees yet is a very tough test of golf with thick gorse, tight fairways, lots of bunkers and guarded greens. If it is panoramic views that you are looking for as well as excellent golf then the view from the 7th tee is second to none. On a clear day you can see for miles over the Lammermuir Hills, the Firth of Forth and the bird sanctuary Bass Rock. Course 2 is slightly shorter and offers quality short holes to test your accuracy and Course 3 is also testing but is the shortest course at 5252 yards. Gullane is a great test of any golfer and the variety of courses mean that you will be able to find the best one for you.
Muirfield, near Edinburgh, is one of the best courses in the world and is exemplified by the fact that it is the only course to have hosted the Open (15 times, the most recent in 2002), the Amateur, the Mid Amateur, the Ryder Cup, the Walker Cup and the Curtis Cup. Many of the world's greatest players believe that Muirfield is one of the best courses for championship golf among all the courses of the British Isles. Muirfield is testing but has no hidden bunkers despite having 151 of them or subtle bumps and hollows yet it tests the world’s best players. Jack Nicklaus liked the course so much he named his golf complex in Ohio Muirfield Village after it.
At North Berwick Golf Club the West Links offers a challenge to the most proficient of golfers. The course boasts traditional links golf with traditional revetted bunkers, blind holes, drives over walls and burns together with magnificent views towards the sea. As it is a links course it will challenge you to be aware of the changing winds and play your shots accordingly. Some of the holes that you will never forget if you play this course are the 13th, 14th and 15th.
Summer or winter, playing the Dunbar links course is a special experience for any keen golfer. The course is situated on a narrow strip of land which follows the contours of a rocky exposed beach and is bordered on the other side by the Old Deer Park wall making it a challenging course for all levels of players. The course is relatively short measuring 6,404 yards from the medal tees but the wind that comes from the North Sea ensures it is not an easy round of golf. Even a slight breeze makes the course play differently and with Scotland’s changeable weather conditions your golfing ability can really be tested. Online reviews from visiting golfers to Dunbar comment on the immaculate condition of the course.
Loch Lomond Golf Club describes itself as "…a remarkable achievement in a remarkable setting; Heaven cannot be better." Nestled on the banks of the Loch, Loch Lomond is one of the best golf courses in the world. The 7,100 yard championship parkland course demands skill from the tees, the fairways and on and around the green making it one of the best tests of golf. Streams flow through the course and there are plenty of places to lose a wayward ball. The Georgian manor house clubhouse is also spectacular dating from the 1770s. The newest addition to Loch Lomond Golf Club is the Dundonald Links course situated near Troon.
Glasgow Gailes just an hour from Glasgow neighbours Royal Troon, Turnberry and Old
Prestwick and like its neighbours, is a challenging links course, tough and traditionally
Scottish. From the championship tees the course is tough but from the medium tees
every golfer can enjoy the course. The challenge begins with four consecutive par
fours followed by the signature hole, a par five dog-
Western Gailes Golf Club lies between Irvine Bay and the railay on Ayrshire’s stretch of links coastline. Three burns meander through the course and the greens are not easy to get to. Some are guarded by sand dunes, others have burns in front. The course is highly rated and has been ranked as 38th in the British Isles. The course is suitable for the shorter hitter as it only has two par 5’s but once again, the challenge of links golf in Scotland is not an easy one. After a round at this course you can enjoy the surroundings of the beautiful clubhouse which looks across the sea to the Isle of Arran.
Royal Troon is one of the most famous golf courses in the world and has hosted the Open championship eight times. It is also home to the longest and shortest holes in Open Championship golf. The ‘Postage Stamp’ is only 123 yards while the par 6 ‘Turnberry is 601 yards. Royal Troon has two main 18 hole courses but does have a par three 9 holes with tricky targets if you would like a warm up or warm down. The two main courses are the Old Course and the Portland Course. The Old Course is difficult with deep rough, gorse and broom so accurate shots are essential and the back nine can be extremely difficult due to the wind so if you play here try to get a good score on the front nine. The Portland Course is a bit more sheltered than the Old Course so if the Scottish wind is too much for you this course may be ideal. This course is also lined with gorse and broom but five par 3’s make it an enjoyable round with opportunities to score well. Of course, it is not all easy going as there are four par 5’s on the back nine to contend with. Royal Troon offers a memorable golfing experience.
Like it’s neighbours of Troon and Turnberry Prestwick is a challenge but if you like the history of golf as well as playing the game Prestwick, the birthplace of the Open Championship is the course for you. The golf club openly declare themselves to be a relaxed and friendly club that enjoys hosting golfers from all around the world. The course has a burn meandering through it and as you begin the back nine you drive out towards the sea. The signature hole at Old Prestwick is the third, a 482 yard par 5. The Pow Burn runs all down the right and the famous and huge Cardinal Bunker stretches the entire width of the fairway at the point of the dogleg. This is a hole you will not forget.
Situated on Scotland’s West coast Turnberry ranks sixth in the Daily Telegraph's top ten golf courses in the world. Turnberry enjoys breathtaking views of the Isle of Arran, Ailsa Craig and the Irish Sea. The ninth hole lingers on a cliff edge over the sea and golf writer Henry Longhurst observed: “You find yourself lingering on the tee, gazing down on the waves as they break on the rocks and reflecting how good it is to be alive”. Turnberry has witnessed many magic moments in professional golfing history including Tom Watson’s epic victory over Jack Nicklaus by a single stroke in 1977 to win the Claret Jug. The Open is returning to Turnberry in 2009. Turnberry is not to be missed!
Machrihanish believes it has the best first hole in the world and few would disagree. The first tee requires a drive over the Atlantic Ocean, a challenge any golfer relishes. Interestingly, if you miss the fairway and end up on the beach you are not out of bounds, you simply play from the beach. The course is set among sand dunes in the unspoilt village of Machrihanish on the Kintyre peninsula. Machrihanish has dramatic sunsets, a relatively warm climate due to the Gulf Stream and is a varied test for the competent golfer. Machrihanish is not for beginners. Machrihanish has blind tee shots, spectacular sea views, and rugged dunes. Machrihanish is not easy to get to, but all golfers say their journey was definitely worth it.
Muckhart golf course is a close neighbour of Gleneagles and enjoys many of the same stunning views. A unique factor about Muckhart is that it has 27 holes. There is always a designated 18 and each course has memorable holes. The 5th hole on the Arndean course is called ‘Top of the World’ and from the green you get panoramic views to the Ochil Hills and over the Forth Valley and birds of prey can be seen circling above. A Sky Sports commentator for the 2008 Johnnie Walker tournament at Gleneagles mentioned Muckhart in his broadcast. ‘There’s a little mist over the Ochils, but there’s a pearl in there called Muckhart…one of the great courses up in the hillside.’ Muckhart is testing but not too long and offers beautiful scenery.
Crieff Golf Course offers an 18 hole course and a 9 hole course. Both courses are challenging, but fair to the higher handicapper and can be an ideal destination for a group of golfers with varied skills. Crieff Golf Course is situated at the ‘Gateway to the Highlands’ and is close to courses in central Scotland, most within an hour’s drive. Crieff is an ideal place to stop off on your way north or south or as a base for your golf holiday.
Founded in 1877 Royal Dornoch is one of Scotland's most challenging links courses on the east coast of the Scottish highlands and is a must play for every serious golfer. It is the most northerly of the championship courses and records show that the natural landscape that defines golf in Dornoch was used to play golf as early as 1616. The course was designed by Old Tom Morris, one of golf’s first real champions. He wanted to use the natural landscape to make a magical golfing experience and that aim has been achieved. The course is regularly ranked in the top fifteen courses in the world and offers tranquility to enjoy playing world class golf.
