Best golf courses: Scotland

Most historians would point to Scotland as the home of golf. Some golfing tracks, though perhaps not today's exact layouts, were in use 500 hundred years ago. Links golf, next to the sea and played near to and over the sand dunes, is what we most associate Scotland with, but in locations such as Gleneagles, Blairgowrie, Loch Lomond, Downfield and a host of others, there are also some exquisite inland courses. At Kingsbarns, Kyle Phillips successfully combined as never before the spirit behind links golfing and today’s modern techniques. To make the most of your golfing trip, and to help in your planning, you can look up the location of the best courses in Scotland on our customised maps.

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Rsrt guests only
Edinburgh
Russell, David J.

Visitors?

Rsrt guests only

Nearest city

Edinburgh

Designer

David J. Russell

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
Rsrt guests only
Edinburgh
Russell, David J.

Visitors?

Rsrt guests only

Nearest city

Edinburgh

Designer

David J. Russell

5-star: Fabulous – courses don’t get much better than this.
Private club
Glasgow
Harrison, Bob

Visitors?

Private club

Nearest city

Glasgow

Designer

Australian course architect Bob Harrison.

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Tarbert
Morris, Old Tom

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Tarbert

Designer

Original design by Old Tom Morris (1891), refurbished by Gordon Irvine & Martin Ebert (2006-08).

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Aberdeen
Braid, James

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Aberdeen

Designer

James Braid

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Wkends restrictd
Aberdeen
Unknown

Visitors?

Wkends restrictd

Nearest city

Aberdeen

Designer

Unknown

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Ayr
Braid, James

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Ayr

Designer

James Braid

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Perth
Thomas & Alliss

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Perth

Designer

Dave Thomas & Peter Alliss

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Perth
Braid, James

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Perth

Designer

Original design by Dr Alister MacKenzie; substantially revised by James Braid.

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Inverness
Braid, James

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Inverness

Designer

James Braid

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Inverness
Braid, James

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Inverness

Designer

James Braid

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Not Saturdays
Edinburgh
Park Jr, Willie

Visitors?

Not Saturdays

Nearest city

Edinburgh

Designer

Original layout designed by Willie Park Jr (1898). Subsequent improvements made by Dr Alister MacKenzie (1922), James Braid (1930) and Fred Hawtree (1974).

5-star: Fabulous – courses don’t get much better than this.
Visitors welcome
Inverness
Parsinen & Hanse

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Inverness

Designer

Mark Parsinen & Gil Hanse

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Edinburgh
Thomas, Dave

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Edinburgh

Designer

Dave Thomas

5-star: Fabulous – courses don’t get much better than this.
Restricted access
Inverness
Steel, Donald

Visitors?

Restricted access

Nearest city

Inverness

Designer

Donald Steel (a coincidence that Andrew Carnegie made his fortune in steel!).

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Dundee
Alliss & Thomas

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Dundee

Designer

Peter Alliss & Dave Thomas.

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Dundee
Unknown

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Dundee

Designer

Unknown

5-star: Fabulous – courses don’t get much better than this.
Visitors welcome
Dundee
Morris, Old Tom

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Dundee

Designer

Original 18-hole course laid out by Old Tom Morris (1867). Significant changes made by James Braid (1926), which brought the course up to Open Championship standard.

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Glasgow
Carrick, Doug

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Glasgow

Designer

Canadian course architect Doug Carrick.

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Glasgow
Braid, James

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Glasgow

Designer

James Braid designed both the Cawder and Keir courses.

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Edinburgh
Steel, Donald

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Edinburgh

Designer

Donald Steel

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
St Andrews
Morris, Old Tom

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

St Andrews

Designer

Balcomie Links - Old Tom Morris (1895). Craighead Links - Gil Hanse (1998).

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Perth
Braid, James

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Perth

Designer

Original design by James Braid. Extension and alterations designed by John Stark (1980).

5-star: Fabulous – courses don’t get much better than this.
Visitors welcome
Aberdeen
Morris, Old Tom

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Aberdeen

Designer

Original layout by Old Tom Morris, with significant redevelopment in 1926 by Tom Simpson and Herbert Fowler.

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Inverness
Morris, Old Tom

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Inverness

Designer

Old Tom Morris

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Edinburgh
Braid, James

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Edinburgh

Designer

James Braid

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Aberdeen
Hiseman, Robin

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Aberdeen

Designer

Robin Hiseman designed the current 18-hole Haughton and 9-hole Blairs courses (1994).

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Dundee
Cotton, Ken

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Dundee

Designer

Original 18-hole course designed by James Braid (1932). Course significantly restructured by C.K. (Ken) Cotton (1964).

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Aberdeen
MacKenzie, Dr Alister

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Aberdeen

Designer

Original course laid out by James Braid (1910). Later redesigned by Dr Alister MacKenzie, working with his brother Major Charles A. MacKenzie (1923).

5-star: Fabulous – courses don’t get much better than this.
Visitors welcome
St Andrews
Clark, Clive

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

St Andrews

Designer

Clive Clark

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Campbeltown
MacMillan, George

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Campbeltown

Designer

Designer of original layout unknown; remodelled after WW2 by George MacMillan (greenkeeper) and local members.

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Edinburgh
Morris, Old Tom

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Edinburgh

Designer

Old Tom Morris

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Ayr
Phillips, Kyle

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Ayr

Designer

The short-lived (and never to open) Southern Gailes Golf Club was completely redesigned by Kyle Phillips in 2002, and re-opened as the Dundonald Links in 2005.

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Wkends restrictd
Glasgow
Braid, James

Visitors?

Wkends restrictd

Nearest city

Glasgow

Designer

James Braid

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Dundee
Simpson & Braid

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Dundee

Designer

Original design by Bob Simpson (1895); redesigned by James Braid (1933/34), and upgraded by Martin Ebert of Mackenzie & Ebert (2015).

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Inverness
Macpherson, John

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Inverness

Designer

Originally a 9-hole layout, extended to 18-holes in 1924 by its long-serving greenkeeper John Macpherson.

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
St Andrews
Unknown

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

St Andrews

Designer

Unknown

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
St Andrews
Devlin, Bruce

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

St Andrews

Designer

Bruce Devlin (with contributions from Gene Sarazen).

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
St Andrews
Torrance, Sam

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

St Andrews

Designer

Sam Torrance (with contributions from Gene Sarazen)

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Dundee
Morris, Old Tom

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Dundee

Designer

Original layout by Old Tom Morris of St Andrews (1871); later alterations by James Braid (1926) ... 13 of today's holes and greens are in much the same location as in Morris's original 1871 layout.

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Inverness
Braid, James

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Inverness

Designer

James Braid designed the current layout in the early 1920s.

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Aberdeen
Braid, James

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Aberdeen

Designer

James Braid

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Ayr
Park Jr, Willie

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Ayr

Designer

The current course at this location was laid out by Willie Park Jr in 1912.

Private: A course for members and their invited guests only.
Private club
Glasgow
Morris, Old Tom

Visitors?

Private club

Nearest city

Glasgow

Designer

Current layout by Old Thomas Morris of St Andrews (1903), the last 18-hole course he designed. Course updated by James Braid (1924) and Dave Thomas (2005).

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Glasgow
Braid, James

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Glasgow

Designer

James Braid

5-star: Fabulous – courses don’t get much better than this.
Visitors welcome
Perth
Braid, James

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Perth

Designer

Designed by James Braid, assisted by Cecil K. Hutchison (1919).

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Perth
Nicklaus, Jack

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Perth

Designer

Jack Nicklaus

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Perth
Braid, James

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Perth

Designer

Designed by James Braid, assisted by Cecil K. Hutchison (1919).

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Edinburgh
Braid & Sayers

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Edinburgh

Designer

James Braid and Ben Sayers

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Inverness
Braid, James

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Inverness

Designer

James Braid

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Inverness
Park & Braid

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Inverness

Designer

Original 9-hole course laid out by A.C. Brown (1890); extended to 18-holes by Willie Park Jr (1911) and modified by James Braid (1921).

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
Wkends restrictd
Edinburgh
Unknown

Visitors?

Wkends restrictd

Nearest city

Edinburgh

Designer

Unknown

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Edinburgh
Park Jr, Willie

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Edinburgh

Designer

Willie Park Jr.

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Edinburgh
Unknown

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Edinburgh

Designer

Unknown

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Weekdays only
Glasgow
Unknown

Visitors?

Weekdays only

Nearest city

Glasgow

Designer

Original designer unknown. In 1990s Dave Thomas designed six new holes, replacing six lost to the construction of the neighbouring M77 motorway.

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Wkends restrictd
Inverness
Smith, Fraser & Braid

Visitors?

Wkends restrictd

Nearest city

Inverness

Designer

George Smith and J J Fraser with alterations made by James Braid.

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Wkends restrictd
Ayr
Braid, James

Visitors?

Wkends restrictd

Nearest city

Ayr

Designer

James Braid

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Tarbert
Local golfers

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Tarbert

Designer

Laid out by local golfers.

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Glasgow
Braid, James

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Glasgow

Designer

James Braid designed the current layout in 1924.

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Wkends restrictd
Ayr
Moone, Theodore

Visitors?

Wkends restrictd

Nearest city

Ayr

Designer

Theodore Moone

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Edinburgh
Park Jr, Willie

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Edinburgh

Designer

Willie Park Jr and Ben Sayers.

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Perth
Morris, Old Tom

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Perth

Designer

Old Tom Morris

5-star: Fabulous – courses don’t get much better than this.
Visitors welcome
St Andrews
Phillips, Kyle

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

St Andrews

Designer

Kyle Phillips & Mark Parsinen

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Inverness
Vardon, Harry

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Inverness

Designer

Harry Vardon

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Not Saturdays
Kirkcaldy
Morris, Old Tom

Visitors?

Not Saturdays

Nearest city

Kirkcaldy

Designer

Original 6-hole course laid out by Old Tom Morris (1879). Extended to 9-holes (1910). Extended to 18-holes (1961).

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Wkends restrictd
Glasgow
Braid, James

Visitors?

Wkends restrictd

Nearest city

Glasgow

Designer

Original 18-hole layout designed by Old Tom Morris (1897). New holes designed and modifications made by James Braid (1927).

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
(Closed in 2019)
Dundee
Steel, Donald

Visitors?

(Closed in 2019)

Nearest city

Dundee

Designer

Donald Steel & GK Smith

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Kirkcaldy
Unknown

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Kirkcaldy

Designer

Unknown

Private: A course for members and their invited guests only.
Private club
Glasgow
Weiskopf & Morrish

Visitors?

Private club

Nearest city

Glasgow

Designer

Tom Weiskopf & Jay Morrish

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Edinburgh
Colt, Harry

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Edinburgh

Designer

Original design by Harry Colt (1920), with subsequent modifications by James Braid (1926), Philip Mackenzie Ross (1945) and more recently Donald Steel.

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Not Saturdays
Edinburgh
Morris, Old Tom

Visitors?

Not Saturdays

Nearest city

Edinburgh

Designer

Old Tom Morris

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Wkends restrictd
Kirkcaldy
Braid, James

Visitors?

Wkends restrictd

Nearest city

Kirkcaldy

Designer

Originally laid out by Old Tom Morris. Extensively redesigned by James Braid (1908).

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Glasgow
Campbell, Willie

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Glasgow

Designer

Willie Campbell

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Campbeltown
Morris, Old Tom

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Campbeltown

Designer

Old Tom Morris

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Campbeltown
McLay-Kidd, David

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Campbeltown

Designer

David McLay-Kidd

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Glasgow
Thomas, Dave

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Glasgow

Designer

Dave Thomas

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Rsrt guests only
Aberdeen
Webster, Graeme

Visitors?

Rsrt guests only

Nearest city

Aberdeen

Designer

Graeme Webster

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Dundee
Unknown

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Dundee

Designer

Unknown

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Dundee
Park Jr, Willie

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Dundee

Designer

Much of the current layout is credited to Willie Park Jr (1903).

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Inverness
Morris, Old Tom

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Inverness

Designer

Old Tom Morris

5-PLUS: In the world’s elite - has few peers; one of our top-rated 5s!
Tues & Thur
Edinburgh
Morris, Old Tom

Visitors?

Tues & Thur

Nearest city

Edinburgh

Designer

Original course on this site was laid out by Old Tom Morris (1891). Later modifications by Harry Colt and Tom Simpson (1928).

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Aberdeen
Simpson, Archie

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Aberdeen

Designer

Archie Simpson

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Perth
Stutt, Hamilton J.

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Perth

Designer

Hamilton J. Stutt designed both the Murrayshall and Lynedoch courses.

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Edinburgh
Unknown

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Edinburgh

Designer

Unknown

5-star: Fabulous – courses don’t get much better than this.
Visitors welcome
Inverness
Morris, Old Tom

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Inverness

Designer

Original layout by Old Tom Morris. Later modifications made by James Braid, Tom Simpson and Ben Sayers (1920).

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Inverness
Robertson, Peter

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Inverness

Designer

Current course designed by Scottish course architect Peter Robertson (1936).

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Aberdeen
Greens of Scotland

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Aberdeen

Designer

Original 9-hole course laid out by Mr McAndrew (1918), extended to 18-holes by Greens of Scotland (1996).

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Aberdeen
Thomas, Dave

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Aberdeen

Designer

Dave Thomas designed both the Hawkshill course (1990) and Swailend course (1997).

5-star: Fabulous – courses don’t get much better than this.
Not Saturdays
Edinburgh
Various

Visitors?

Not Saturdays

Nearest city

Edinburgh

Designer

Designer of original layout unknown; later extensions and modifications by Old Tom Morris and David "Davie" Strath (1876), Tom Dunn (1880s), and Ben Sayers Jr and Major Cecil K. Hutchison (1932).

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Dundee
Morris, Old Tom

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Dundee

Designer

Panmure's original course at this location (following their 1899 move from Monifeith Links) was laid out by Old Tom Morris. Subsequent modifications by James Braid (1922).

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Aberdeen
Park Jr & Simpson

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Aberdeen

Designer

The Craigewan Links began as a nine-hole course designed by Willie Park Jr (1892); extended to 18 holes by Archie Simpson (1908). A second 18-holes, the New course, was established in 1923; today it exists as a nine-hole course.

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Perth
Fernie & Hutchison

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Perth

Designer

Original course designed by Willie Fernie (1908); modified by Major Cecil K. Hutchison (early-1920s).

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Stranraer
Hunter, Charles

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Stranraer

Designer

Charles Hunter

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Dumfries
Braid, James

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Dumfries

Designer

James Braid

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
Weekends restricted
Ayr
Morris, Old Tom

Visitors?

Weekends restricted

Nearest city

Ayr

Designer

Old Tom Morris

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Wkends restrictd
Ayr
Hunter & Allen

Visitors?

Wkends restrictd

Nearest city

Ayr

Designer

Charles Hunter & John Allen

Private: A course for members and their invited guests only.
Private club
Edinburgh
Doak, Tom

Visitors?

Private club

Nearest city

Edinburgh

Designer

Tom Doak

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Aberdeen
Unknown

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Aberdeen

Designer

Unknown

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Wkends restrictd
Ayr
Montgomerie, Colin

Visitors?

Wkends restrictd

Nearest city

Ayr

Designer

Colin Montgomerie

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Edinburgh
Thomas, Dave

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Edinburgh

Designer

Dave Thomas

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
Wkends restrictd
Aberdeen
Simpson, Robert

Visitors?

Wkends restrictd

Nearest city

Aberdeen

Designer

Originally designed in 1888 by the Simpson Brothers (Archie & Robert) of Carnoustie. Later re-bunkered and lengthened by James Braid. Donald Steel has made recent alterations.

Private: A course for members and their invited guests only.
Private club
St Andrews
Unknown

Visitors?

Private club

Nearest city

St Andrews

Designer

Many have contributed to the Old Course layout. Most recently: Daw Anderson (1850s), Old Tom Morris (1860s to 1900) and Dr Alister Mackenzie (1930s).

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Edinburgh
Morris, Old Tom

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Edinburgh

Designer

Original layout at this location designed by Old Tom Morris (1894). Subsequent improvements made by Willie Park Jr, Harry Colt, Philip Mackenzie Ross and James Braid.

5-PLUS: In the world’s elite - has few peers; one of our top-rated 5s!
Visitors welcome
Inverness
Morris, Old Tom

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Inverness

Designer

Extension from original 9-holes to 18 designed by Old Tom Morris (1886). Later improvements made by John Sutherland, Donald Ross (born in Dornoch) and JH Taylor.

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Dundee
Park Jr, Willie

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Dundee

Designer

Much of the current Montrose Links layout is credited to Willie Park Jr (1903).

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Wkends restrictd
Edinburgh
Braid, James

Visitors?

Wkends restrictd

Nearest city

Edinburgh

Designer

James Braid (1925).

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Perth
Morris, Old Tom

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Perth

Designer

Old Tom Morris

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Aberdeen
Smith, George

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Aberdeen

Designer

Original layout designed by George Smith (golf professional of Lossiemouth).

5-star: Fabulous – courses don’t get much better than this.
Mon, Tues, Thur
Ayr
Fernie, Willie

Visitors?

Mon, Tues, Thur

Nearest city

Ayr

Designer

Willie Fernie

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Mon, Tues, Thur
Ayr
Fernie, Willie

Visitors?

Mon, Tues, Thur

Nearest city

Ayr

Designer

Willie Fernie

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Wkends restrictd
Dundee
Braid, James

Visitors?

Wkends restrictd

Nearest city

Dundee

Designer

Current course has its origins in a layout designed by Old Tom Morris (1905). Alterations and extensions made by James Braid (1923).

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Arran (Isle of)
Fernie, Willie

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Arran (Isle of)

Designer

Willie Fernie, with later substantive changes designed by Willie Park Jr.

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Dumfries
Ross, Mackenzie

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Dumfries

Designer

Scottish course architect Philip Mackenzie Ross (known as Mackenzie Ross).

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Inverness
Sayers, Ben

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Inverness

Designer

Original design by Ben Sayers (1907). Renovation by Mike Clayton, Mike DeVries and Frank Pont (of CDP Golf Design) (2024).

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Inverness
Thomas, Dave

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Inverness

Designer

Dave Thomas

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
Visitors welcome
St Andrews
McLay-Kidd, David

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

St Andrews

Designer

David McLay-Kidd

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
St Andrews
Thomson, Peter

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

St Andrews

Designer

Original design by Peter Thomson, with significant later alterations and a new back-nine layout by Tim Liddy in 2006.

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
St Andrews
Colt, Harry

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

St Andrews

Designer

Harry Colt

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
St Andrews
Angus & Steel

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

St Andrews

Designer

John Angus Jr designed the original 12-hole layout (1897). The course was extended from 12 to 18 holes (1905), and significantly redesigned by Donald Steel (1989).

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
Visitors welcome
St Andrews
Morris, Old Tom

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

St Andrews

Designer

Old Tom Morris

5-PLUS: In the world’s elite - has few peers; one of our top-rated 5s!
Visitors welcome
St Andrews
Unknown

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

St Andrews

Designer

Many have contributed to the Old Course layout. Most recently: Daw Anderson (1850s), Old Tom Morris (1860s to 1900) and Dr Alister Mackenzie (1930s).

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
St Andrews
Steel, Donald

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

St Andrews

Designer

Donald Steel

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Stranraer
Original members

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Stranraer

Designer

Laid out by the original members.

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Stranraer
Braid, James

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Stranraer

Designer

James Braid

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Inverness
Morris, Old Tom

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Inverness

Designer

Old Tom Morris

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Fort William
Salvesen, Johnny

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Fort William

Designer

Johnny Salvesen designed the current course in 1993 with input from Jimmy MacDonald (head-greenkeeper at Royal Lytham at the time). They significantly revamped what had originally been a private course, played on since around 1900.

5-star: Fabulous – courses don’t get much better than this.
Visitors welcome
Aberdeen
Hawtree, Martin

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Aberdeen

Designer

Dr Martin Hawtree

5-PLUS: In the world’s elite - has few peers; one of our top-rated 5s!
Visitors welcome
Ayr
Ross, Mackenzie

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Ayr

Designer

Original course at Turnberry laid out by Willie Fernie (1901); later revisions by Major Cecil K. Hutchison (1938). Following WW2, when the course was transformed into an airbase, major renovations and revisions were made by Philip Mackenzie Ross (1945), and more recently by Martin Ebert of Mackenzie & Ebert (2016).

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Ayr
Steel & Ebert

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Ayr

Designer

Donald Steel significantly revised and extended the old Arran course to create the new Kintyre layout (2001). The course was then revamped by Martin Ebert of Mackenzie & Ebert (2016) and renamed the King Robert the Bruce course.

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
Wkends restrictd
Ayr
Unknown

Visitors?

Wkends restrictd

Nearest city

Ayr

Designer

Unknown

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Ayr
Morris & Braid

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Ayr

Designer

Original 9-hole course laid out by Old Tom Morris (1893). Extended to 18-holes by James Braid (1905).

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Stranraer
Hunter & Cunningham.

Visitors?

Nearest city

Stranraer

Designer

Original nine holes designed by Charles Hunter, professional at Prestwick GC (1894). Extended to 18 holes by Gordon Cunningham (1978).

Find a course

Or

Tournaments

Ryder Cup: Rome plays host to the first ever Ryder Cup to be staged in Italy, with the USA defending golf’s greatest team trophy at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club (Sept 29-Oct 1).

Solheim Cup: also in September, also in southern Europe, the 18th Solheim Cup will be contested at Finca Cortesin on the Costa del Sol, with Europe defending after their surprise win in Toledo, Inverness Club (Ohio) in 2021 (Sept 22-24). 

Who's Who

Céline Boutier: with many successes as both an amateur and professional golfer, Boutier added a major championship title to her impressive résumé at this year’s Evian Championship.

Alex Cejka: buffeted by rain and high winds, especially on the high-scoring final day, Čejka prevailed over Pádraig Harrington in a playoff at Royal Porthcawl, to scoop the Senior Open Championship title.

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.

Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.

Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)

Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.

Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available

Popular videos

You can subscribe to the Where2Golf channel on YT if you like to see more video content. You'll find a "Subscribe" button on any of our YouTube videos. Or if you want a quick and direct access subscribe here. Once done, any new published videos will show up in your Subscriptions feed.

Hamburger GC - Falkenstein, Germany

WINSTONgolf - Links course

Littlestone Golf Club (Kent, UK)