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.
Visitors welcome
Ayr
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).
Visitors welcome
Inverness
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.
Tues & Thur
Edinburgh
Original course on this site was laid out by Old Tom Morris (1891). Later modifications by Harry Colt and Tom Simpson (1928).
Visitors welcome
St Andrews
Many have contributed to the Old Course layout. Most recently: Daw Anderson (1850s), Old Tom Morris (1860s to 1900) and Dr Alister Mackenzie (1930s).
Visitors welcome
Dundee
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.
Visitors welcome
Aberdeen
Original layout by Old Tom Morris, with significant redevelopment in 1926 by Tom Simpson and Herbert Fowler.
Visitors welcome
Edinburgh
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).
Mon, Tues, Thur
Ayr
Willie Fernie
Visitors welcome
St Andrews
Kyle Phillips & Mark Parsinen
Visitors welcome
Inverness
Mark Parsinen & Gil Hanse
Visitors welcome
Inverness
Original layout by Old Tom Morris. Later modifications made by James Braid, Tom Simpson and Ben Sayers (1920).
Visitors welcome
Aberdeen
Dr Martin Hawtree
Visitors welcome
Perth
Designed by James Braid, assisted by Cecil K. Hutchison (1919).
Restricted access
Inverness
Donald Steel (a coincidence that Andrew Carnegie made his fortune in steel!).
Private club
Glasgow
Australian course architect Bob Harrison.
Visitors welcome
St Andrews
Old Tom Morris
Visitors welcome
Perth
Jack Nicklaus
Wkends restrictd
Aberdeen
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.
Visitors welcome
Campbeltown
David McLay-Kidd
Rsrt guests only
Edinburgh
David J. Russell
Visitors welcome
St Andrews
Clive Clark
Visitors welcome
Campbeltown
Old Tom Morris
Visitors welcome
Dundee
Original 18-hole course designed by James Braid (1932). Course significantly restructured by C.K. (Ken) Cotton (1964).
Visitors welcome
Glasgow
Willie Campbell
Wkends restrictd
Ayr
Unknown
Wkends restrictd
Edinburgh
Unknown
Visitors welcome
St Andrews
David McLay-Kidd
Weekdays only
Edinburgh
Old Tom Morris
Visitors welcome
St Andrews
Sam Torrance (with contributions from Gene Sarazen)
Visitors welcome
St Andrews
Original design by Peter Thomson, with significant later alterations and a new back-nine layout by Tim Liddy in 2006.
Visitors welcome
Ayr
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.
Visitors welcome
Ayr
The current course at this location was laid out by Willie Park Jr in 1912.
Wkends restrictd
Ayr
James Braid
Visitors welcome
St Andrews
Balcomie Links - Old Tom Morris (1895). Craighead Links - Gil Hanse (1998).
Wkends restrictd
Aberdeen
Archie Simpson
Visitors welcome
Edinburgh
Donald Steel
Visitors welcome
Inverness
Old Tom Morris
Visitors welcome
Inverness
James Braid
Visitors welcome
Glasgow
Canadian course architect Doug Carrick.
Wkends restrictd
Dundee
Much of the current layout is credited to Willie Park Jr (1903).
Visitors welcome
Inverness
Current course designed by Scottish course architect Peter Robertson (1936).
Visitors welcome
Edinburgh
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.
Visitors welcome
Perth
Original design by James Braid. Extension and alterations designed by John Stark (1980).
Wkends restrictd
Kirkcaldy
Originally laid out by Old Tom Morris. Extensively redesigned by James Braid (1908).
Visitors welcome
Perth
Designed by James Braid, assisted by Cecil K. Hutchison (1919).
Visitors welcome
Tarbert
Original design by Old Tom Morris (1891), refurbished by Gordon Irvine & Martin Ebert (2006-08).
Rsrt guests only
Edinburgh
David J. Russell
Visitors welcome
St Andrews
Bruce Devlin (with contributions from Gene Sarazen).
Visitors welcome
Aberdeen
Robin Hiseman designed the current 18-hole Haughton and 9-hole Blairs courses (1994).
(Closed in 2019)
Dundee
Donald Steel & GK Smith
Visitors welcome
St Andrews
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).
Visitors welcome
Ayr
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.
Not Saturdays
Ayr
Old Tom Morris
Visitors welcome
Dundee
Much of the current Montrose Links layout is credited to Willie Park Jr (1903).
Visitors welcome
Inverness
Dave Thomas
Visitors welcome
Inverness
Old Tom Morris
Visitors welcome
Glasgow
Dave Thomas
Visitors welcome
Edinburgh
Original design by Harry Colt (1920), with subsequent modifications by James Braid (1926), Philip Mackenzie Ross (1945) and more recently Donald Steel.
Visitors welcome
Edinburgh
Original layout designed by Willie Park Jr (1898). Subsequent improvements made by Dr Alister MacKenzie (1922) and Hawtree (1972).
Visitors welcome
Edinburgh
Willie Park Jr and Ben Sayers.
Visitors welcome
Edinburgh
Dave Thomas
Wkends restrictd
Dumfries
Scottish course architect Philip Mackenzie Ross (known as Mackenzie Ross).
Visitors welcome
Edinburgh
James Braid and Ben Sayers
Wkends restrictd
Glasgow
James Braid
Visitors welcome
Edinburgh
Old Tom Morris
Wkends restrictd
Dundee
Current course has its origins in a layout designed by Old Tom Morris (1905). Alterations and extensions made by James Braid (1923).
Sat'day restrictd
Dundee
Current course at this location (designer unkown) dates from around 1899; previously the Club played on the Monifeith Links.
Visitors welcome
Perth
Original design by Dr Alister MacKenzie; substantially revised by James Braid.
Visitors welcome
St Andrews
Unknown
Not Saturdays
Kirkcaldy
Original 6-hole course laid out by Old Tom Morris (1879). Extended to 9-holes (1910). Extended to 18-holes (1961).
Visitors welcome
Perth
Original course designed by Willie Fernie (1908); modified by Major Cecil K. Hutchison (early-1920s).
Visitors welcome
Aberdeen
Original course laid out by James Braid (1910). Later redesigned by Dr Alister MacKenzie, working with his brother Major Charles A. MacKenzie (1923).
Visitors welcome
Tarbert
Laid out by local golfers.
Visitors welcome
Inverness
Old Tom Morris
Visitors welcome
Dumfries
James Braid
Visitors welcome
Perth
Old Tom Morris
Visitors welcome
Inverness
Wkends restrictd
Edinburgh
James Braid (1925).
Wkends restrictd
Ayr
Charles Hunter & John Allen
Visitors welcome
Arran (Isle of)
Willie Fernie, with later substantive changes designed by Willie Park Jr.
Visitors welcome
Edinburgh
James Braid
Visitors welcome
Edinburgh
Willie Park Jr.
Visitors welcome
Dundee
Peter Alliss & Dave Thomas.
Visitors welcome
Dundee
Unknown
Mon, Tues, Thur
Ayr
Willie Fernie
Visitors welcome
St Andrews
Harry Colt
Visitors welcome
Campbeltown
Designer of original layout unknown; remodelled after WW2 by George MacMillan (greenkeeper) and local members.
Visitors welcome
Dundee
Original design by Bob Simpson (1895); amended by James Braid (1934).
Visitors welcome
Inverness
James Braid designed the current layout in the early 1920s.
Visitors welcome
Aberdeen
James Braid
Visitors welcome
Inverness
James Braid
Visitors welcome
Inverness
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).
Rsrt guests only
Aberdeen
Graeme Webster
Visitors welcome
Edinburgh
Unknown
Visitors welcome
Ayr
Original 9-hole course laid out by Old Tom Morris (1893). Extended to 18-holes by James Braid (1905).
Visitors welcome
St Andrews
Visitors welcome
Aberdeen
James Braid
Wkends restrictd
Aberdeen
Unknown
Visitors welcome
Ayr
James Braid
Visitors welcome
Edinburgh
Dave Thomas
Wkends restrictd
Glasgow
Original 18-hole layout designed by Old Tom Morris (1897). New holes designed and modifications made by James Braid (1927).
Wkends restrictd
Ayr
Theodore Moone
Visitors welcome
Dundee
Unknown
Visitors welcome
Fort William
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.
Visitors welcome
Perth
Old Tom Morris
Visitors welcome
Perth
Hamilton J. Stutt designed both the Murrayshall and Lynedoch courses.
Visitors welcome
Perth
Dave Thomas & Peter Alliss
Visitors welcome
Stranraer
James Braid
Visitors welcome
Aberdeen
The Craigewan Links began as a 9-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 9-hole course.
Visitors welcome
Dundee
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.
Visitors welcome
Aberdeen
Original layout designed by George Smith (golf professional of Lossiemouth).
Visitors welcome
Aberdeen
Unknown
Visitors welcome
Edinburgh
Unknown
Visitors welcome
Aberdeen
Dave Thomas designed both the Hawkshill course (1990) and Swailend course (1997).
Visitors welcome
Aberdeen
Original 9-hole course laid out by Mr McAndrew (1918), extended to 18-holes by Greens of Scotland (1996).
Wkends restrictd
Inverness
George Smith and J J Fraser with alterations made by James Braid.
Visitors welcome
Glasgow
James Braid designed the current layout in 1924.
Visitors welcome
Glasgow
James Braid
Visitors welcome
Inverness
Harry Vardon
Visitors welcome
Kirkcaldy
Unknown
Visitors welcome
Glasgow
James Braid designed both the Cawder and Keir courses.
Visitors welcome
Stranraer
Charles Hunter
Visitors welcome
Inverness
Originally a 9-hole layout, extended to 18-holes in 1924 by its long-serving greenkeeper John Macpherson.
Private club
St Andrews
Many have contributed to the Old Course layout. Most recently: Daw Anderson (1850s), Old Tom Morris (1860s to 1900) and Dr Alister Mackenzie (1930s).
Private club
Edinburgh
Tom Doak
Private club
Glasgow
Tom Weiskopf & Jay Morrish
Private club
Glasgow
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).
Wkends restrictd
Ayr
Colin Montgomerie
Weekdays only
Glasgow
Original designer unknown. In 1990s Dave Thomas designed six new holes, replacing six lost to the construction of the neighbouring M77 motorway.
Tournaments:
2021 Opens: whether by accident or design, four of the top five mens’ Open Championships played in the British Isles occupy consecutive weeks in July: the Irish Open (1-4), Scottish Open (8-11), The Open (15-18) and Wales Open (22-25). The recently relaunched English Open is scheduled for early-August.
Hoag Classic: Ernie Els defends his title in this prestigious PGA Tour Champions event, played since 1991 at the Newport Beach Country Club, CA (Mar 5-7).
Who's Who:
Brooks Koepka: won his second Phoenix Open title, with a chip-in eagle at TPC Scottsdale’s short par-4 17th included in his final round.
Annika Sörenstam: the legendary Swede makes a return to the LPGA Tour in the Gainbridge LPGA, to be played at Lake Nona, her home club (Feb 25-28).
New course opens for play at Barnbougle
Bill Coore designs 14-hole layout with “sporty” holes on dune ridge above Lost Farm.
New links course planned for Scottish Highlands. Landowner aims to appoint a ‘world-class architect’ to work on site next to Cromarty Firth.
New Faldo Design layout in Vietnam set for summer completion. Nine holes of the course at Thanh Lanh are routed across a the lake peninsula.
Dundonald Links Scotland: Construction work is in progress on new practice facilities and course changes at Dundonald Links in Irvine, Scotland, as part of a £25 million investment by new owners Darwin Escapes that also includes the construction of a new clubhouse with rooms, plus eighteen lodges. Read more ...
R&A submits planning application for new golf facility in Glasgow.
Look up the Top Golf Courses in Scotland.
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