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.
Stranraer
Original nine holes designed by Charles Hunter, professional at Prestwick GC (1894). Extended to 18 holes by Gordon Cunningham (1978).
Inverness
Tom Doak
(Closed in 2019)
Dundee
Donald Steel & GK Smith
Mon, Tues, Thur
Ayr
Current layout by Willie Fernie (1910); significant renovation and bunker modifications by James Braid (1922).
Mon, Tues, Thur
Ayr
Original layout by Willie Fernie, with major modifications and re-routing by Dr Alister MacKenzie (1921).
Not Saturdays
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).
Not Saturdays
Edinburgh
Old Tom Morris
Not Saturdays
Edinburgh
Original layout designed by Willie Park Jr (1898). Subsequent improvements made by Dr Alister MacKenzie (1922), James Braid (1930) and Fred Hawtree (1974).
Not Saturdays
Kirkcaldy
Original 6-hole course laid out by Old Tom Morris (1879). Extended to 9-holes (1910). Extended to 18-holes (1961).
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).
Private club
Inverness
Donald Steel (a coincidence that Andrew Carnegie made his fortune in steel!). Modifications by Tom Mackenzie of Mackenzie & Ebert (2006).
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
Australian course architect Bob Harrison.
Rsrt guests only
Edinburgh
David J. Russell
Rsrt guests only
Aberdeen
Graeme Webster
Rsrt guests only
Edinburgh
David J. Russell
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
Bruce Devlin (with contributions from Gene Sarazen).
Visitors welcome
Inverness
Originally a 9-hole layout, extended to 18-holes in 1924 by its long-serving greenkeeper John Macpherson.
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
Dundee
Much of the current layout is credited to Willie Park Jr (1903).
Visitors welcome
Edinburgh
Dave Thomas
Visitors welcome
Glasgow
James Braid designed the current layout in 1924.
Visitors welcome
Dundee
Peter Alliss & Dave Thomas.
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
Inverness
Original nine-hole layout dates from 1877. Extended to 18 holes by Old Tom Morris (1886). Later improvements made by John Sutherland, Donald Ross (born in Dornoch) and J.H. Taylor.
Visitors welcome
Inverness
Mark Parsinen & Gil Hanse
Visitors welcome
St Andrews
David McLay-Kidd
Visitors welcome
Campbeltown
Old Tom Morris
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.
Visitors welcome
Perth
Original design by Dr Alister MacKenzie; substantially revised by James Braid.
Visitors welcome
Glasgow
Canadian course architect Doug Carrick.
Visitors welcome
St Andrews
Sam Torrance (with contributions from Gene Sarazen)
Visitors welcome
Inverness
Old Tom Morris
Visitors welcome
Dundee
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).
Visitors welcome
Aberdeen
Original layout by Old Tom Morris, with significant redevelopment in 1926 by Tom Simpson and Herbert Fowler.
Visitors welcome
Glasgow
James Braid designed both the Cawder and Keir courses.
Visitors welcome
Inverness
James Braid designed the current layout in 1932. Golf was probably played on the Chanonry Peninsula from at least 1700 onward, and a club formed in 1793.
Visitors welcome
Dundee
Original design by Bob Simpson (1895); redesigned by James Braid (1933/34), and upgraded by Martin Ebert of Mackenzie & Ebert (2015).
Visitors welcome
Dundee
Unknown
Visitors welcome
St Andrews
Old Tom Morris and later James Braid are thought to have had the biggest influences on the design of the current Elie course.
Visitors welcome
Dumfries
Scottish course architect Philip Mackenzie Ross (known as Mackenzie Ross).
Visitors welcome
Perth
Jack Nicklaus
Visitors welcome
Arran (Isle of)
Willie Fernie, with later substantive changes designed by Willie Park Jr.
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
Harry Colt
Visitors welcome
Stranraer
Charles Hunter
Visitors welcome
Perth
Original design by James Braid. Extension and alterations designed by John Stark (1980).
Visitors welcome
Aberdeen
Original 9-hole course laid out by Mr McAndrew (1918), extended to 18-holes by Greens of Scotland (1996).
Visitors welcome
Inverness
Harry Vardon
Visitors welcome
Tarbert
Laid out by local golfers.
Visitors welcome
Aberdeen
Original layout designed by George Smith (golf professional of Lossiemouth).
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
Dumfries
James Braid
Visitors welcome
Aberdeen
James Braid
Visitors welcome
Aberdeen
Robin Hiseman designed the current 18-hole Haughton and 9-hole Blairs courses (1994).
Visitors welcome
Aberdeen
Dave Thomas designed both the Hawkshill course (1990) and Swailend course (1997).
Visitors welcome
Ayr
The current course at this location was laid out by Willie Park Jr in 1912.
Visitors welcome
Aberdeen
Archie Simpson
Visitors welcome
Aberdeen
Dr Martin Hawtree, with Christian Lundin and Christine Fraser.
Visitors welcome
Aberdeen
Dr Martin Hawtree
Visitors welcome
Stranraer
Laid out by the original members.
Visitors welcome
Dundee
Unknown
Visitors welcome
Inverness
Old Tom Morris
Visitors welcome
Aberdeen
Unknown
Visitors welcome
St Andrews
Clive Clark
Visitors welcome
Inverness
Original layout by Old Tom Morris. Later modifications made by James Braid, Tom Simpson and Ben Sayers (1920).
Visitors welcome
Edinburgh
Willie Park Jr.
Visitors welcome
Edinburgh
Willie Park Jr and Ben Sayers.
Visitors welcome
Glasgow
James Braid
Visitors welcome
Edinburgh
Donald Steel
Visitors welcome
Aberdeen
James Braid (1922). Four new "replacement" holes added at eastern end of the course by Alex Swan, with input from Sir Henry Cotton (1976).
Visitors welcome
Aberdeen
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.
Visitors welcome
Inverness
Original nine-hole course laid out by A.C. Brown (1890); extended to 18-holes by Willie Park Jr (1911) and modified by James Braid (1921).
Visitors welcome
Inverness
James Braid
Visitors welcome
Kirkcaldy
Unknown
Visitors welcome
Tarbert
Original design by Old Tom Morris (1891), refurbished by Gordon Irvine & Martin Ebert (2006-08).
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
St Andrews
Old Tom Morris
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
Inverness
James Braid
Visitors welcome
Glasgow
Willie Campbell
Visitors welcome
Campbeltown
David McLay-Kidd
Visitors welcome
Edinburgh
Dave Thomas
Visitors welcome
Inverness
Dave Thomas
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.
Golf in the town of Carnoustie has been played since at least the mid-1500s, while the first record of a Carnoustie Golf Club dates from 1839.
Visitors welcome
Perth
Designed by James Braid, assisted by Cecil K. Hutchison (1919).
Visitors welcome
Edinburgh
Unknown
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
Current course designed by Scottish course architect Peter Robertson (1936).
Visitors welcome
Stranraer
James Braid
Visitors welcome
St Andrews
Donald Steel
Visitors welcome
Edinburgh
Willie Park Jr.
Visitors welcome
Dundee
Much of the current Montrose Links layout is credited to Willie Park Jr (1903).
Visitors welcome
Edinburgh
James Braid
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
Hamilton J. Stutt designed both the Murrayshall and Lynedoch courses.
Visitors welcome
Perth
Old Tom Morris
Visitors welcome
Perth
Old Tom Morris
Visitors welcome
St Andrews
Kyle Phillips & Mark Parsinen
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
James Braid
Visitors welcome
St Andrews
Balcomie Links - Old Tom Morris (1895). Craighead Links - Gil Hanse (1998).
Visitors welcome
Perth
Dave Thomas & Peter Alliss
Visitors welcome
Edinburgh
Old Tom Morris
Visitors welcome
Edinburgh
James Braid and Ben Sayers
Visitors welcome
Campbeltown
Designer of original layout unknown; remodelled after WW2 by George MacMillan (greenkeeper) and local members.
Visitors welcome
Dundee
Original 18-hole course designed by James Braid (1932). Course significantly restructured by C.K. (Ken) Cotton (1964).
Visitors welcome
Edinburgh
James Braid, J.H. Taylor and Willie Park Jr all contributed to the early design of Mortonhall. Improvements and new holes added by Fred W. Hawtree (1975).
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
James Braid
Visitors welcome
Glasgow
Dave Thomas
Visitors welcome
Edinburgh
Robert "Bob" Ferguson (three-time Open Champion - 1880, '81 and '82), and local club-maker Peter McEwan.
Visitors welcome
Edinburgh
Designer unknown. In 1890 the original six-hole course (of full length holes), was redesigned into the current layout of 36 Pitch&Putt short holes.
Visitors welcome
Inverness
Original design by Ben Sayers (1907). Renovation by Mike Clayton, Mike DeVries and Frank Pont (of CDP Golf Design) (2024).
Visitors welcome
Inverness
Old Tom Morris
Visitors welcome
Edinburgh
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
Original course designed by Willie Fernie (1908); modified by Major Cecil K. Hutchison (early-1920s).
Visitors welcome
Inverness
James Braid
Visitors welcome
Perth
Current nine-hole "Old" course laid out by Ben Sayers (1913). Extended to 18-holes in 1979.
Visitors welcome
Perth
Designed by James Braid, assisted by Cecil K. Hutchison (1919).
Visitors welcome
Inverness
Originally laid out as Dornoch's 12-hole Ladies course (1899); later replaced by a new design (1923). Expanded to 18 holes by Donald Steel and Robin Hiseman (1999). Parts of the Struie will be revised again with the advent of the new clubhouse in 2025.
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.
Weekends restricted
Ayr
Old Tom Morris
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.
Wkends restrictd
Aberdeen
Unknown
Wkends restrictd
Glasgow
James Braid
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).
Wkends restrictd
Ayr
Charles Hunter & John Allen
Wkends restrictd
Ayr
Theodore Moone
Wkends restrictd
Ayr
Unknown
Wkends restrictd
Ayr
Colin Montgomerie
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
Edinburgh
Unknown
Wkends restrictd
Edinburgh
James Braid (1925).
Wkends restrictd
Kirkcaldy
Originally laid out by Old Tom Morris. Extensively redesigned by James Braid (1908).
Wkends restrictd
Ayr
James Braid
Wkends restrictd
Inverness
George Smith and J J Fraser with alterations made by James Braid.
124th US Open: the No.2 Course at Pinehurst once again plays host to this most illustrious championship (June 13-16). Wyndham Clark defends his title, having won at Los Angeles CC in 2023.
79th Women’s US Open: the second women’s major championship of the season gets underway at Lancaster CC in Pennsylvania. It’s the second time the championship has been held here.
(May 30-June 2).
Nelly Korda: won the Mizuho Americas Open (May 16-19) at Liberty National GC, continuing her extraordinary form in LPGA events. This was her sixth win in seven starts in 2024.
Xander Schauffele: recorded his first major championship win, and second record-equalling low score of 62 in a major. Only he, Branden Grace, Rickie Fowler and Shane Lowry have achieved this feat in a men’s major championship.
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.
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
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