The Home of Golf. The name pretty much says it all. If you're planning a golf trip to Scotland,
deciding where to begin is no easy task. Scotland, after all, isn't just the birthplace of golf,
it's also home to more courses per capita than any other country in the world. Between the
Open Championship venues, the golf courses on the various top 100 lists, and the other exceptional
layouts which are worthy of a visit, the casual golf traveler would need a month or better
to truly see it all. With so many courses and precious little time, how does one plan the typical
week-long Scottish golf trip? Our advice is to divide and conquer. Think of Scotland as five
different regions where multiple golf courses can be played from one base accommodation.
Even if you limit yourself to just these so-called bucket list golf courses,
it's only feasible to hit two, and certainly no more than three, of these regions in a single week.
Start by choosing the areas which are most appealing to you and save the others for
your next golf trip to Scotland. Let's take a look at each of these regions.
The first is St. Andrews, the rightful home of golf. The Old Course at St. Andrews is naturally the
main attraction, but there's enough outstanding golf nearby to keep the traveler occupied for
a week or better. The options range from historic courses like Carnoustie and Crail Golfing Society
to modern classics such as Kingsbarns and Dumbarnie Links. It should come as no surprise
that St. Andrews is the most sought after destination for golf travelers. If you're hoping
to visit St Andrews during your Scotland golf trip, it's important to start planning early.
Guaranteed Old Course at St. Andrews tee times generally sell out over a year in advance.
Across the Firth of Forth, the golf courses of East Lothian make a strong case as the birthplace
of the game. Along the shores of Scotland's Golf Coast you'll find a roller coaster ride
at Gullane Golf Club and a quirky fan favorite at North Berwick, but it's the venerable links
at Muirfield which makes East Lothian a must visit on Scotland golf trips. Muirfield delivers arguably
the finest single day experience in all of golf. It also happens to be one of the hottest tickets
in Scotland. Like The Old Course at St. Andrews, Muirfield tee times are usually spoken for over
a year in advance. If you'd like to see your group on the tee sheet, begin planning your trip early.
Over on the west coast of Scotland, Ayrshire and Kintyre are essentially two regions for golf
rolled into one. This is the birthplace of The Open Championship. Prestwick Golf Club hosted the first
open in 1860 and 24 times in total. Today, Royal Troon is a mainstay on The Open Championship rota,
while the reimagined Ailsa course at Turnberry offers a seaside golf experience
among the finest in the world. Those who enjoy venturing off the well-worn path should take
the short ferry ride to the Isle of Arran to experience the delightful 12-hole links at Shiskine.
And then there's the Kintyre Peninsula, where the Machrihanish Golf Club serves
a spectacular Old Tom Morris links that begins with the best opening tee shot in all of golf.
Once considered a far-flung region by most travelers The Highlands
is now a mainstay for golf trips to Scotland. The game has been played here for over 400 years.
Royal Dornoch leads the way and is consistently ranked among the top courses in the world.
Nearby, the finest putting surfaces in Scotland are found at Nairn Golf Club, while Castle Stuart has
quickly become a favorite stop for both the H&B Forces and the Scottish Open. And then there's Brora,
which spellbinds golfers with its wild links, roaming livestock, and spectacular views.
In addition to the superb golf, The Highlands is without question the most beautiful region of Scotland.
There's snow-capped mountains, ancient castles, Loch Ness and its resident monster,
superb malt whisky, and cheerful residents. All of which makes The Highlands an ideal destination for
couples golf trips and for those who prefer to stop and smell the roses between rounds.
Aberdeen is arguably the most underrated region for Scotland golf travel. And yet, it was here on
on what was known as the Queen's Links where the first recorded mention of a golf hole was made.
Royal Aberdeen is the sixth oldest golf club in the world and is home to a pure links golf
experience that features nothing short of the finest front nine in Britain. Nearby, Cruden Bay
is a truly magical place to play the game, which transcends any preconceived notions of what
defines a great golf course. What sets the Aberdeen area apart however is the quantity and quality
of lesser-known golf courses in the region which are more than worthy of a place on your itinerary.
As The Home of Golf, Scotland is the top travel destination for those looking to
enjoy the heritage of this great game as well as some of its iconic courses.
But there's so much more to golf in Scotland than just golf.
For more insight on planning a golf trip to Scotland, we invite you to visit our Yardage Book,
where you'll find in-depth guides covering all aspects of Golf and the Good Life across the pond.
When you're ready to begin planning your Scottish Expedition with Haversham & Baker,
simply click on the Let's Talk button at the top of our website, tell us a little
about your trip, and start the countdown to your unforgettable experience in The Home of Golf