The course is somewhat changed from the original lay out that saw the first 13 Opens, it eventually had 24 Opens played over it. The original course had 12 holes and six of these greens are still in use today. Three holes are still laid out exactly as they were – the 2 nd, the 4 th and the 5 th – which are now the 17th, 3rd and 13 th respectively. Tom Morris was responsible for taking the course up to its modern 18 holes in 1882. Ladybank Golf Club is located in Fife, Scotland, less than 20 miles from St. Andrews. For that reason, the club is often overshadowed by the main jewels in the county. But it really shouldn’t be overlooked! The next stage was to go through every one of the courses on Alan’s list to see whether they should make the cut for the final map. Quite a few had closed since Alan had played, so that was an easy decision. Others were courses played only by the owners of private estates. Alan had managed to get onto these as part of a charity quest but they weren’t looking for anyone else to visit so I excluded them too.

While it is the links golf courses in Scotland that draw the eye, there is a huge variety of layouts and challenges on offer. Classic parkland golf can be enjoyed at the famed Gleneagles Resort in Perthshire or the picturesque and private estates of Loch Lomond and Skibo Castle both feature within the Top 20 golf courses to play in Scotland. Heathland golf is enjoyed at many courses in Scotland but fine examples are enjoyed at The Duke's Course which is just 15 minutes from St Andrews and Blairgowrie Golf Club with it's fast-running sandy soil framed perfectly by heather and grand pine trees. When Val received my scribblings she plotted them onto the digital map. There was clearly going to be an issue in the central belt of Scotland - around Glasgow and Edinburgh. There are a lot of courses in these areas meaning some creativity was needed to fit them all in. We managed to acheive this with a combination of two insets and some font size chicanery. Originally laid out by Old Tom Morris the layout has since been developed by Harry Colt, Tom Simpson and Martin Hawtree to ensure a truly magical experience. The course was laid out by James Braid and is known for its natural beauty and challenging links layout. The course features in both the top 100 GB&I Links courses and the Next 100 list. 10. Ladybank Golf ClubTo summarize, the Old Course at St Andrews Golf Course is located in the town of St Andrews, which is in the region of Fife on the east coast of Scotland. Where Does Donald Trump Have A Golf Course In Scotland? The map below will give you a feel for where the marquee golf courses in Scotland are located. As always, our advice when planning a Scotland golf trip is to divide and conquer. Choose the two or three regions that are most important to you and leave the others for the next trip. This advice, paired with a brief study of the map, will likely lead to yet another question whose answer requires a guide of its own: Where to play on a golf trip to Scotland. The closing holes of 15,16, 17 and 18 are fantastically difficult and anyone walking off in par through this stretch can stand tall. I wouldn’t hesitate to drop everything for a game here but I would stress that the best thing you can do is practice hard for the week leading up to your tee time. 7. Durness Golf Club It began life as a nine-hole relief course, but is a world-class moorland. The cute sister to the King’s is the course many of us have the fondest memories of at one of the world’s best golf resorts. Playable and scoreable if you are hitting it well and always with heaps of entertainment. It will reward straight driving, as gorse is a regular feature, and there is plenty to keep you interested around the course.

Despite the course having undergone some changes since it last hosted The Open Championship, they have only improved the layout. And with breathtaking views, the course has also consistently ranked inside the world’s top 20, telling you everything you need to know about how special this layout is! The 6,500-yard white tees are playable, but don’t hesitate to go to the 6,200-yard yellows for a really fun round. Renowned for its excellent greens and among the most fun golf courses in Britain. A day at Muirfield is the best day I've ever had on the golf course. The traditions and history of the game are evident throughout the clubhouse and the "simple" design you see on the course feels utterly unique and effective." Potentially the most picturesque golf course in Scotland, on a sunny day the Ailsa course at Trump Turnberry is nothing short of glorious. Watched over by the iconic Turnberry Lighthouse, The Ailsa has a rich history to match the phenomenal views. The course is a good fair test and was in top condition when we played. The clubhouse had a good newsletter detailing what they were up to, what the green keepers were working on and what the membership were achieving. The bar man had great chat and sorted us out with beers and food.All of this means we are able to offer an up-to-date opinion. I think that matters, because golf courses are living, breathing things. They change, they evolve, they develop. We ask what they’ve done recently, what they are in the process of doing, and what they are planning to do. If the 8th green is patchy, or the style of bunkering inconsistent, the club has a chance to explain why. There is often a good reason. The tee boxes are tiny, the fairways are covered in rabbit burrows and the greens are slow, there are cows grazing on the course and electric fences guarding the greens. Despite all this, it was delightful.

Designed by Kyle Phillips, Dundonald Links was home to the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open in 2015, 2016 and 2017, The Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open in 2017 and the Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open in 2022, which will return in 2023. In addition, Final Qualifying for The Open Championship will be held at Dundonald Links from 2023 until 2026. Bauer Media Group consists of : Bauer Consumer Media Ltd, Company number 01176085; Bauer Radio Limited, The club is however renowned for its immaculate presentation and you won’t be disappointed if you add this to your itinerary on a golf trip to Fife. 11. Crail Golfing Society (Balcomie Links) Built on the banks of the Moray Firth, Castle Stuart Links has already hosted 4 Scottish Opens, its thrilling changes in elevation and ‘infinity greens’ make for exciting play. Founded in 1867, Kilspindie’s original 9-hole course was designed by Ben Sayers and was later extended to 18 holes by Willie Park Jr.Located on the spectacular Ayrshire coastline in Scotland, there are two golf courses on offer at Trump Turnberry. The best golf courses in Scotland are generally concentrated within six regions around the country: St. Andrews, East Lothian, Ayrshire, Kintyre, The Highlands, and Aberdeen. This doesn’t mean that there isn’t great golf to be found outside of these areas. Quite the contrary. But for the most part, Americans who are crossing the Atlantic on Scotland golf tours will primarily visit these regions. Scotland Golf Courses Map Aside from golf, Scotland has much more to offer. Scotland provides untouched nature, majestic landscapes, grand castles and historic cities. And if you are into malt whisky, then one of the numerous whisky trails is definitely a great idea. The following Scottish highlights shouldn't be missed: Edinburgh Castle, Loch Lomond and the mystical Loch Ness, the magical Isle of Skye & the Cuillin Mountains. However, if you’re after a list of the top 100 golf courses in Scotland, scroll down to the bottom of the article. 1. The Old Course at St Andrews Highlights are sprinkled throughout but few will leave anything other than thrilled by the quality par 3s at the 4th and 13th as well as the two-shot 9th and 14th.