Designed by one of the grand masters of golf course architecture, James Braid, the Boat is not only a demanding test of sporting skill, but also a magnificent scenic setting for the game. This Highland grandeur, depending on the day, can inspire high achievement on the course or, in the more common event of a disappointing performance, afford the comfort and consolation of communing with nature in uniquely attractive surroundings. Some regard Boat of Garten as holiday golf as it’s clearly a short course, but it’s also a difficult course in which to score well. The Boat has been dubbed “the Gleneagles of the North” and has won several awards in recent years including Scotland’s No.1 Hidden Gem.
Designer:
James Braid
Holes / Par / Yardage:
18 hole, par 70 (5876 yard)
Established:
1898
Green / Caddy / Buggy Fees:
£45 (wkday) / £49 (wkend) / £30 / £25
Facilities:
Restaurant
“Carnasty” as people often call it, is the most difficult Open course venue and a fantastic test of golf for good players with fast, true and excellent greens all year round. The infamous 18th was the scene of Jean Van de Velde’s triple bogey meltdown that lost him the Open of ‘99. Start the round well as the front nine is much easier than the back; precision and a little luck is still needed for a good score as bunkers lurk at every turn with as does the potential for disaster. Shoot to your handicap at Carnoustie, and that would be quite a feat.
Designer:
Old Tom Morris / James Braid
Holes / Par / Yardage:
18 holes par 72 (7,364 yards)
Established:
1842
Green / Caddy / Buggy Fees:
£160 high season / £77 low season (wkday & wkend) / £50 / NA
Distance:
2 hours / 71 miles from Edinburgh
Facilities:
Accommodation, restaurant, spa
Named top new international course and ranked number 56 in the world simultaneously in its first year of opening, Castle Stuart is a throwback in golf design and a pleasurable challenge. The opening three holes on each nine run along the edge of a raised beach by the side of the Moray Firth, and a heart thumping start awaits from both the elevated 1st and 10th tees cut into the cliff side, as a good drive is required to reach the fairways below. With bunkers that are more open sandy areas surrounded by thin wispy fescue, and greens that allow for aggressive and confident putting, the course is as its architect envisioned, ‘An appreciation that the game of golf is more about error and recovery than it is about perfection. Its ethos is more about redemption than punishment’.
Designer:
Mark Parsinen
Holes / Par / Yardage:
18 holes par 72 (7,009 yards)
Established:
2009
Green / Caddy / Buggy Fees:
£190 high season/£140 low season (wkday & wkend) / £40 / NA
Distance:
260km from Edinburgh / 5 km from Inverness
Facilities:
Accommodation, restaurant, spa
Created in the days when course design was governed by the natural lie of the land, Balcomie has the unusual combination of three par fives, six par threes and nine par fours, producing a tough par of 69. Not content with a devilishly testing layout, Old Tom designed the course in such a way as to take maximum advantage of its exhilarating seaside location. Shots over rocky bays, long par threes with greens perched on top of vertical cliffs, shots to greens seemingly engulfed by gorse, curving par fours round sandy strands – daring the golfer to cut off too much, shots from cliff tops to greens and fairways invitingly laid out below. The sum total is a layout which both enchants and delights, but which also demands and punishes, testing all the skills in a golfer’s armoury – as well as his nerve.
Designer:
Old Tom Morris
Holes / Par / Yardage:
18 holes par 69 (5,861 yards)
Established:
1895
Green / Caddy / Buggy Fees:
£65 wkday / £80 wkend high season / £35 low season / £40 / NA
Distance:
51miles from Edinburgh
Facilities:
Restaurant
Very much a traditional links with humps, hollows and greens tucked into unimaginable spots, golf at Cruden Bay is full of surprises. As befits a course, which is over one hundred years old, Cruden Bay demands its fair share of blindshots and while some modernisation has occurred, the links stands largely as a reminder of bygone days. It serves as a fine example to modern architects of what a course created primarily by nature should look like. One of Scotland’s lesser-known courses and often overlooked; in time, the fun, quality and spectacular nature of golf here will pervade and Cruden Bay will command the recognition it deserves.
Designer:
Tom Morris / Archie Simpson
Holes / Par / Yardage:
18 holes par 70 (6,395 yards)
Established:
1899
Green / Caddy / Buggy Fees:
£100 high season / £50 low season (wkday & wkend) / £40 / NA
Distance:
45 min from Aberdeen
Facilities:
Restaurant
Play the Torrance Course, designed by the late Gene Sarazen and Sam Torrance, this spectacular course circles the hotel and is blessed with stunning sea views and cliff-edge tees and greens. The signature 17th par 4 has the out-ofbounds running parallel down the entire right side of the hole with the coastal trail, before sharply cutting across the front of the green.
Designer:
Gene Sarazen / Sam Torrance
Holes / Par / Yardage:
18 holes par 72 (7,230 yards)
Established:
2008
Green / Caddy / Buggy Fees:
£150 high season/£60 low season (wkday & wkend) / £50 / NA
Distance:
50min / 28 miles from Edinburgh
Facilities:
Accommodation, restaurant, spa, golf academy
A classic British inland golf course, the King’s hosted the very first informal Ryder Cup match in 1921. A masterpiece of golf course design on which the most perfect terrain was bestowed, all 18 holes blend seamlessly into the landscape, testing even the best players’ shot-making skills as was architect James Braid’s plan. Precision approaches are the order of the day and club selection can be tricky with the wind over the greens often stronger than can be felt from the fairway. The beauty of the King’s Course however, cannot be faulted, as evidenced by Lee Trevino’s famous remark, “If heaven is as good as this, I sure hope they have some tee times left.”
Designer:
James Braid
Holes / Par / Yardage:
18 holes par 70 (6,790 yards)
Established:
1919
Green / Caddy / Buggy Fees:
£180 high season/£70 low season (weekday & weekend) / £50 / £50
Distance:
One hour / 80km from Edinburgh
Facilities:
Accommodation, restaurant, spa, golf academy
As different from the King’s Course as night is from day, this 1993 Jack Nicklaus layout is a blend of new world American design in the midst of traditional Scottish beauty. Host to the 2014 Ryder Cup, it is Scotland’s longest inland golf course conceived on a grand scale with equally grand vistas in anticipation of some memorable matchplay moments. Fairways are generous, “It’s not the most difficult golf course in the world, but it wasn’t meant to be,” observed Jack Nicklaus. “I didn’t want to ruin it for the guests and members.”
Designer:
Jack Nicklaus
Holes / Par / Yardage:
18 holes par 72 (7,296 yards)
Established:
1993
Green / Caddy / Buggy Fees:
£180 high season/£70 low season (wkday & wkend) / £50 / £50
Distance:
1 hour / 80km from Edinburgh
Facilities:
Accommodation, restaurants, spa, golf academy
Opened in 2000 and already amongst the best golf courses in the world, Kingsbarns is, according to many people, the best golf course opened in the 21st century. The sea plays an integral role in the course design and the sandy dunes also feature prominently in enhancing the course landscape. While nothing can replace the Old Course, Kingsbarns Links is infinitely more scenic and is a worthy spiritual descendant of its historical neighbour. Boasting spacious fairways which roll and twist through majestic dune ridges and hollows, its large inviting greens present the golfer with subtle challenges that makes Kingsbarns distinctly playable but challenging to the end. As Sir Michael Bonallack (recently retired Secretary of the R&A) remarked, “Mere words cannot convey just how extraordinary the place is. It must be seen to be believed and once seen, it will never be forgotten”.
Designer:
Kyle Philips / Mark Parsinen
Holes / Par / Yardage:
18 holes par 72 (7,210 yards)
Established:
2000
Green / Caddy / Buggy Fees:
£226 high season / £194 low season (wkday & wkend) / £50 / £25
Distance:
25min / 75km from Edinburgh
Facilities:
Restaurant, driving range
The Old Course at Moray Golf Club is one of Scotland’s most laudable links courses. It was laid out by Old Tom Morris in 1889 and provides as natural a golf terrain as you will find. Moray Old is a superb test of golf with deep revetted bunkers, undulating gorse lined fairways and smooth fast greens. Seven of its par fours measure over 400 yards. Like its famous namesake at St Andrews, Moray’s Old Course is unusual in that its first and last holes are part of the town and in full view of spectators. The 18th is considered one of the finest finishing holes in Scotland.
Designer:
Old Tom Morris
Holes / Par / Yardage:
18 holes par 71 (6,572 yards)
Established:
1889
Green / Caddy / Buggy Fees:
£80 high season / £30 low season (wkday & wkend) / £40 / £22
Distance:
25 miles from Edinburgh
Facilities:
Accommodation, restaurant
The Nairn Golf Club’s truly remarkable feature is that from every hole you can see the Moray Firth and the golden colouring and changing lights of the Black Isle. Even more extraordinary is how easily you can strike the ball into the sea on every one of the first seven! What delights the visitor and member alike is the Scottish-ness of the links, which leads you in gently before demanding accurate driving and precision second shots. The par 4 holes tease and confound and all four short holes are cunningly angled, with the 4th a little gem and the 14th simply spectacular. As three of the par 5 holes are over 530 yards long, it is a test for all. Yet, even more challenging than the humps and hollows that lurk in the fairways, is the trickery of the greens.
Designer:
James Braid
Holes / Par / Yardage:
18 holes par 72 (6,774 yards)
Established:
circa 1887
Green / Caddy / Buggy Fees:
£110 high season / £50 low season (wkday & wkend) / £40 / £35
Distance:
25 min / 16 miles from Inverness
Facilities:
Restaurant
A traditional links course, like the Old Course St Andrews, it starts and finishes within the town and winds its way along the Firth of Forth offering magnificent panoramic views over white sandy beaches, islands and the hills of the ancient Kingdom of Fife, the Home of Golf. Selected by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club as a Final Qualifying venue when the Open Championship is held at Muirfield, North Berwick is an East Lothian golf course of high quality, which is always beautifully presented and maintained to the highest standards.
Designer:
MacKenzie Ross
Holes / Par / Yardage:
18 holes par 71 (6,464 yards)
Established:
1832
Green / Caddy / Buggy Fees:
£95 / £130 high season (wkday & wkend) / £70 low season / £40 / NA
Distance:
25 miles from Edinburgh
Facilities:
Restaurant
Set alongside a picturesque shoreline featuring sweeping sand dunes, Royal Aberdeen possesses many eye-catching features, most notably the quality of the opening and closing holes, it boasts a balance of long and short par 4’s, testing par 3’s and tricky par 5’s, which due to wind speed and direction, play differently each day. The significant changes in elevation at Royal Aberdeen result in spectacular views of the coast and course over massive dunes and sheltered valleys, through which many holes meander. The highlight of Royal Aberdeen is the closing 18th hole, where a good drive must be followed by a second over a high bank in front of an elevated green, guarded by bunkers left and right.
Designer:
Robert Simpson
Holes / Par / Yardage:
18 holes par 71 (6,861 yards)
Established:
1780
Green / Caddy / Buggy Fees:
£156 high season / £78 low season (wkday & wkend) / £50 / NA
Distance:
5min from Aberdeen
Facilities:
Restaurant
The third oldest course in the world has also been dubbed the world’s most natural course. Characterised by its plateau greens, Royal Dornoch is golf in a beautiful setting with a tough but fair test of skill, and plenty of fast, tricky greens. Beware the short course, for knolls and swales, bunkers and sandhills, all stand in the way of the golfer looking to reach the greens that could very easily see approaches run off any side. With a host of subtle contours, staying on the putting surface with each stroke of the flatstick is another issue. Even so, this Old Tom Morris jewel had five times Open champion Tom Watson enthusing, ‘It was the most fun I`ve had playing golf in my whole life.’
Designer:
Old Tom Morris & John H Taylor
Holes / Par / Yardage:
18 holes par 70 (6,711 yards)
Established:
1877
Green / Caddy / Buggy Fees:
£120 high season / £60 low season (wkday & wkend) / £45 / £35
Distance:
315km from Edinburgh/ 85km from Inverness
Facilities:
Restaurant
Considered to the most challenging course at the home of golf, the Jubilee, once dubbed “The Nursery”, was only a 12 holes course originally intended for ladies and beginners. A full 18 holes today playing to championship length, elevated tee boxes affords views of the firth and town while exposing tee shots to the wind’s teeth. Greens, though smaller than the Old Course’s monsters, are well guarded by humps and pot bunkers. As with the Old Course, playing for position is paramount if one is to play well at the Jubilee. Not for the faint of heart, yet still a favourite of the locals at Saint Andrews. Runs adjacent to the Old and New courses in St Andrews. Perceived by local folk, be a tougher proposition to both other courses due to its tight angles and undulating contoured fairways. Accuracy is paramount throughout. The Jubilee co-hosted the British amateur Championship in 2004
Designer:
Old Tom Morris
Holes / Par / Yardage:
18 holes par 72 (6,742 yards)
Established:
1897
Green / Caddy / Buggy Fees:
£75 high season / £37 low season (wkday & wkend) / £50 / £25
Distance:
50min / 28 miles 75 km from Edinburgh
Facilities:
Accommodation, restaurant, spa, golf academy
Love it or loathe it, any golfer worth his salt must make the pilgrimage to this holy grail of golf. No other course is as steeped in history and lore as the Old Course with its large double greens and 112 bunkers all individually named, such as the 10 feet deep Hell Bunker. Enroute to lifting the claret jug in the Open of 2000, Tiger Woods entered nary a single sand trap the entire tournament. Home to the infamous par 4, 17th Road Hole, play off the back tees as the pros do, if you dare. Then pause for reflection and a snapshot as you cross the 700 year old Swilcan Bridge as many a golf legend has done, before you face the 18th hole and the dreaded Valley of Sin. And do heed your caddy’s advice, it be worth every penny
Designer:
NA
Holes / Par / Yardage:
18 holes par 72 (7,305 yards)
Established:
circa 1410
Green / Caddy / Buggy Fees:
£170 high season/£80 low season (wkday & wkend) / £50 / £25
Distance:
One hour/75 km from Edinburgh
Facilities:
Accommodation, restaurant, spa, golf academy
Playing to more than 7,000 yards from the back tees, the newest and seventh course at the Home of Golf is set on a rugged cliff-top with spectacular views over St Andrews in view at many points, especially on the sixth, ninth and 18th greens. Blind shots to fairways and some of the most undulating greens in golf will test your imagination, shotmaking and nerve. The feature hole is the par-3 17th, which demands a tee shot into the prevailing wind over seaside cliffs to the green. It is an all or nothing hole where anything right is gone forever so the safe play is to aim left, where the contours will hopefully funnel the ball right to the putting surface.
Designer:
David McLay Kidd
Holes / Par / Yardage:
18 holes par 71 (6,759 yards)
Established:
2008
Green / Caddy / Buggy Fees:
£120 high season / £60 low season (wkday & wkend) / £50 / NA
Distance:
50min / 28 miles 75 km from Edinburgh
Facilities:
Accommodation, restaurant, spa, golf academy
Designed by five times Open Champion Peter Thompson, the Dukes Course is a classic inland Scottish course. The latest jewel in the St. Andrews’ golfing crown is an enjoyable, tempting, relatively torment free golf course. Beautifully sculpted holes exploit the natural features of the stunning parkland setting and the course lends itself ideally to the pitch and run game. The fairways are characterised by many small undulations and groups of bunkers and while the greens are constructed not to punish but charm, do not underestimate the challenge imposed by what is a long and difficult golf course.
Designer:
Peter Thompson
Holes / Par / Yardage:
18 holes par 72 (7,271 yards)
Established:
1995
Green / Caddy / Buggy Fees:
£95 high season / £50 low season (wkday & wkend) / £50 / NA
Distance:
50min / 28 miles 75 km from Edinburgh
Facilities:
Accommodation, restaurant, spa, golf academy
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