SCOTLAND
These are the Home of Golf ’s Top 100 Courses. We’ve selected the 40 best-value venues within them
1 St Andrews (Old) 2 Muirfield 3 Trump Turnberry (Ailsa) 4 Royal Dornoch (Championship) 5 Trump Links Aberdeen 6 Kingsbarns 7 North Berwick 8 Carnoustie (Championship) 9 Castle Stuart 10 Loch Lomond 11 Prestwick 12 Machrihanish 13 Cruden Bay 14 Royal Troon (Championship) 15 Skibo Castle 16 Royal Aberdeen 17 Western Gailes 18 Gleneagles (King’s) 19 Nairn 20 Machrihanish Dunes 21 Gullane (No.1 ) 22 The Machrie 23 The Renaissance Club 24 Blairgowrie (Rosemount) 25 Southerness 26 Dundonald 27 Brora 28 Moray (Old) 29 Gleneagles (Queen’s) 30 St Andrews (New) 31 Boat of Garten 32 St Andrews (Castle) 33 Fraserburgh 34 Archerfield (Fidra) 35 Murcar 36 Elie 37 The Duke’s 38 Dunbar 39 Glasgow Gailes 40 Luffness 41 Panmure 42 Lundin Links 43 Scotscraig 44 Monifieth (Medal) 45 Blairgowrie (Lansdowne) 46 Grantown on Spey 47 Peterhead 48 Crail (Balcomie) 49 Montrose (Medal) 50 Lanark 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 Prestwick Archerfield Leven Shiskine Gullane Ladybank Fortrose Portpatrick Golspie Tain Kilspindie Nairn Downfield Dunbar (No.2) and St (Dirleton) (Dunskey) Nicholas Rosemarkie 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 Pitlochry West Stranraer Longniddry Irvine Spey Valley Kilbride 67 68 69 70 71 Meldrum Gleneagles Bruntsfield Askernish House (PGA Links Centenary) 72 73 74 75 St Glenbervie Edzell Andrews (Old) (Jubilee) 76 77 Kilmarnock Powfoot Barassie 78 79 Carnoustie The Glen (Burnside) 80 81 Royal Musselburgh 82 Newburgh-on-ythan 83 Fairmont St Andrews (Torrance) 84 Letham Grange 85 Newmachar 86 Rowallan Castle 87 Cawder (Championship) 88 East Renfrewshire 89 Dalmahoy (East) 90 Turnberry (Kintyre) 91 The Carrick 92 The Roxburghe 93 Kilmacolm 94 Royal Burgess 95 St Andrews (Eden) 96 Fairmont St Andrews (Kittocks) 97 Forfar 98 Royal Troon (Portland) 99 Craigielaw 100 Murrayshall (Old)
MACHRIHANISH DUNES
Why it’s special: Shares breathtaking views and a majestic natural dunescape with its historic neighbour Machrihanish, with a bunch of tees and greens sitting slap bang next to the sea.
Green fees: From £40. 0800 151 3701
www.machrihanishdunes.com/golf/
THE MACHRIE
Why it’s special: A visit here feels like you’re stepping back in time, with the need for imagination and creative shotmaking ensuring brain rules over brawn here. This summer marked the opening of the eagerly-awaited refurbished on-site hotel. Green fees: £65. 01496 302310
www.campbellgrayhotels.com
BLAIRGOWRIE (ROSEMOUNT)
Why it’s special: Set among majestic pines, the Rosemount is a joy to play. Good course strategy and club selection is essential to master it. There are echoes of Augusta with the par-3 17th leaving you with special memories of a memorable day out. Green fees: £65 Oct & £25 from Nov. 01250 872622
www.theblairgowriegolfclub.co.uk
SOUTHERNESS
Why it’s special: Challenging Mckenzie Ross links on the Solway Firth where heather and bracken abound… along with eight par 4s over 400 yards. It’s a trek to get here, but well worth it – especially at this price. Green fees: From £35. 01387 880677 www.southernessgolfclub.com
BRORA
Why it’s special: If you like your golf to be an experience, you’ll love Brora – where electric fences keep free-roaming livestock off the greens. It’s a timeless Braid links providing one of the most exhilarating coastal courses you’ve played as it rocks and rolls between bunker and beach. Green fees: From £40. 01408 621 417
www.broragolfclub.co.uk
MORAY (OLD)
Why it’s special: It’s an historic links and the greens are out of this world, ranging from the punchbowl 2nd to the semi-blind and falling-away 5th to the swale-divided 16th. Your flatstick needs to be red hot and
is the key to a good score along with negotiating the deep, revetted bunkers. Green fees: From £30. 01343 812018
www.moraygolf.co.uk
BOAT OF GARTEN
Why it’s special: Short but sweet Braid heathland gem which provides some of the best scenery you’ll find anywhere in Britain. It’s laid out alongside the River Spey in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park. Paul Lawrie rates it among his favourite UK courses. Green fees: From £40. 01479 831282 www.boatgolf.com
FRASERBURGH
Why it’s special: This is one historic links – golf has been played here since 1777, making Fraserburgh the seventh-oldest club in the world. You’ll love the variety of holes amid the dunes as they go out and back down the coast from the famous North Sea fishing port.
Green fees: From £45. 01346 516616
www.fraserburghgolfclub.org
DUNBAR
Why it’s special: A star of the East Lothian trail and a true test of links golf. It’s long and slender and squeezed between the sea and a seven-foot wall that runs the entire length of the course. Wind is nearly always a factor and you’ll love the greens and the challenge of some intriguing blind shots. Green fees: From £50. 01368 862 317
www.dunbargolfclub.com
MONIFIETH (MEDAL)
Why it’s special: This Open-qualifying venue is something of a hybrid; a links layout with trees and the obligatory railway OB on the way out. A zesty test with rollicking ground and always a breezy accompaniment. Tom Watson happened to play his first ever links round here. Green fees: From £20. 01382 532767
www.monifiethgolf.co.uk