When planning Scotland golf trips, oftentimes the objective for many – especially the first-time traveler – is to check off the list a variety of world-ranked or Open rota courses. This is certainly an understandable pursuit, however the greatness of golf across the pond stretches far beyond what’s found on the annual Top-100 list. In our quarter-century of sending golfers overseas to experience Golf and the Good Life, we’ve noticed a consistent, though not surprising, phenomenon: it is often the unheralded, under-the-radar course which proves as memorable as walking across the Swilcan Bridge.
For those looking to venture off the well worn path on their itinerary, here’s 7 courses in Scotland that are sure to fit the bill.
Brora
Roughly 20 minutes north of Royal Dornoch, the Brora Golf Club is a wild, yet quintessential, links golf experience. Here you’ll share the fairways with sheep and other livestock – also known as the club’s assistant greenkeepers – while being treated to seaside golf at its finest. While admiring the views, take special care not to trip on the electric wire encircling the greens. The same goes for the closing stretch of holes, which are simply as good as they come.
Fraserburgh
The 7th oldest golf club in the world, Fraserburgh dates to 1777, though records show the game having been played here as early as the 1613. The Corbiehill links was designed by 5-time Open Champion, James Braid, who lent his expertise to no less than four of the courses on this list alone. Fraserburgh is a decidedly natural links with a collection of holes that will delight at every turn. And when paired with a round at nearby Cruden Bay, it’s impossible to avoid the sense that this duo represents golf the way it was meant to be played.
Fortrose & Rosemarkie
To look at an aerial photo of the tiny peninsula known as Chanonry Point, one might think it impossible to place 18-holes on this sliver of land. But alas all 18 fit rather comfortably, providing an enchanting experience which is only further highlighted by the sight of the resident dolphins just beyond the lighthouse. This is no time to arrive with a bout of the snap hooks, as the sea will swallow anything left on 7 of the first 9 holes.
Prestwick St. Nicholas
Old Tom Morris was a founding member of the Prestwick St. Nicholas Golf Club, and in its first years the members shared the 12-hole course at the “original” Prestwick. Soon the club required its own links, laid out by Charlie Hunter, Old Tom’s successor when he left Prestwick for St. Andrews. The rich history and charming links makes this a fine pairing with Prestwick, Royal Troon, and the other courses of Ayrshire.
Shiskine
Located on the Isle of Arran, the journey to Shiskine is the embodiment of traveling off the well worn path. Once there, however, we find a links with a dozen reasons why it is unlike any other on the globe: the holes themselves. This 12-hole course was once a “normal” 18, but the club decided 6 of the holes were rather bland and simply decided not to rebuild them after they were damaged during the war. The uphill, blind tee shot to the par-3 3rd – known as the Crows Nest” – followed by the launch off the same perch on the 4th, will likely yield the feeling that this journey was entirely worthwhile.
Lundin Links
Throughout the Kingdom of Fife, there are numerous courses that won’t make anyone’s top-100 list, but are well worth a stop when visiting St. Andrews. Among these is Lundin Links, which was laid out by Old Tom Morris in 1868. Only a portion of his course remains, mostly due to the unusual arrangement which saw half of the original course handed over to adjacent Leven Golf Club (the two clubs shared the original links, with a clubhouse at each end). James Braid added 9 new holes to replace the lost ones, giving the course a unique combination of seaside and parkland golf. Believe us when we say the view from the 14th tee – a hole aptly named “Perfection” – won’t disappoint.
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