Some would argue that just about everything in life can best be explained by Forrest Gump. Golf is certainly no exception, and is perhaps the best example of that proverbial box of chocolates. But when it comes to the magnificent vistas found on the tee boxes across Scotland, another quote from PFC Gump seems entirely appropriate – “I couldn’t tell where heaven ended and the earth began.”
These spellbinding moments occur regularly during Scotland golf trips, and have a funny way of etching themselves permanently into our memory banks. So much so that, once experienced, a trip to The Home of Golf is something we long to experience again and again.
Here’s just a few of our favorite tee shots in Scotland.
1st at Machrihanish Golf Club
The 1st hole at Machrihanish Golf Club is not only one of the great tee shots in Scotland, but it is arguably the finest opening tee shot in all of golf. The test with the very first swing of the day is a simple one: decide just how much of the Atlantic Ocean you dare to cut-off. Keeping in mind, of course, that there is no driving range for a quick warm up. If you’re a little too ambitious, all is not lost… So long as the tide is out.
Machrihanish also happens to offer one of the great pairings of golf and whisky in Scotland. So if that opening drive finds the beach, you can easily wash away your sorrows while your ball washes away into the Atlantic.
9th at Turnberry Ailsa
The 9th hole at the Turnberry Ailsa course has been one of the iconic tee shots in golf for most of its life. The hole itself, however, was also quite ordinary. No more. The extensive redesign of the Ailsa course fulfilled what seems to have been the destiny for piece of land all along: a par-3 with a drive across the rocky shore to a green set in the shadows of the famous lighthouse. At some 248 yards, the new 9th takes nothing short of heroics from the back tee.
Once the hole is done, make your way up to the famous lighthouse and what is surely one of the greatest halfway houses in the game. Like the tee shot on the 9th, the view from the patio is another moment you’ll want to savor. And if these few minutes aren’t enough, we suggest booking an overnight stay in the Lighthouse Suite – one of the best rooms with a view in golf.
9th at Cruden Bay
If we took a poll from our traveling members on which course was their favorite experience on an H&B Expedition, Cruden Bay would easily rank in the first or second spot. The affection comes for a variety of reasons, however to quote author James Finnegan, this is simply “Golfing country of rare splendor; in true undeniable majesty.” After putting out on the 8th green, the trudge up the enormous hill which leads to the 9th tee plants the seed in one’s mind that surely something special must lay at the top. Indeed it does…
Reaching the crest and the highest point on the golf course, the curtain is pulled back to reveal a stunning view of the coast with Slains Castle in the distance – the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula. It’s here that we truly understand why this club is beloved by so many golfers. But this moment is far from the only highlight during the round, as noted with these 7 Things to See at Cruden Bay.
7th at Gullane Golf Club
The defining characteristic of this two-time Scottish Open host is one that’s seldom found in links golf…elevation. The first six holes are an uphill slog, however your reward for persevering through this opening stretch is found on the 7th tee and the peak of Gullane Hill. The panorama here is easily one of the best in the country, with much of the best golf near Edinburgh and Scotland’s Golf Coast in view. Behind you, the famed links at Muirfield; ahead, the spires of Edinburgh. The only thing which could challenge the view from the 7th at Gullane Golf Club is the length of one’s tee shot – thanks to a little help from gravity, find the fairway and it’s likely to be the longest of your golfing career.
3rd at Royal Dornoch
As any member of Royal Dornoch will tell you, the tee at the 3rd is where the course really begins. After a relatively straight forward start, the 3rd opens up to reveal the rest of the golf course, almost in its entirety. The difficult play here, thanks to the sloping fairway and bunkers down the right, is made all the more cumbersome by the view of the Dornoch Firth. Among the many things to see at Royal Dornoch is a springtime round when the gorse is in full bloom. In that setting, the tee shot on the 3rd is one you won’t soon forget.
18th at Muirfield
The opportunity to step onto one of the iconic stages in the game is one that every golfer learns to cherish, and thankfully there are many across the pond. The first tee at the Old Course, the pause on the Swilcan Bridge, the 9th at Royal County Down, the list goes on and on. The 18th tee at Muirfield belongs on this list, not because of an awe-inspiring seaside landscape or a long awaited brush with history – although there is plenty – but because it is climax to one of the great traditions in golf. As one stands on the tee, looking out on the stately clubhouse and adjacent Greywalls Inn, it is impossible not to pause and reflect on the glorious and singular experience that is golf at Muirfield.
While these are a few favorites, this list only scratches the surface of the magnificent tee shots on the links of Scotland. So, what say you?
What is your favorite tee shot in Scotland?
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