Custom Scotland Golf Trips with Haversham & Baker
The name says it all… The Home of Golf.
The game has been played in Scotland since before the pilgrims boarded the Mayflower to the New World. But Scotland isn’t just the birthplace of golf, it’s also home to more courses per capita than any other country in the world. There are hundreds, ranging from links to parkland, ancient to new, spectacular to ordinary, exclusive to public. Between the Open Championship venues, those on the various Top 100 lists, plus the other exceptional courses which are worthy of play, the casual golf traveler would need a month or better to truly see it all. With so many courses and precious little time, how does one plan the typical weeklong golf trip to Scotland?
Our advice is to divide and conquer. Think of Scotland as six different regions of golf courses, where several rounds can be played from one base accommodation. Recognize that, even if you limit yourself to the so called “bucket list” courses, it’s only feasible to hit two – and certainly no more than three – regions in a single week. Choose the regions which are most appealing to you and save the others for your next Expedition.
If you’re in the early stages of planning a golf trip to Scotland, visit the Scotland section of the H&B Yardage Book. There you’ll find in-depth guides covering all aspects of the planning process.
We suggest starting with this guide that details how to plan a golf trip to Scotland and the important decisions you’ll make along the way.
In the meantime, here are the best regions to consider for Scotland golf trips.
Custom St. Andrews Golf Packages
Although the country as a whole has laid claim to the title, St. Andrews is the rightful “Home of Golf.” But the allure of this ancient city can’t be attributed to an effective marketing campaign, but instead draws on something that rests deep in the heart of every golfer. Whether you’re making a first trip across the pond or your tenth, there’s a magnetic pull to St. Andrews that’s difficult, if not impossible, to ignore.
There are enough great links courses within a short drive of St. Andrews that one could spend an entire week here and never grow bored. Kingsbarns Golf Links defined the phrase “modern classic” and has quickly become a mainstay on Scotland golf trips, while Carnoustie Golf Links has hosted 8 Open Championships in sometimes notorious fashion. There’s also a host of great courses which reward the traveler who’s willing to venture just off the well worn path. And then there is legendary Gleneagles, which is like a region of Golf and the Good Life all to itself.
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Scotland Golf Trips to Edinburgh & East Lothian
St. Andrews may hold the designation, but the courses of the Edinburgh area and East Lothian make a strong case as the true birthplace of the game. The two oldest golf clubs in the world reside here, one of which happened to write the original rules of the game. That club now serves as both a member of The Open rota and the cornerstone of a region affectionately known as “Scotland’s Golf Coast.”
There is much more to golf in East Lothian, however, than just historic Muirfield. Close by you’ll find Gullane Golf Club, two-time host of the Scottish Open. So close, in fact, that the best view of Muirfield is actually found at one of the best tee shots in Scotland: the 7th tee of the #1 course at Gullane. And then there is the enigmatic West Links at the North Berwick Golf Club, which has captured the heart of golfers the world over thanks, in part, to a closing stretch of holes among the best in the game.
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Scotland Golf Tours to the West Coast & Kintyre
So rich is the history of golf in Scotland that no less than three different regions can claim its origins in one form or another. The west coast is the Birthplace of The Open Championship, which was first contested along these shores in 1860. The Claret Jug still returns to the region on a regular basis, and the area is a marquee stop for golf travelers thanks to a concentration of exceptional links courses.
Of course, it was the land of Ayrshire and the links at Prestwick Golf Club which gave birth to the Open Championship. The course fashioned by Old Tom Morris hosted The Open some 24 times and it remains a delightful stroll through history. Next door, Royal Troon and its famed Postage Stamp hosted its 9th Open in 2016, with a 10th already on the docket. And finally, the links at Western Gailes is a fine addition to any itinerary on the west coast.
At the end of Paul McCartney’s Long and Winding Road, the courses of Kintyre and the neighboring islands can feel like a step back in time. At Machrihanish, we find the finest opening tee shot in golf and a course mostly unchanged since it was laid out by Old Tom Morris in 1876. Nearby, on the Isle of Islay and Arran, are the enigmatic courses at Machrie and Shiskine. The former having just completed an incredible redesign, the latter a unique 12-hole layout. Rounding out the golf in the region is Machrihanish Dunes, the world’s most natural golf course whose holes were found, rather than designed, by Bandon Dunes architect David McLay Kidd.
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The Highlands of Scotland Golf Vacations
Golf has been played in The Highlands for over four centuries, and its courses offer perhaps the widest variety of any region in Scotland. They range from a perennial top-5 course in the world, to a wild and unruly links partially maintained by livestock, to a modern classic that’s barely a decade old. What truly sets The Highlands apart, however, is its unmatched natural beauty which captivates all who visit.
In addition to the exceptional Good Life, The Highlands is home to a plethora of peerless links courses. The best of these is Royal Dornoch Golf Club, which celebrated some 400 years of golf in 2016. It was here that Donald Ross learned his craft as Keeper of the Green, and a string of top-10 rankings in the world have made this once far-flung destination a mainstay of Scotland golf itineraries. Just to the south, Castle Stuart Golf Links was named the best new course in the world when it premiered in 2009 and hosted the Scottish Open for the 4th time in 2016. It also happens to be situated in one of the most beautiful settings for golf anywhere on the planet.
Besides Royal Dornoch and Castle Stuart, there are several other courses in The Highlands that shouldn’t be missed. Perhaps the best putting surfaces in Scotland are found on the links at Nairn, host of the 1999 Walker Cup. Meanwhile, squeezed onto the tiny Chanonry Peninsula is Fortrose & Rosemarkie; a delightful James Braid course that is as fun to play as it is visually stunning. And then there’s Brora, which spellbinds golfers with its wild links, roaming livestock, and spectacular views. For both golf at its finest and life at its best, it’s difficult to top The Highlands.
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Custom Scotland Golf Trips to Aberdeen
Aberdeen is arguably Scotland’s most underrated region for golf travel. And yet it was here, on what was known as the “Queen’s Links,” where the first recorded mention of a golf hole was made. While the heritage of the game here stacks up against any other region, it’s the quality of the courses near Aberdeen which makes this sometimes overlooked area a must-visit for any golf traveler.
The highlight of any trip to Aberdeen, however, is the magnificent Cruden Bay Golf Club. A truly magical place to play the game, Cruden Bay transcends any preconceived notions of what makes a great golf course. It pairs just the right amount of quirkiness with a handful of views that no golfer will ever forget. Most notably, the scene from the 9th tee and the panorama toward the ruins of Slains Castle, the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
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The Complete Guide to Scotland Golf Travel
What’s covered in this free 40+ page guide:
To continue researching your Scottish golf tour, have a look through our Scotland golf trip reviews or visit the Yardage Book, where you’ll find answers to many of our most frequently asked questions.
If you’re ready to experience Golf at its Finest with Haversham & Baker, visit the link below to begin your journey to Scotland.