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Scottish Golf Links
Experience Scotland's Legendary Courses
St Andrews Old Course
The Home of Golf
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Start with the reason you are here. A golfer plans a trip. A course looks after its own card.
Why Scotland
What Makes Scottish Golf Special
Scotland is the home of golf, and the country that also gave the world the telephone, television, penicillin, and the waterproof coat. Play the game where it began, in a place that changed everyday life.
Golf History
The Evolution of Scottish Golf
From royal ban to global phenomenon, move through the years that shaped the game.
Fun Facts
Did You Know?
Discover fascinating facts about Scottish golf that make it truly unique.
"Golf is a game that was invented in Scotland, and like so many things Scottish, it is played best where it was born."
Featured Golf Courses
Discover Scotland's most legendary and challenging golf courses. From championship venues to hidden gems, find your perfect round.
ChampionshipCarnoustie Championship Course
Carnoustie, Angus
The Championship Course at Carnoustie Golf Links — host of eight Open Championships, two Women's Opens and two Senior Opens, and one of the three Dunhill Links courses. Widely regarded as the toughest test on the Open rota, with the Barry Burn defining its famous finish.
Read more on course page →
72
Par
6.9k
Yards
History & Heritage
Architect
Allan Robertson (c.1839); Old Tom Morris (1867); James Braid (1926)
Established
1839
The Championship Course has hosted eight Open Championships, two Women’s Open and three Seniors Open making it one of the very few to have done so in the UK. It is one of three courses used for the annual Dunhill Links, the others being Kingsbarns and the Old Course in St Andrews and in 2018 The Open Championship returned to the course.
Facilities
Signature Holes
The closing stretch from the 15th onwards is among the toughest in golf. The 16th "Barry Burn" is a 248-yard par 3 over water. The 17th "Island" requires two carries over the Barry Burn. The 18th hole is one of golf's most feared finishers - the Barry Burn crosses the fairway twice and snakes in front of the green. Jean Van de Velde's collapse here in 1999 is golf's most infamous moment. The 6th "Long" is a brutal par 5 measuring 578 yards. The 10th "South America" features a vast bunker complex.
Best Time to Play
MayJuneJulyAugust+1
linksAngus££££
ChampionshipCastle Stuart
Inverness, Highlands
Castle Stuart is a modern yet traditional-feeling Scottish links course set dramatically along the Moray Firth, where wide, sweeping fairways run atop coastal bluffs and greens appear to hang over the sea. Designed by Gil Hanse and Mark Parsinen, it blends classic early-20th-century links aesthetics with contemporary playability, using the natural and rugged landscape, rumpled terrain, and striking "infinity-edge" greens to create both beauty and strategic challenge. With varied holes, constant ocean views and Highlands scenery, and a thrilling final stretch, it stands as one of Scotland's most scenic and thoughtfully crafted courses.
Read more on course page →
72
Par
6.6k
Yards
History & Heritage
Architect
Gil Hanse & Mark Parsinen
Established
2009
Castle Stuart Golf Links opened in 2009, designed by Mark Parsinen and Gil Hanse on a spectacular site overlooking the Moray Firth near Inverness. Built on the Stuarts of Castle Stuart's land, the course quickly gained international acclaim. The design philosophy emphasized strategic options and natural contours. Within three years of opening, it hosted the Scottish Open, becoming the fastest new course to host a European Tour event. The course offers stunning views of the Moray Firth and the Scottish Highlands.
Notable Events
Scottish Open (2011, 2012, 2013, 2016)
Facilities
Signature Holes
3rd Hole (Par 4): An infinity green hole with the Firth as a backdrop, offering a high-risk, high-reward, driveable opportunity. 4th Hole (Par 3): Features the historic castle behind the green, providing a perfect photo opportunity. 11th Hole (Par 3): A short, precise hole regarded as a favourite for its scenic views, tricky bunkering, and dramatic coastline backdrop.
Best Time to Play
MayJuneJulyAugust+1
linksHighlands££££
ChampionshipDundonald Links
Troon, Ayrshire
72
Par
7.1k
Yards
History & Heritage
Architect
Kyle Phillips
Established
2003
Masterpiece golf course Located at the very heart of Ayrshire’s golf coast lies a modern masterpiece of a links golf course. Effortlessly combining heritage and tradition with contemporary surroundings and luxurious finishing touches, Dundonald Links is fast becoming one of the most sought-after links golf courses and resorts in Scotland.
Notable Events
Scottish Open
Facilities
Signature Holes
The course features dramatic bunkering throughout. Several holes offer strategic challenges. The modern design incorporates traditional links principles. The course rewards strategic play. The closing holes provide a stern finish. The course features excellent variety in hole design.
Best Time to Play
May
linksAyrshire£££
ChampionshipKingsbarns Golf Links
St Andrews, Fife
Kingsbarns Golf Links is situated 7 miles from St Andrews along 1.8 miles of picturesque North Sea coastline, where each hole embraces the sea.
72
Par
6.8k
Yards
History & Heritage
Architect
Kyle Phillips
Established
2000
Kingsbarns Golf Links is a modern masterpiece built on the site of a course that existed from 1793 to 1850. The current course, designed by Kyle Phillips and opened in 2000, quickly established itself among Scotland's elite. Built on a stunning clifftop site overlooking the North Sea, Kingsbarns combines dramatic coastal holes with excellent inland golf. The course is part of the Dunhill Links Championship alongside St Andrews and Carnoustie, hosting European Tour professionals annually.
Notable Events
The Ricoh Women’s British Open
Facilities
Signature Holes
The 6th, Auld Links, is a drivable par 4 on the ground of the original nine-hole course from 1793. The 12th, Orrdeal, is a par 5 named for its length and for the Orr family, who once owned the green site. The 15th, Rocky Ness, is a par 3 played to a green on land projecting into the sea. The 18th, Cundie Brig, is a par 4 played across the burn to a green beyond the bridge built in the 1700s. Yardages in the hole guide are the white tees.
Best Time to Play
AprilMayJuneJuly+3
linksFife££££
ChampionshipMuirfield
Gullane, East Lothian
Home of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, Muirfield is a private championship course that has hosted The Open 16 times. Known for its fair but challenging layout and impeccable conditioning.
Read more on course page →
71
Par
7.2k
Yards
History & Heritage
Architect
Old Tom Morris
Established
1891
Muirfield, home of The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers (founded 1744), is the oldest organized golf club. The club moved to Muirfield in 1891 after outgrowing Musselburgh. The course was designed by Old Tom Morris and has been refined by Harry Colt, Tom Simpson, and Martin Hawtree. Muirfield is renowned for its fair but stern test of golf. The unique layout features two loops of nine holes, with the inner nine playing clockwise and the outer nine counterclockwise, meaning wind direction constantly changes. It has hosted The Open 16 times, more than any venue except St Andrews.
Notable Events
The AIG Women’s Open Championship, early August 2022
Facilities
Signature Holes
The 13th "Sea Hole" is a par 3 that can play anywhere from a 7-iron to a driver depending on wind. The 18th is a demanding par 4 that has decided multiple Opens - bunkers guard both sides of the fairway and green. The 5th is a 559-yard par 5 with deep bunkers throughout. The 9th completes the inward loop with strategic bunkering. The 17th par 5 can be reached in two but brings OB and bunkers into play for the aggressive.
Best Time to Play
May–September (peak season; visitor days Tuesdays & Thursdays only, book well ahead)
linksEast Lothian££££
ChampionshipPrestwick Golf Club
Prestwick, Ayrshire
The birthplace of The Open Championship, hosting the first 12 Opens. A historic links course with blind shots, pot bunkers, and traditional Scottish golf at its finest.
71
Par
6.6k
Yards
History & Heritage
Architect
Old Tom Morris
Established
1851
Prestwick Golf Club, founded in 1851 by the Earl of Eglinton and 56 others including Old Tom Morris, is where The Open Championship was born. The first 12 Open Championships (1860-1872) were held exclusively at Prestwick, with Young Tom Morris winning four consecutive Opens here. Old Tom Morris was the first keeper of the green and professional. The course retains many blind shots and quirky features that make it one of golf's most unique and historic venues. The club alternated hosting The Open with St Andrews and Musselburgh until 1925.
Notable Events
The Open
Facilities
Signature Holes
The 1st, Railway, has an out-of-bounds wall down the right from tee to green. The 3rd, Cardinal, is the fourth hole of the original 12-hole course, with the Pow burn out of bounds along the hole. The 5th, Himalayas, is a blind par 3. The 17th, Alps, is the original 2nd hole from 1851. Yardages in the hole guide are the medal tees.
Best Time to Play
AprilMayJuneJuly+3
linksAyrshire££££
Your Links Itinerary
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Planning Tools & Resources
Everything you need to plan the perfect Scottish golf trip. From route planning to weather forecasts, we've got you covered.
Trip Planner
Calculate distances, plan your route, and optimize your golf trip itinerary.
Distance Calculator
Find distances between courses and plan the perfect route for your golf adventure.
Weather Forecast
Check weather conditions for your golf courses and plan accordingly.
Pro Tips & Guides
Six caddie tips, the joke first and the advice underneath.
Photo Gallery
Thirty high-resolution course photographs, changing every six seconds.
Regional Guides
Explore courses by region and discover the unique character of each area.
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Browse the 118 links courses and build a trip, or sign in to update the card for your own course.