Golf Holidays in St. Andrews
The Home of Golf as St. Andrews is known is where it all started and as such, is a place of pilgrimage that every golfer should visit once (at least) in his/her life. The 'auld grey toon' is a pretty enough place beside the sea in the Kingdom of Fife, the fact that it is ringed by a dozen remarkable golf courses is enough to send many golfers delirious!
Playing the fabled Old Course is a little (over)complicated with its unique ballot system for daily Tee-times, however there are rumours that this may change in the near future...
Even if you don't manage to get onto St. Andrews' most famous course you will be more than happy to play any of the other links courses around that stretch from Kingsbarns, around St. Andrews Bay and even on up towards Carnoustie over the firth.
The Old Course Hotel has the most privileged view in town, but there are plenty more to choose from and no shortage of Guesthouses too.
Golf holidays in North Berwick
Very underrated and often overlooked when heading to Scotland, the string of golf courses along the East Lothian coastline from Edinburgh out to Dunbar is genuinely remarkable. Some of the oldest (and newest) links courses in the world are to be found here and all will delight and entertain in equal measure.
Big names such as Muirfield and North Berwick are sure to quicken any golfer's pulse and there are many other delights too such as little Kilspindie, quirky Dunbar, swanky Archerfield and Renaissance and don't forget North Berwick's 'other' golf course the breathtaking Glen.
Golf holidays at Gleneagles
A golf holiday at Gleneagles is a real treat. Here, you will be staying in the lap of luxury in one of the purest Highland settings imaginable. The hotel is utterly comfortable with a real sense of tradition without any of the oft-associated stuffiness of fine old hotels.
The three golf courses at Gleneagles are delightful: the King's and the Queen's are tried and tested classics that wend their way around the nooks and crannies of the estate's hills, the Centenary (aka Jack's) is a more modern effort, clearly designed with hosting the Ryder Cup in mind.
Golf holidays in Ayrshire
Along Scotland's west coast, close to Glasgow is probably the most concentrated swathe of fine links golf courses that you will find anywhere. It is unbelievable to see the likes of Royal Troon, Prestwick, Kilmarnock, Western Gailes, Glasgow Gailes and Dundonald Links, side-by-side all vying for the golfers attention: it's hard to know where to start - let alone when to stop!
And if that roll-call of Scottish links golf isn't enough don't forget Turnberry lying just to the South!
Golf Holidays in Aberdeenshire
Everyone knows about the North Sea oil wells that have kept Aberdeen afloat for the last few decades: less well known is the gold mine of golf courses along Scotland's eastern coast that may well keep the area buoyant now that the oil is drying up.
The big name is clearly Royal Aberdeen, which is rightly renowned for being one of the finest tests of links golf there is. And heading north along the coast you will uncover plenty more golfing treasures such as Murcar, Trump International, Cruden Bay, Peterhead and Fraserburgh: easily enough entertainment for a week. And aside from the golf, there are two trails to be aware of: the Castle Trail and the Whisky Trail...
Golf Holidays in Dornoch & Inverness
For most golfers a round at Royal Dornoch is either a dream or a desire. This remote corner of Scotland is more accessible these days with more flights into Inverness, yet it still remains a place of golfing pilgrimage for most. The other golf courses up along the coast are worthy of note too: Tain, Golspie, Brora etc. but the big draw remains Royal Dornoch's Championship Links and rightly so - on a clear day it is a wonderful place to play golf.
Combined with a trip to Inverness and the Highlands it makes for a golf holiday that is the very essence of Scotland.
