The best golf courses in Scotland

The Old Course at St Andrews, regarded as the oldest golf course in the world, is a historic public links located in St Andrews, Fife. Its design evolved naturally over centuries, with influential figures like Old Tom Morris shaping its layout. Legendary for its strategic bunkering, undulating fairways, and storied setting, it hosts The Open Championship regularly.

Muirfield Golf Club, home of The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, is a classic links course originally designed by Old Tom Morris in 1891, later reimagined by renowned architect Harry Colt in 1925. Consistently ranked among the world’s greatest, it has hosted 16 Open Championships and features subtle, demanding strategy amid coastal terrain.

Royal Troon Golf Club is an iconic links course on Scotland’s Ayrshire coast, established in 1878 by George Strath and later enhanced by Willie Fernie and James Braid. Renowned for its historic Open Championships and challenging layout shaped by its natural coastal landscape, it offers a world-class links experience to top golfers and is famed for its tradition and prestige.

Royal Dornoch's Championship Course is a world-renowned links designed primarily by Old Tom Morris and later George Duncan. Set along the Dornoch Firth, it is famed for elevated plateau greens, natural undulations, and stunning coastal scenery. Its combination of history, architectural brilliance and firm turf makes it a bucket-list experience for golfers worldwide.

Trump Turnberry Golf Course, originally designed by Willie Fernie and redesigned by Mackenzie Ross and Martin Ebert, is a legendary links layout on Scotland’s rugged west coast. Boasting panoramic sea views and an iconic lighthouse, the Ailsa course has hosted four Open Championships and is regularly ranked among the world’s top golf destinations.

Carnoustie Golf Links (Championship) is one of the world’s most iconic and demanding links. Originally designed by Allan Robertson and Old Tom Morris, and further extended by James Braid in 1926, it offers a historic, scenic, and true seaside links challenge. Renowned for its relentless difficulty, tactical bunkering, and challenging finish, Carnoustie is a must-play for serious golfers.

North Berwick Golf Club (West Links) is a world-renowned true links course set on the Firth of Forth, famed for its playability, fun design, and historic character. Established in 1832, it’s evolved through influence from Ben Sayers and features iconic holes with natural undulations, deep revetted bunkers, and classic quirky architecture emblematic of traditional Scottish links.

Ardfin Golf Course is an exclusive, world-class golf course on the Isle of Jura in Scotland, set on a dramatic coastal estate. Designed by Bob Harrison, the course is known for its striking seaside setting, strategic bunkering, and bold green complexes. Access is only available to guests of the Ardfin Estate’s high-end accommodations, making it one of the most private and coveted experiences in Scottish golf. You may be able to get a reduced tee time through obscure ways, but a minimum two night stay is required to play golf here, costing over $100,000.

Cruden Bay Golf Club's Championship Course, originally designed by Old Tom Morris with Archie Simpson in 1899 and later enhanced by Tom Simpson and Herbert Fowler, winds through towering coastal dunes on Scotland's Aberdeenshire coast. This classic links layout delivers old-fashioned golf with blind shots, driveable par fours, and panoramic North Sea views, blending challenge, quirkiness, and scenic beauty in a secluded, intimate setting.

Prestwick Golf Club, founded in 1851 by Old Tom Morris, is the birthplace of The Open Championship. This legendary links course boasts deep revetted bunkers, rippling fairways, and classic blind shots, offering a truly authentic Scottish golf experience. Its storied history and unique design captivate golfers from around the world.

Loch Lomond Golf Club is an exclusive Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish design nestled against Scotland’s famous loch and dramatic Highland backdrop. Opened in 1993, it blends American parkland architecture with traditional Scottish sensibilities. This private and prestigious club hosted the Scottish Open for many years and delivers challenging play, stunning views, and superb facilities in a historic estate.

Kingsbarns Golf Links is a world-class modern links course on the North Sea coast near St Andrews, designed by Kyle Phillips. Celebrated for panoramic sea views from every hole, it blends traditional Scottish links features with modern playability. Ranked among Europe’s elite, it hosts the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and is renowned for its immaculate conditioning and friendly hospitality.

Castle Stuart Golf Links, designed by Mark Parsinen and Gil Hanse, is a modern championship layout along the Moray Firth near Inverness. With rugged natural features, panoramic seaside views, and creatively contoured fairways, the course offers strategic, visually stunning play and has hosted the Scottish Open multiple times, attracting golfers worldwide with its unique Highlands setting and exceptional design.

Royal Aberdeen Golf Club, established in 1780 and designed by Archie and Robert Simpson with revisions by James Braid, is one of Scotland's oldest and finest links courses. Set in rugged dunes on the North Sea coast, the Balgownie Course is renowned for its dramatic front nine, strong traditions and championship pedigree, hosting events like the Scottish Open.

Trump International Golf Links Scotland, designed by Dr. Martin Hawtree, is a challenging championship-caliber links nestled along the North Sea's dramatic dunes north of Aberdeen. Opened in 2012, it features vast elevation changes, panoramic coastal vistas, six tees per hole, and punishing rough, offering a 7,400-yard, par-72 layout acclaimed for both its scenic grandeur and demanding play.

Machrihanish Golf Club is a classic links course on the Kintyre Peninsula, designed by Old Tom Morris with later input from J.H. Taylor and Guy Campbell. Renowned for its dramatic seaside setting, firm fescue turf, and strategic design, it offers natural contours and one of golf's most celebrated opening holes, continuing to attract visitors and consistently rank among the world's finest traditional links experiences.

Southerness Golf Club is a classic links course designed by Philip Mackenzie Ross in 1947, set on the scenic shores of the Solway Firth in southwest Scotland. Famed for its natural terrain, fast fescue greens, strategic routing, and tranquil atmosphere, it is regarded as Mackenzie Ross’s finest solo achievement and a top championship links challenge.

King Robert the Bruce Golf Course at Turnberry is a championship Scottish links, designed by Martin Ebert and opened in 2017. Its dramatic routing combines gorse-lined fairways, clifftop holes, and panoramic views of the Firth of Clyde, castle ruins, and Ailsa Craig. A modern reimagining of Turnberry’s Kintyre, it consistently challenges players with subtle greens and strategic bunkering.