20 Popular Golf Courses in Scotland

St Andrews Airport Transfers,  Scotland is famous for its role in the birth and development of golf and has a wealth of stunning courses.

From classic parkland to seaside links courses, the country has something for everyone. Here are 20 of our favourites:

1. Carnoustie

As the historic 'Home of Golf', Scotland has no shortage of world class courses. The dramatic natural terrain seems designed for the purpose of creating courses that excite and challenge.

Carnoustie is no exception. It has captivated golfers since Edinburgh author Robert Chambers laid out a rudimentary course in 1834. Its reputation grew when Old Tom Morris turned the layout into an 18 holer in 1867 and James Braid refined it further in 1926, crafting what is considered by many to be one of the toughest Open championship courses in existence.

Golfer Transfers St Andrews

The championship course is a tremendous test of golf with firm, sandy turf that gives the ball plenty of bite. Its relentless bunkers, bumps and hollows demand precision and distance control from the players as they work their way towards the massive greens. The infamous 'Angry Harry' section from the 13th to 15th is one of the most famous stretches of golf in history and a feature of the course that encapsulates the spirit of Carnoustie.

Carnoustie also has a second course known as Burnside and the club has recently built an excellent Links House that includes a huge pro shop, golf simulators to warm up on and a wonderful restaurant overlooking the course. There is no doubt that the Carnoustie course will continue to attract golfers from all over the world for years to come.

2. Gleneagles

Gleneagles has golf at its heart – it is the Home of the Ryder Cup after all – and boasts three world class championship courses. The King’s and Queen’s were both designed by James Braid while the modern Monarch’s was designed by Jack Nicklaus. All three are spectacular, but if you had to pick one as the best course at Gleneagles, it would be tough to go past the King’s with its magnificent setting.

The sprawling Gleneagles estate is more like a country laird’s palace than a hotel, and it’s a place where you can truly live the Scottish high life for a few days. Guests are offered the chance to ride horses, try falconry and archery, fish or drive off-road. Instruction is available for all of these activities and, of course, golf.

Despite being such a grand sporting estate, Gleneagles has not lost its sense of community. It is a hotel that welcomes visitors and locals alike, and has even hosted royalty and presidents of countries.

It is also a very family friendly hotel and has excellent facilities, including a top notch spa. May through October is the high season at Gleneagles, and green fees can be a bit steep for non-hotel guests (although hotel residents pay a lower rate). For me, the real charm of the Kings is that it feels untouched by time. It is still a challenging course, but the natural slopes of the landscape and the presence of birch, rowan and silver birch trees create a golfing environment that is quite simply unforgettable. The King’s is a stunning course that should be played by anyone who has a passion for golf.

3. Royal Dornoch

The oldest course on our list, Royal Dornoch was founded in 1877 although golf had been played on the unique links land for centuries prior to that. It’s an extremely hospitable club with a beautiful old town close by and it isn’t afraid to spend money improving the courses so that they remain world-class. Recent additions to the Championship course have been a welcome improvement and a new 7th hole has opened up spectacular vistas of hills, sea and sky.

The Championship course at Dornoch is a true player’s course that will challenge even the best of players without being unfair. The fairways can be tight but they are generally welcoming and the green complexes are often a test of skill. But it is the sweeping vistas and the natural beauty of the setting that make this course special. The colors of the gorse when in full bloom add to the experience and it is a place that makes you feel lucky to play golf on such incredible land.

Located in the Highlands, just north of Inverness, Royal Dornoch has a cult following around the world and in particular in the United States where honorary member Tom Watson and Ben Crenshaw regularly sing its praises. It’s easy to see why, it’s rugged, raw and a pure links course that is as beautiful as any in the country of its birth.

The par 3’s are a real treat and the 6th is one of the most memorable in the game. A massive slope defends the right side of the green and two bunkers wait to collect anything short or long. It’s the kind of hole where the wind can make it much more difficult than advertised and if you’re not on your game it can be an agonizing way to end your round.

4. Turnberry

Turnberry is a golf resort that features two world-class courses and the iconic Turnberry Lighthouse. The resort is located in Ayrshire, Scotland and offers one of the best golf experiences in the world. The courses at Turnberry feature firm, fast-running links turf and the challenge of cavernous pot bunkers, treacherous gorse bushes, and strong winds that make seaside golf in Scotland a unique experience.

The 9th hole at the Ailsa Course is arguably one of the best par-3 holes in the world. Ailsa Craig, a volcanic island that sits 11 miles out to sea, is the perfect backdrop and adds to the drama of this famous hole. The 18th hole on the Championship course, also a par-3, is equally dramatic. The Ailsa is a spectacular course that has hosted four Open Championships.

Troon split the panel, but most agree that it’s a tremendous links course that’s well worth playing. It’s the sort of course that can really rev golfers up to play their very best, but also provides plenty of frustration for those who struggle.

A new entry to the list is Kingsbarns in Fife, which a number of panelists feel could be on the Open rotation in the future. It’s a challenging course in a stunning setting with a unique golfing experience that includes drives over walls and burns, shots over bays, and the occasional serenade by a bagpiper. The course is about 30 minutes from St Andrews and also offers a hotel that dates back to 1906.

5. Gleneagles Resort

Awe inspiring mountains, glens and lochs frame this golfing mecca’s 850-acre estate, where the royal family have played for nearly a century. A grand hotel with a huge programme of activities and Scottish country pursuits, the resort is less than an hour from both Glasgow and Edinburgh airports.

Summer is the most popular time to visit Gleneagles, with visitors booking well in advance for tee times on The King’s and Queen’s courses and the PGA Centenary Course, which hosted the 2014 Ryder Cup. But even in the autumn and winter, when Scotland’s brisk air and colourful foliage are at their best, Gleneagles is a destination for all the senses.

The glens and woodlands around the hotel are the backdrop to more than 55 outdoor pursuits, from ferreting and axe throwing to orienteering, horse riding, shooting and falconry. There is also a state-of-the-art spa, tennis courts, a plethora of dining options and two pools.

A stay here is like stepping back into a bygone era with 232 rooms and 13 suites furnished in classic style. The resort’s restaurants include the Strathearn, a fine dining room punctuated by Ionic pillars and silver-domed dishes; Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles, with two Michelin stars; The Dormy, a Parisian-style bistro; and the Century Bar with its whisky list and oyster bar.

The three golf courses are top class, with the King’s and Queen’s courses designed by James Braid. The PGA Centenary Course has the feel of a links course, with many holes hemmed in by dunes and long par 4s that make this one of the more challenging of Scotland’s Top 100 fixtures. The newest addition, Longniddry, may not rank highly on the scorecard but is a superb layout that strikes a great balance between challenge and enjoyment.