Championship Golf and Upscale Stays
The Machrie Hotel and Golf Links
Golf enthusiasts from around the world flock to Scotland to experience its famed courses. For those seeking not only world-class golfing but also the luxury of staying on-site, Scotland offers a host of outstanding resorts. Here, we explore some of the country's best resorts, combining premier courses with top-notch accommodations.
Gleneagles is perhaps Scotland's most iconic golf resort, blending elegance, history, and a collection of outstanding courses. Nestled in the Perthshire countryside, the resort has been synonymous with luxury and top-tier golf since it opened in 1924.
The estate boasts three championship golf courses: the King's, the Queen's, and the PGA Centenary Course. The King's Course is a masterpiece by James Braid and provides golfers with both a technical challenge and jaw-dropping views of the surrounding hills. The Queen's Course, shorter but equally intricate, is a scenic delight, while the PGA Centenary Course, designed by Jack Nicklaus, hosted the 2014 Ryder Cup and the 2019 Solheim Cup, solidifying its reputation on the global stage.
After a day on the course, Gleneagles offers a variety of luxurious accommodations, from elegant rooms to spacious suites. The resort’s fine dining options, including the two-Michelin-starred Restaurant Andrew Fairlie, ensure that the culinary experience matches the quality of the golf.
Gleneagles
An award winning five-star hotel and three championship golf courses: the King's, the Queen's, and the PGA Centenary Course.
Staying in Perthshire, Murrayshall Country Estate is a hidden gem that seamlessly combines a tranquil setting with excellent golf. The estate is home to two courses: the 18-hole Murrayshall Course and the 10-hole Lynedoch Course, both designed to integrate with the natural landscape of rolling hills, ancient woodland, and open parkland.
The Murrayshall Course offers a traditional parkland experience, where mature trees, water features, and well-positioned bunkers create a challenging layout. Meanwhile, the Lynedoch Course is more intimate, with tighter fairways and undulating greens that demand precision.
Murrayshall's accommodations provide a blend of traditional Scottish charm and modern comfort. Guests can stay in the main manor house, where rooms offer views of the golf course and surrounding countryside. The estate also features contemporary lodges that are perfect for groups looking for a more private setting.
Murrayshall Country Estate
A luxury four-star country house hotel and home to two courses: the 18-hole Murrayshall Course and the 10-hole Lynedoch Course,
From here we head north, where playing Castle Stuart Golf Links at Cabot Highlands offers a truly memorable golf experience, combining world-class course design with breathtaking views of the Moray Firth and the rugged Highland landscape. The course, known for its playability, strategic bunkering, and dramatic elevation changes, provides a challenging yet enjoyable round for golfers of all levels.
After a day on the course, guests can unwind at the on-site self-catering accommodation, which offers comfortable, modern lodges with stunning views of the course and coastline. Perfect for groups or families, these lodges provide the ideal base for a relaxed and luxurious stay, offering full amenities, privacy, and the flexibility to enjoy the Highlands at your own pace.
Castle Stuart Golf Links at Cabot Highlands
A world-class championship course with luxurious self-catering accommodation.
In Ayrshire on the west coast, Trump Turnberry is one of the most spectacular golf resorts in the world, offering breathtaking views of the Ailsa Craig and the Isle of Arran. The resort’s star attraction is the Ailsa Course, a legendary links course that has hosted The Open Championship on multiple occasions. Redesigned by Martin Ebert, the Ailsa Course is now widely regarded as one of the best links courses in the world, offering a blend of challenging holes, dramatic coastal views, and strategic play.
In addition to the Ailsa, Turnberry boasts the King Robert the Bruce Course, a more recent addition that offers a fantastic golfing experience with equally stunning scenery.
The accommodation at Trump Turnberry is as opulent as its courses, with the main hotel providing luxurious rooms and suites, some with sweeping views of the Firth of Clyde. Fine dining options abound, with the resort’s signature restaurant, 1906, offering exquisite local cuisine.
Trump Turnberry
An award winning five-star hotel with two spectacular golf courses, the legendary Ailsa Course and the King Robert the Bruce Course.
A little further up the west coast, Dundonald Links is a modern addition to Scotland’s prestigious golf offerings, yet it has quickly established itself as a must-visit destination. Dundonald Links has gained international acclaim since hosting the 2017 Scottish Open and Ladies Scottish Open. The course, designed by Kyle Phillips, offers a true links experience, with generous fairways, deep bunkers, and coastal breezes that require careful navigation.
What sets Dundonald apart is its combination of challenging golf and modern luxury. The resort has recently undergone a major transformation, adding a series of on-site lodges and cottages designed to accommodate golfers and their families. The new clubhouse features state-of-the-art facilities, including a restaurant that showcases the best of Scottish produce.
Dundonald Links
A modern championship links with luxury lodges custom-designed with golfers in mind.
Located on the picturesque island of Islay, The Machrie Hotel and Golf Links offers one of Scotland’s most unique golfing experiences. The Machrie Links course, originally designed in 1891, is a true test of traditional links golf, with its undulating fairways, natural dunes, and ever-changing weather conditions.
In recent years, the course has been redesigned by DJ Russell while retaining its classic character. The result is a beautiful, strategic course that challenges golfers of all levels, offering stunning views over the Atlantic Ocean.
The Machrie Hotel provides the perfect retreat after a day on the course. The modern, minimalist design of the hotel blends seamlessly with the natural beauty of Islay, offering guests a peaceful, luxurious escape. With comfortable rooms, gourmet dining options, and a cozy whisky bar, The Machrie is a perfect blend of golf and relaxation.
The Machrie Hotel and Golf Links
A contemporary hotel with 43 beautifully designed rooms, suites and family lodges, a world-class golf links.
Back on the mainland near the tip of the Kintyre Peninsula, Machrihanish Dunes is a resort that offers golfers a return to nature. The Machrihanish Dunes course is often described as "golf as it was meant to be," with its wild, rugged landscape creating a raw and authentic links golf experience. The course was designed by David McLay Kidd, whose goal was to disturb as little of the natural environment as possible, resulting in a course that feels as though it has been carved out of the dunes themselves.
Machrihanish Dunes is part of a larger eco-friendly resort that includes The Ugadale Hotel and The Royal Hotel, both of which offer luxurious, comfortable accommodations with views of the Atlantic or the quaint village of Campbeltown. The resort’s commitment to sustainability adds to its appeal, allowing guests to enjoy a luxury stay while being mindful of their environmental footprint.
Machrihanish Dunes
Luxurious stone cottages, two lovingly restored historic hotels, the world’s most natural golf course, five restaurants and pubs, and a rejuvenating full-service spa.
Situated along the East Lothian coastline, Craigielaw Golf Lodge offers an ideal base for exploring Scotland’s Golf Coast, which is home to several renowned courses, including Muirfield, Gullane, North Berwick and Dunbar. The Craigielaw Course itself is a challenging links layout, with wide fairways, deep bunkers, and undulating greens that test even the most skilled golfers.
The lodge provides comfortable and spacious accommodations with stunning views over the Firth of Forth and beyond. For guests looking to extend their stay, Craigielaw is ideally located for day trips to Edinburgh and its nearby historic towns and attractions, making it a perfect combination of golf and exploration.
Craigielaw
An 18 hole championship links golf course, designed by Donald Steel, and a 30 bedroom lodge designed with the golfer in mind.
Whether you're teeing it up on a championship course or relaxing in a luxury lodge, these resorts offer unforgettable experiences for golf enthusiasts and travellers alike. From the iconic Gleneagles to the remote beauty of Machrihanish Dunes, Scotland's golf resorts promise a perfect blend of sport, relaxation, and hospitality.