Castle Golf

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BY ED HODGE

4 MINS READ

Bar stool golf, foot golf, crazy golf… castle golf? From magnificent city landmarks to mysterious ruins, Scotland’s fascinating castles have long been a pull for the exploring visitor. 

After all, there is no more Scottish an image than that of a castle surrounded by swirling mist. The stunning Edinburgh Castle proudly overlooking the nation’s capital or Stirling’s hilltop location, an essential destination of any visit to central Scotland, immediately spring to mind.

“The most beautiful of all the capitals of Europe,” said Sir John Betjeman, the famed poet and writer, of Edinburgh.

Eye-catching, oozing colourful histories and tales of legend, the nation’s castles have much in common with Scotland’s wonderful golf courses. Yet if golf, castles and history are often three key words in planning any tartan tour, what about actually playing the castle courses themselves?

Still with me? Well, it’s perhaps a little-known fact that a number of Scottish golf venues boast the word ‘Castle’ in their name, all for differing reasons. Indeed, the variety of castle golf lay-outs in Scotland frankly provide a unique tour themselves – from exclusive, famed venues, to modern championship lay-outs, to quirky courses to city centre tests. It is a glorious mix.

Starting in the west, Rowallan Castle’s extensive golf grounds are set within a historic 600-acre estate, with spectacular views of the Ayrshire countryside. Designed by Colin Montgomerie, it only opened this century but has carved out a fine reputation – boasting even 19 holes! Hire the 12th century Castle for a night’s stay with friends. Or even drive further down the coast to explore Culzean Castle, once a regular holiday base for General Dwight D. Eisenhower after World War II.

Back up the road and Glasgow and its surrounding area is a haven for ‘castle golf’. Haggs Castle, a former Scottish Open venue, is a rolling parkland in the heart of the city, with Mearns Castle Golf Academy a well-regarded facility offering a scenic and challenging 9 holes not far away. Ranfurly Castle, only seven miles west of Glasgow Airport in Renfrewshire, is one of the best moorland courses in the country.

Bothwell Castle, Buchanan Castle, Cathcart Castle and Cochrane Castle maintain our theme in the Glasgow area, all fine venues. The Buchanan Castle course is a little further afield, laid out on a forested estate near Drymen, a few miles east of Loch Lomond.

Moving more central, into West Lothian, Niddry Castle is perhaps unfamiliar to many. Derek Smith designed this attractive parkland course in 1982, with the course surrounding the 14th century Niddry Castle. The course near Winchburgh measures less than 6,000 yards with a par of 70, with many of the holes providing panoramic views of Edinburgh and the Pentland Hills.

In East Lothian, nestled at the foot of the Lammermuir Hills, Castle Park is a beautiful course, before our journey goes north east to Fife and the Home of Golf.

The newest addition to St Andrews Links, The Castle Course opened in 2008 becoming the seventh course at the largest public golfing complex in Europe. Set on a rugged cliff-top with spectacular views over St Andrews, the course takes its name from Kinkell Castle, which, 500 years ago, stood on a headland two miles southeast of the town where the layout begins.

Finally, to the Highlands. Castle Stuart Golf Links, just east of Inverness, is a stunning links course overlooking the Moray Firth and a modern classic. A four-time host to the men’s Scottish Open, winners include Phil Mickelson, Alex Noren and Luke Donald. 

“Castle Stuart is one of the best golf courses I've played,” said Mickelson, of a venue that takes its name from the restored tower house nearby.

Designed by the late Mark Parsinen and Gil Hanse, it is regarded as a model for modern golf architecture, being fun, engaging and playable for all abilities, but also a challenge for the very best.

Further north, in a secluded corner of the Northern Highlands lies Skibo Castle, often regarded as Scotland's ‘best kept secret’. At Skibo's heart lies the exclusive Carnegie Links, on the shores of the beautiful Dornoch Firth. The Carnegie Links Experience is available in 2021 to one 4-ball at 9am, Monday to Friday between early-June and late-September.

Take your pick, try our unique golf tour… and be the King of the Castle.