Scotland's Less Obvious Trail
4 MIN READ
Scotland’s revered golfing layouts are obvious. We all know them. They are historic, modern, stunning and spectacular… and not to be missed. Yet you don’t have to journey far from the well-trodden tourist paths to uncover all manner of quality courses in Scotland – Where Golf Began has over 550 courses to choose from after all!
Less obvious are those venues that perhaps lack the profile of championship challengers but offer a superb golfing experience, often at a fraction of the cost. They are venues much-loved, with rich histories and quality holes, certainly deserving of a visit on this Trail.
In the Highlands, the options to play golf are plentiful. Household names may spring to mind, like Castle Stuart and Royal Dornoch, yet you don’t need to hunt far to find other great courses. With Nairn boasting two championship courses, Nairn Dunbar continues to grow in reputation. It certainly doesn’t play second fiddle in the town, given their on-going course improvement work to restore more of a links feel to the venue. Fortrose & Rosemarkie is another glorious test, with Golspie – sandwiched between Brora and Dornoch – another gem. Then there’s the most northerly 18 hole links course in the UK - Reay Golf Club, it’s a drive but it’s certainly worth it.
The Royal Golf Hotel in Dornoch is a fantastic base in this the golf-mad town. Head down the A9 to Perthshire and treat yourself to a stay at The Gleneagles Hotel.
The Queen’s Course at Gleneagles may be the shortest 18-hole course at the resort, but it’s the favourite of many. Virtually every Perthshire town or village has a course waiting to be found, with Crieff, Murrayshall and Pitlochry also nestling beautifully within the Perthshire hills.
Down in the Borders, mix championship golf and a luxury stay at the SCHLOSS Roxburghe. Portpatrick Dunskey and Southerness are other fine venues perhaps less obvious to the golfing visitor, with the Cairndale Hotel another recommended place to stay.
Beyond the Old Course in St Andrews, there is golf galore. In the town itself, the New, Eden and Jubilee Courses are stand-alone venues themselves, just like the Castle and Duke’s Course out of town. The Rusacks Hotel St Andrews, the Old Course Hotel and Hawkswood Country Estate offer a trio of excellent stay-and-play venues.
A trip down the coast will lead to Bruntsfield Links in Edinburgh and Craigielaw and Dunbar beyond. Gullane’s No. 2 and No.3 Courses deserve a visit too, with some great value packages often on offer. Try Garleton Lodge in East Lothian, or head up the north-east coast and check in at the Sandman Aberdeen Hotel & Spa. There Duff House Royal, Fraserburgh and Hazlehead offer excellent choices. Down in Angus, the Budden and Burnside Courses in Carnoustie offer something a little different in the well-known town, with close-by Panmure one to experience too.
Over on the west coast, Kilmarnock (Barassie), Irvine Bogside and Prestwick St Nicholas are impressive. The Marine Troon, Piersland House and South Beach Hotel match the quality of the golf on offer in Troon. In the far south-west, a game at Dunaverty will have you telling your friends about the trip for years to come, while over on the Isle of Islay, The Machrie Hotel & Golf Links has been lovingly redeveloped and is now one of Scotland’s finest courses. Shiskine, on the Isle of Arran, and Machrihanish Dunes back on the mainland are two other venues that perfectly sum up Scotland’s less obvious.
Explore the trail here