Scottish Golf, Culture and Beyond
Gullane No.2 Course
There are few places on earth where golf feels so deeply interwoven with the landscape, the history, and the people as it does in Scotland. From the salt-sprayed links that cling to the eastern shoreline to the heather-framed inland fairways of Perthshire, every region tells its own story through golf. Yet the magic of a Scottish golfing journey lies not only in the courses themselves but in the wider experiences: castles perched above rugged cliffs, distilleries breathing life into centuries of whisky-making tradition, and hotels that blend luxurious comfort with authentic local character.
A trip across the golfing regions of Scotland is not just a sporting adventure — it’s an immersion in culture, scenery, and warm hospitality.
East Lothian – Scotland’s Golf Coast
No serious golf traveller should miss East Lothian, also known as Scotland’s Golf Coast. Here, the sea and sky stretch wide, with courses that are both iconic and intimate. Muirfield offers a stern yet elegant test, the kind that has hosted champions for more than a century. Gullane, with its immaculate links turf and postcard-perfect views across the Firth of Forth, showcases variety across its three courses, while Dunbar traces the coastline in exhilarating fashion. The charming Kilspindie provides a compact but testing links, beloved for its timeless character, while Craigielaw and its Lodge are a modern addition that has swiftly become a favourite, with first-class facilities and accommodation right on the course.
For those flying in or out of Edinburgh, Bruntsfield Links Golfing Society, one of the oldest clubs anywhere and just minutes from the airport, is the perfect bookend to a golfing itinerary, offering a refined parkland setting close to the city.
Beyond golf, East Lothian tempts visitors with the seaside charm of North Berwick, boat trips to Bass Rock with its vast seabird colonies, and whisky tastings at Glenkinchie Distillery. Hotel partners such as Marine North Berwick, The Lodge at Craigielaw, The Leddie, and Garleton Lodge provide elegant bases, from spa indulgence to boutique comfort.
Nearby Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital, is a city where history and culture blend seamlessly. Towering over the skyline, Edinburgh Castle sets the stage for the Royal Mile, a cobbled stretch alive with historic closes, vibrant pubs, and independent shops. The New Town’s Georgian elegance contrasts beautifully with the Old Town’s medieval charm.
Fife – The Home of St Andrews
To play golf in Fife is to step into the very soul of the game. The Old Course at St Andrews remains the ultimate pilgrimage, where every golfer dreams of standing on the first tee and later pausing on the Swilcan Bridge, surrounded by centuries of history. Its double greens and strategic bunkering are as much a test today as they were in centuries past. Nearby, Kingsbarns Golf Links is modern yet timeless, a masterpiece of design that sweeps dramatically along the North Sea, delivering both beauty and challenge on every hole. Crail, founded in 1786, is one of the world’s oldest clubs, its Balcomie course a delightful blend of tradition, quirks, and coastal drama. Then there is Dumbarnie Golf Links, a relative newcomer that has quickly become a must-play, winning hearts with its creative design, panoramic sea views, and the kind of shot-making variety that keeps you coming back.
Yet golf is only part of the story here. St Andrews itself is a town that feels both ancient and vibrant, with cobbled streets winding between the atmospheric ruins of the cathedral and castle, and cafés and bookshops buzzing with student life from Scotland’s oldest university. The Fife Coastal Path beckons with bracing seaside walks, while the East Neuk’s fishing villages, like Anstruther and Pittenweem, are postcard-perfect, offering harbourside fish suppers and art galleries tucked into narrow lanes. Whisky lovers can discover distilleries such as Kingsbarns, combining local heritage with modern craft.
When it comes to staying in style, golfers are spoilt for choice. The handsome Rusacks St Andrews offers unmatched views over the 18th green of the Old Course, a setting that brings the theatre of the links right to your window. For a more private retreat, Hawkswood Country Estate provides luxurious lodges and practice facilities just minutes from St Andrews — perfect for groups who want to combine five-star comfort with a few extra swings before their next round.
Angus – The Home of Carnoustie
Angus is a region where golf’s traditions run deep, anchored by the formidable challenge of Carnoustie Golf Links. Known simply as “Carnasty” when the wind howls, it has hosted The Open on multiple occasions and is revered for its brutal honesty — a course that asks every question and demands complete focus until the final putt. Yet Angus offers more than just one stern examination. Monifieth Links, with its classic out-and-back routing, provides a glimpse into the game’s 19th-century character, while Panmure, a favourite of Ben Hogan, is intimate, charming, and wonderfully subtle. Together they create a trio that blends championship pedigree with understated authenticity.
Beyond the fairways, Angus is filled with treasures. The city of Dundee has reinvented itself as a hub of culture and design, crowned by the striking V&A Dundee museum on the waterfront. Inland, Glamis Castle offers a fairytale glimpse into Scottish history, while the rolling Angus Glens provide superb walking, cycling, and wildlife watching. The coastline, dotted with wide beaches and fishing villages, is as rewarding for those seeking sea air as it is for golfers chasing par.
Aberdeenshire – Links and Castles
Aberdeenshire’s golf courses sit in landscapes as dramatic as the castles that guard the region. Cruden Bay is often described as one of the world’s most enchanting links, a place of towering dunes, sweeping views, and holes that seem to tumble naturally through the terrain. Fraserburgh, the oldest club in the world still playing over its original site, offers pure, unvarnished links golf with exhilarating coastal vistas. Duff House Royal, by contrast, brings an inland flavour, with Alister MacKenzie’s hand evident in its graceful design.
But golf here is only half the experience. Aberdeenshire is famed for its “Castle Trail,” with more than 260 to explore — from the fairytale turrets of Craigievar to the brooding ruins of Dunnottar perched high on a cliff. Whisky lovers will find distilleries aplenty, while the city of Aberdeen itself blends granite architecture with a lively food scene. The coastline offers endless opportunities for beach walks, dolphin spotting, and boat trips, ensuring golfers and their companions can immerse themselves in the sea air even when clubs are left behind.
Staying in Aberdeenshire offers equal variety. The Sandman Signature Aberdeen brings modern style to the city centre, Maryculter House offers riverside elegance with a historic atmosphere, and The Dunes at Cruden Bay provides warm hospitality steps from one of Scotland’s most magical links.
The Scottish Highlands – Epic Golf in Epic Scenery
Few golfing experiences stir the soul like those in the Highlands. Royal Dornoch, consistently ranked among the world’s best, offers not just a golf course but a spiritual encounter, where the beauty of the dunes and the purity of the turf feel timeless. Cabot Highlands, home to Castle Stuart and their new second course Old Petty, promises variety — Castle Stuart with its clifftop drama and Old Petty destined to bring a fresh chapter to Highland golf. Brora, Golspie, and Tain embody community spirit and authentic links play, where sheep may wander the fairways and sea breezes shape your round. Add to this the classic charms of Nairn and Nairn Dunbar, and you have a region where every round feels like a revelation.
Away from the courses, the Highlands deliver epic scenery at every turn. From the wild landscapes of the North Coast 500 to the serenity of Loch Ness, the region is made for road trips, photography, and outdoor adventure. Whisky distilleries such as Glenmorangie or Clynelish provide warming stops, while castles like Dunrobin rise proudly against the northern skies. Whether hiking, fishing, or simply soaking in the atmosphere, the Highlands offer as much beyond the greens as on them.
Accommodation here ranges from the stylish Dornoch Station, recently revitalised, to the welcoming Royal Golf Hotel, steps from the first tee, and the Royal Marine Hotel in Brora, a classic Highland retreat.
Perthshire – Inland Beauty
Perthshire is where Scotland’s inland golf shines. Gleneagles is the crown jewel, its three championship courses matched only by the luxury of the resort itself, which has hosted Ryder Cups and Solheim Cups with equal flair. Blairgowrie, with its Rosemount and Lansdowne courses, is a haven of heather-lined fairways and tall pines, offering a completely different rhythm from the coastal links. Pitlochry, Crieff, Comrie, and St Fillans bring a more intimate charm, where local hospitality and gently rolling landscapes create the perfect day’s golf. Murrayshall Country Estate adds both an elegant course and a welcoming hotel, while Strathmore Golf Centre offers relaxed golf in a friendly setting.
Yet Perthshire’s appeal stretches far beyond golf. The region is known as “Big Tree Country,” with woodlands ablaze in autumn and shaded riverside walks in summer. Outdoor pursuits abound, from salmon fishing on the Tay to white-water rafting at Aberfeldy. History lives on at Scone Palace, once the crowning place of Scottish kings, while the town of Pitlochry charms with its theatres, distillery tours, and Highland scenery. Families will find fun at Crieff Hydro, while couples may prefer a quiet lochside retreat.
For stays, Perthshire offers some of Scotland’s finest. Gleneagles Hotel is synonymous with luxury, while Murrayshall Country Estate blends modern comfort with country elegance. Crieff Hydro Hotel is perfect for families, with activities and spa treatments ensuring everyone is entertained.
Ayrshire – Legendary Links
Ayrshire is synonymous with links golf of the highest order. Royal Troon, host of The Open, offers the iconic Postage Stamp and the daunting Railway Hole, cementing its place in golfing folklore. Turnberry, with its lighthouse standing sentinel above the Ailsa course, is one of the most photogenic golfing stages in the world. Prestwick, the birthplace of The Open, remains steeped in history and quirk, while Western Gailes, Dundonald Links, Gailes Links and Barassie Links provide variety and challenge along the coast. Prestwick St Nicholas, West Kilbride, and Irvine Golf Club ensure the options here are seemingly endless, each course rooted in tradition and offering the purest links experiences.
But Ayrshire also shines beyond golf. Its long sandy beaches, stretching along the Firth of Clyde, are perfect for walks and sunsets, with views across to the Isle of Arran. History lovers can follow in the footsteps of Robert Burns at his birthplace museum in Alloway, while Culzean Castle, perched on a clifftop, feels lifted from a painting. Ayrshire’s towns and villages brim with character, and ferries to Arran provide a gateway to island adventures.
Accommodation options match the quality of the golf. Trump Turnberry is world-renowned for its opulence and views, Marine Troon combines tradition with modern comfort, Dundonald Links has stylish lodges beside the course, and the South Beach Hotel offers warm hospitality steps from Royal Troon.
Argyll and the Isles – Wild Beauty and Island Golf
Argyll and the Isles capture the wild romance of Scotland, where golf meets some of the country’s most spectacular seascapes. The Machrie, on Islay, is a masterpiece reborn, combining modern design with timeless links character, rolling across dunes beside a vast beach. On the Kintyre peninsula, Machrihanish and Machrihanish Dunes are legendary, the former famous for its opening tee shot across the ocean and the latter blending seamlessly with the natural landscape. Dunaverty, perched at the tip of Kintyre, is quirky and charming, while Shiskine, on Arran, delivers perhaps the most fun you can have in 12 holes.
Beyond golf, this is a region of adventure and flavour. Islay is celebrated worldwide for its whisky, with distilleries like Laphroaig and Ardbeg offering unforgettable tours and tastings. The coastline is rich in wildlife, from seals to sea eagles, and boat trips open up the chance to spot dolphins and whales. Kintyre offers rugged walking trails and peaceful beaches, while Arran, often described as “Scotland in Miniature,” has mountains, castles, and artisan producers all within easy reach. Argyll is a place where every journey feels like an escape.
Stays here are as memorable as the golf. The Machrie Hotel offers stylish comfort right on the course, while the Ugadale Hotel in Machrihanish brings boutique elegance to Kintyre. In Campbeltown, the Royal Hotel combines heritage and comfort, making it an ideal base for exploring the peninsula.
The Scottish Borders – Quiet Charms
The Scottish Borders remain one of Scotland’s most peaceful golfing escapes. The Roxburghe, now under the banner of a luxury resort, is a parkland course of grandeur, weaving through mature trees and riverside settings. Peebles, set along the River Tweed, offers rolling fairways and stunning valley views, while Eyemouth is famed for its clifftop opening hole, one of the most dramatic in Scotland.
Beyond the golf, the Borders are steeped in history. Abbeys at Melrose, Jedburgh, and Dryburgh speak of medieval Scotland, while country houses like Floors Castle provide a glimpse into aristocratic splendour. Outdoor lovers can explore the hills and rivers, whether on foot, by bike, or casting a line for salmon. The region’s textiles heritage lives on in mills producing fine cashmere, perfect souvenirs from a land where the pace is gentle and the welcome warm.
Stay at the luxurious Schloss Roxburghe, where the golf course sits alongside a five-star hotel offering spa indulgence and refined dining.
Dumfries and Galloway – Scotland’s South-West Secret
Far from the crowds, Dumfries and Galloway feels like Scotland’s hidden treasure. Southerness, with its iconic lighthouse backdrop, is a links of real character, offering wide horizons and challenging breezes. Powfoot, set along the Solway Firth, combines links and parkland in equal measure, while Stranraer provides coastal golf with views across to Ireland. Each course offers a warm welcome and a sense of discovery.
The region itself is a paradise for those who venture here. The Galloway Forest Park is a Dark Sky Reserve, where stargazing reveals constellations like nowhere else. Coastlines are rugged yet tranquil, dotted with sandy coves and wildlife sanctuaries. Artists and writers have long been inspired here, with galleries and craft studios waiting to be explored. Castles such as Caerlaverock and Threave add a sense of drama, while local food — from fresh seafood to farmhouse cheeses — makes dining a delight. Dumfries and Galloway rewards those who seek authenticity.
What makes Scotland unique is the way golf intertwines with everything else — history, landscape, and hospitality. Each region offers world-class courses, but also much more: castles and cathedrals, mountains and lochs, whisky and seafood. A well-planned journey combines championship tee times with immersive experiences beyond the fairways, making every trip unforgettable.