The Great Second Courses of Scotland’s Famous Clubs
Gleneagles Queen’s Course
Scotland is widely recognised as the birthplace of golf, with a rich history that has produced some of the world's most iconic courses. Golfers from around the globe flock to Scotland to experience renowned championship layouts like Royal Troon, Carnoustie, Royal Dornoch, Gleneagles and Turnberry. However, while these celebrated courses are rightfully revered, many golfers often overlook the 'second' courses at these prestigious clubs, which offer outstanding golfing experiences in their own right. These secondary layouts are often less crowded, easier to book and more affordable but just as challenging, scenic, and exquisitely maintained. Let's explore some of the most notable second courses at Scotland’s famous golf clubs.
Carnoustie Golf Links: Buddon and Burnside Courses
Carnoustie’s Championship Course is known globally as one of the most challenging layouts, and host to eight Open Championships. However, the club's other two courses, the Buddon Links and Burnside, offer fantastic alternatives that allow golfers to enjoy the same rugged beauty of this famous linksland without the intensity of the Championship layout.
The Buddon Links Course is the newest of Carnoustie’s trio, having been established in 1979. It offers a more relaxed experience than its infamous neighbour, but still incorporates many of the same natural features that make the Championship Course so revered. Designed by Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas, the Buddon is shorter and more forgiving, with wider fairways and fewer deep bunkers. It’s a great option for those looking for a fun, less taxing round while still experiencing the unique setting of Carnoustie.
Meanwhile, the Burnside Course has a rich history and is perhaps the most underappreciated of the two second courses. Known for its narrow fairways and small, undulating greens, the Burnside is a true shot-maker's course. It’s here where Ben Hogan famously qualified for the 1953 Open, and its intimate feel offers a contrasting experience to the grandeur of the Championship Course. The Burnside’s 17th hole, a par-4, is one of the toughest, requiring a precision tee shot to avoid the Barry Burn.
Carnoustie Golf Links: Burnside Course
Cruden Bay Golf Club: St Olaf Course
Cruden Bay is another of Scotland's great links courses, with its Old Tom Morris-designed main course being one of the most scenic and enjoyable layouts in the country. However, tucked away is the St Olaf Course, a nine-hole gem that provides a fantastic, shorter alternative. Though it's often considered a 'beginners' or 'relief' course, the St Olaf offers its own set of challenges, including tricky bunkering, fast-running fairways, and unpredictable coastal winds.
What makes St Olaf special is its setting, with views that are just as spectacular as the main course. It's a fantastic option for those who are short on time or looking to squeeze in an additional nine holes. The smaller scale doesn’t detract from the fun or difficulty, as its compact design makes for a strategic round that requires precise shot placement. The history and charm of Cruden Bay, combined with the unique challenges of this lesser-known course, make St Olaf an excellent addition to any golf trip in the region.
Royal Dornoch Golf Club: Struie Course
The Championship Course at Royal Dornoch is considered one of the finest in the world, often topping 'best course' lists and drawing golfers from all over. However, the club's Struie Course offers an enjoyable alternative that shouldn't be overlooked. Originally opened as a nine-hole course in 1899, the Struie has since been extended to a full 18 holes and provides a less demanding but equally scenic round compared to its big brother.
The Struie is known for its playability, making it a favourite for both beginners and those looking for a more relaxed game. However, it still poses challenges with its fast greens and the ever-present winds that sweep across the Dornoch Firth. The outward nine offers views over the Dornoch Firth, and there are plenty of subtle design features that make this course engaging for golfers of all abilities. While it may not have the dramatic dunes of the Championship Course, the Struie still captures the essence of Highland links golf, with its understated beauty and strategic layout.
Blairgowrie Golf Club: Lansdowne Course
Blairgowrie Golf Club is home to one of Scotland’s most beautiful inland courses, the Rosemount, but the Lansdowne Course—designed by Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas—provides a different, equally enjoyable test. Opened in 1979, Lansdowne is a tree-lined heathland course set amidst the picturesque Perthshire countryside, offering a peaceful and secluded environment for a round of golf.
While the Rosemount course is more open and forgiving, Lansdowne is narrower, requiring precision off the tee and careful shot selection. The course is characterised by its beautiful heathland fairways, mature pine trees, and a lack of rough, making it a challenge to keep the ball in play. The greens are fast, ensuring that even the best putters will need to stay on their toes. Lansdowne is less well-known than its sister course but is just as highly regarded by those in the know, often described as a hidden gem of Scottish inland golf.
Blairgowrie Golf Club: Lansdowne Course
Gleneagles: Queen’s Course
Gleneagles is one of the most prestigious golf resorts in Scotland, with its King's and PGA Centenary courses often stealing the spotlight. However, the Queen’s Course is the preferred choice of many. Designed by James Braid, this shorter, yet perfectly formed course winds its way through the scenic Perthshire countryside, offering an enjoyable, yet challenging round.
The Queen’s Course is considered one of the finest par-68 layouts in the country. It’s a strategic course, where precision is more important than power. The rolling fairways are lined with heather, bracken, and mature trees, and the greens are well-guarded by bunkers, making approach shots particularly tricky. The Queen’s has hosted numerous prestigious tournaments and is often praised for its immaculate conditioning. Its setting, nestled amongst the Ochil Hills, provides a stunning backdrop for a leisurely round of golf.
Trump Turnberry: King Robert the Bruce Course
Trump Turnberry's Ailsa Course is world-renowned, having hosted multiple Open Championships and being the site of Tom Watson’s legendary duel with Jack Nicklaus in 1977. However, the King Robert the Bruce Course, redesigned by Martin Ebert in 2017, offers a spectacular alternative that many visitors overlook. Named after the Scottish king who was born 750 years ago in the nearby Turnberry Castle, this course combines strategic challenge with stunning coastal views.
The King Robert the Bruce Course is characterised by wide fairways and large greens, making it more forgiving than the Ailsa Course, but no less scenic. Several holes hug the rugged Ayrshire coastline, offering breathtaking vistas of the Firth of Clyde and Ailsa Craig. The course is designed to showcase Turnberry’s natural beauty, with holes that rise and fall along the landscape, creating visual drama. The 8th hole, ‘Windy Brae’, a long par-5 that runs along the coast is a highlight, offering both a visual and strategic challenge.
With the same exceptional conditioning as the Ailsa, the King Robert the Bruce Course is a superb alternative for those looking to experience Turnberry without the intensity of its championship sibling.
Trump Turnberry: King Robert the Bruce Course
Royal Troon: Portland Course
The Portland Course at Royal Troon often plays second fiddle to the Championship Course, but it offers a delightful links experience in its own right. Originally designed by Troon professional Willie Fernie and later redesigned by Dr Alister MacKenzie, the course opened in 1895, Portland is a shorter, slightly more forgiving course, with wider fairways and fewer of the notorious pot bunkers that make Troon’s Championship Course so fearsome.
However, Portland is not without its challenges. The course weaves through undulating terrain, with several holes featuring tricky doglegs and small, well-protected greens. It’s a classic Scottish links experience, with the ever-present wind playing a key role in how the course plays from day to day. The final stretch of holes is particularly memorable, as they bring players back toward the clubhouse, with the sound of the nearby Firth of Clyde adding to the atmosphere. For golfers looking to experience Royal Troon without the intensity of the Championship Course, Portland is an excellent alternative.
Gullane Golf Club: No. 2 Course
While Gullane’s No. 1 course gets much of the acclaim, the No. 2 course is a brilliant example of a secondary layout that shouldn't be missed. Designed by the legendary Willie Park Jr., No. 2 offers a similarly stunning golfing experience to its more famous sibling. The course was laid out in 1898 and provides golfers with breathtaking views of the Firth of Forth and over to Edinburgh.
Though slightly shorter than No. 1, Gullane No. 2 is no pushover. The links-style layout is a stern test of accuracy and shot-making, with its well-placed bunkers and tricky greens. It also benefits from the same fast-running fairways and natural dunes, creating a true links golf experience. One of the highlights is the 11th hole, a par-3 perched on top of Gullane Hill, offering one of the best vantage points in East Lothian. Gullane No. 2 stands as a must-play course and presents a slightly more forgiving alternative to No. 1, making it perfect for players of all abilities.
Monifieth Golf Links: Ashludie Course
Monifieth Golf Links, located just a few miles from Carnoustie, is home to two courses: the Medal and the Ashludie. While the Medal Course often garners more attention, the Ashludie is a delightful 18-hole layout that offers a more relaxed but equally enjoyable round of golf.
Originally laid out as a 9-hole course in 1912, the Ashludie was extended to 18 holes in 1930. It is 1,500 yards shorter and a little less challenging than the Medal, but it still offers plenty of character and requires thoughtful play. The course features narrow fairways and slightly smaller, well-contoured greens and surrondings, making it a great test of short-game skills. Its coastal location means that wind is often a factor, adding to the challenge.
The Ashludie is perfect for those looking for a quicker round or a more accessible golfing experience while still enjoying the traditional links conditions that make Scotland famous.
Monifieth Golf Links: Ashludie Course
Scotland’s second courses are often overshadowed by their more famous siblings, but they offer a wealth of unique and memorable golfing experiences. Whether it’s the spectacular coastal views at Gullane No. 2, the strategic challenges of Burnside and Struie, or the peaceful tranquillity of the Lansdowne and Queen’s Courses, these hidden gems provide golfers with the chance to enjoy world-class golf in some of Scotland’s most beautiful settings. So next time you're planning a trip to the home of golf, be sure to explore beyond the headline courses… you might just find your new favourite.