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| Map of Scotland | Self Drive Vacations | Scotland Golf Tours | Escorted Tours | Scotland Travel Guide |
| Golf has been played in Scotland for centuries, some think since the
Middle Ages. Scotland's special geographical features - turf and dunes from the
links (an old Scots word for a stretch of gently undulated ground near the
seashore). This is where it all started. Before lawn mowers, golf had to be
played where grass was naturally short. Only on the links did exposure to wind,
poor soil and rabbits nibbling on the turf combine to keep the turf close
cropped. Bunkers developed from natural hollows into which a golf ball would
frequently roll. Wind erosion of the thin soil, already damaged by the players'
effort to hit out, soon created a sand hazard. Most Scottish golfers carry
their own clubs but you will be able to hire a trolley at most clubs, or a
caddy, but not a cart. The tradition in Scotland is that golf is played at a
brisk pace - dictated perhaps by the weather! Most Scottish golfers carry their own clubs but you will be able to hire a trolley at most clubs, or a caddy, but not a cart. TROON Founded in 1878 and included on the roster for the British Open in 1923, Troon hosted the 1997. Open Revamped by James Braid in 1923, Troon is a true links course with nine holes out and nine back. The middle six holes are highly regarded while the 8th, the Postage Stamp, a 126 yard par 3, played out to sea from an elevated tee to a small green, is perhaps, the best known. Royal Troon is for men only while the second course, Troon Portland welcomes everyone. PRESTWICK Prestwick, the birthplace of the British Open opened in 1851 with 12 holes and the Open was played over three rounds of 12; Old Tom Morris won his four Opens here and his son, young Tom, won three of his four victories; the Open was played 25 times at Prestwick, the last occasion being 1925 after which the course was judge as too short and too confined for spectators. TURNBERRY There are two courses at Tumberry, the Ailsa and the Arran and to play them, a visitor must be a resident at the Tumberry hotel; while both courses date from the turn of the century, Mackenzie Ross undertook the restoration of the courses after war use in 1940s; the Ailsa is on the roster for hosting the British Open, the first of which was in 1977, when Tom Watson won. Other magnificent courses in Western Scotland are Barassie (Kilmarnock), Blackwaterfoot, (on the island of Arran), Western Gailes, Glasgow Gailes, Machrie (on the island of Islay) and Machrihanish (on the Mull of Kintyre). CARNOUSTIE Originally, the course consisted of 10 holes laid out by Allan Robertson; 25 years later it was extended to 18 by Old Tom Morris and in 1926 James Braid revised the course to today's championship status There are three courses at Carnoustie, Burnside, Buddon and the Championship. The Burnside was developed in 1926 by James Braid and is a first rate links course of considerable strength. North of Dundee, an 18 hole seaside course, facing the North Sea. Carnoustie provides an unsurpassed variety of challenges. Carnoustie is a challenging course, made more so by the twisting burns which add a special hazard for the unwary golfer. F. The list of past Open Champions here is testimony enough to its quality as a supreme test - Armour, Cotton, Hogan, Player, and Watson. GULLANE Founded in 1882, Gullane Golf Club has three eighteens; Gullane N01 has hosted the British ladies, the Scottish Amateur, the Home International and the final qualifier for the British Open when it has been at Muirfield. On a clear day, fourteen countries can be seen from the spectacular 7th including Edinburgh and Arthur's Seat. ROYAL DORNOCH On the southern shore of Sutherland, it is the most northerly first class course in the world. Situated in Dornoch, with its Cathedral dating back over 700 years, the club was founded in 1877. Ten years later, Old Tom Morris was commissioned to lay out nine holes; the second nine was added in 1904. Ranked among the top courses in the world by all ratings, it is the birthplace of Donald Ross, the great course architect in the US. NAIRN Nairn is a seaside resort on the shores of the moray firth; there are two clubs, the Nairn Golf Club and the Nairn Dunbar Golf Club; the former is the most famous and is a traditional Scottish links. Archie Simpson, the professional at Royal Aberdeen laid out the course in 1887 and Old Tom Morris and James Braid each revised ii later. The 1999 walker Cup will be played here. GLENEAGLES KING Gleneagles is one of the world's finest golf resorts. Set in colorful splendor in Glen Devon, the resort. Set in colorful splendor in Glen Devon, the resort ha tree fine 18 hole courses. James Braid designed the kings and Queens in 1919, while Jack Nicklaus undertook the Monarch's course in 1993. Built on heathland with golden heather, purple bracken and gorse, Gleneagles is not to be missed. Other great courses are Cruden Bay, Golspie, Moray, Mulcar and Royal Aberdeen. THE TURNBERRY HOTEL Turnberry, the world renowned golf and Spa resort, is magnificently situated on the West Coast of Scotland, overlooking its own famous golf courses, the Ailsa and the Arran. The Ailsa hosted the British Open in 1977, 1986 and 1994. A recent addition is one of the Britain's finest health spas with over 25 treatments including hydrotherapy and aroma therapy, a 20 meter pool, steam rooms, saunas and a gym. Turnberry is an AA five Red Star property and a RAC 5 star Blue award winner. THE GLENEAGLES HOTEL Gleneagles is set in its own 850 acre estate, surrounded by breathtaking Perthshire scenery. The public rooms are elegant and spacious, the guest rooms luxurious. It has three golf courses and sporting opportunities of all kinds from clay target shooting and all weather tennis, to swimming, squash, croquet, fishing, falconry, off road driving and horseback riding. Gleneagles holds the Automobile Association's supreme accolade, Five Red Stars. GOLF AT OLD PRESTWICK Prestwick occupies a unique niche in British golf history, since it was Old Prestwick where the British Open started in 1860. Due to the tight contours of this course, at 6,544 yards, a par 71 is not long by championship standards, yet it is a great test of skill and temperament. Handicap: Men 20/Ladies 28 GOLF AT ST. ANDREWS OLD COURSE Bobby Jones, one of the all time greats of golf, is quoted as saying that St. Andrews is his spiritual home and that he could relinquish all other pleasures and places as long as he could play the Old Course. This course is confirmed by ballot the night before play. Handicap: Men 24/Ladies 36 . The New Course, Eden, Dukes, Kingsbarns and Jubilee are also available. ST. ANDREWS St. Andrews is known as the birthplace of golf. The magic of this place, world famous for its University and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, stems from both of these institutions. St. Andrews has existed from prehistoric times as a fishing village and market town. Roam in historic and beautiful settings. In good weather the beach featured in the movie Chariots of Fire is particularly popular. Golfers may want to visit the grave of "Young Tom Morris", the Golf Museum, the links course putting green or how about walking along Grannie Clark's Wynd, which crosses the 1st and the 18th of the old course. It is a public right of way! Bobby Jones, one of the all time greats of golf, was given the freedom of the Burgh of St. Andrews in 1958, the first American since Benjamin Franklin to be so honored. Jones is quoted as saying that St. Andrews is his spiritual home and that he could relinquish all other pleasures and places as long as he could play the Old Course. No golfer given the chance would ever spurn the opportunity to play the Old Course, possibly the most famous stretch of turf in golf. ST. ANDREWS NEW COURSE There are 99 holes of golf at St Andrews; these consist of the Old Course, the New (by Old Tom Morris, 1894), the Jubilee, named after Queen Victoria's Diamond jubilee in 1897 (modified later by Donald Steel ), the Eden (Harry Colt,1912) and the Strathtyrum (Donald Steel, 1993) and the Balgrove (9 holes). All these are "public" courses and are managed by the links Management Committee which has a procedure in place to allocate tee times on the Old Course; a substantial proportion of tee times on the Old Course are allocated through the daily ballot. You have confirmed tee times at the New Course. There is also a Peter Thompson designed 18, the Dukes course, owned by the Old Course Hotel. Built 1895. Men's Medal tees 6670 yards, par 71. Pro Shop opens 900AM. DRESS CODE: No denim. Collared shirt and Bermuda shorts required. GOLF AT TROON It is said that Troon has the toughest closing stretch of holes of any of the Championship courses. This course has the longest and shortest holes on the Championship circuit - the 6th stretches 577 yards, while the 8th, also known as the Postage Stamp, is a mere 120 yards long. No women allowed on the Old Course, Portland only. Handicap: Men 22/Ladies 30 GOLF AT MUIRFIELD Muirfield has two particular claims to fame in addition to regularly hosting the Open (11 times to date). It is the home of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, generally reckoned the oldest golf club in the world with records going back to 1744, when they played five holes on the Leith links. It is also a bastion of exclusivity and playing the course requires a member's invitation of a favorable reply to a written request sent well in advance. The 6,941 yard par 72 course is laid out in two separate loops, an outer and inner. The effect is that golfers do not have to play successive holes against the wind. The frustrating, thick rough is a severe test of a golfer's prowess. 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