Scotland has forever been synonymous with golf which is hardly surprising since it is the place in which the great game was born. For a relatively small country it also boasts a disproportionate wealth of golf courses, over 550 in fact, many of which are rated among the best in the world and rest of which are no slouches either! With such an embarrassment of riches on offer to the travelling golfer we thought we would narrow the search for your dream Scottish Golf Holiday destination by listing the 5 best Scottish Golf Hotspots. All that’s left for you to do is choose which one you want to visit first!
Aberdeenshire has long been a top golfing destination with heavyweights like Royal Aberdeen, which of course hosted the 2011 Walker Cup, flying the flag for this rugged, North Easterly patch of land seemingly heaven sent for golf.
Royal Aberdeen is one of Scotland’s finest links courses and yet it remains relatively unknown when compared to its links heavyweights such as Royal Troon, Muirfield and North Berwick.
Cruden Bay and the inland Inchmarlo Resort are also situated in this glorious county and hidden gems such as Hawkshill and Newmarchar Golf Club back up their bigger siblings with considerable clout. The inclusion of the much talked about Trump International Golf Links has only heightened the awareness and quality of the golfing riches on offer in this part of Scotland.
Home to the world famous Turnberry, which makes this part of Scotland an absolute must by itself, Glasgow and the county of Ayrshire also boasts other classy links layouts in the form of Belleisle GC, Lochgreen and Girvan GC which can all be enjoyed on a Ayr golf tour.
The Ailsa Course at Turnberry is without doubt one of the finest courses in the world and was the settign for one of the greatest major championships ever, the 1977 Open, also known as “The Duel in the Sun”.
The world famous Loch Lomond is also situated in this part of Scotland and while you may struggle to secure a tee time here, Cameron House is just a stone’s throw away and we can confirm that the 5* surroundings here and The Carrick Course are ample substitutes.
For reasons that I’m sure don’t need to be pointed out this is the most famous of the Scottish golfing hotspots. The Old Course is at the top of many a golfer’s bucket list and it is well backed up by a further 6 courses all situated on the St Andrews Links. Throw links heavyweights like the mighty Kingsbarns and the devilish Carnoustie and there is enough seaside golf on offer in this part of the country to satisfy even the keenest of golfers.
Kingsbarns may be a youngster compared to the other courses in St Andrews but in its relatively short existence it has garnered quite a reputation thanks in large part to spectacular holes including the par 3 15th.
5* resorts such as the Fairmont St Andrews, home to two fantastic golf courses, and The Old Course Hotel, which boasts one of the fiercest tests of golf in Scotland in the form of the Dukes Course, simply sweeten the deal when considering a St Andrews Golf Tour.
Although remote in comparison to other parts of Scotland, this area of the country is well worth a visit for a number of reasons. To begin with the scenery on offer, both by the coast and further inland, is simply stunning which leads to the second reason; this land has, needless to say, allowed golf architects to sculpt some of the most breathtaking golf courses in existence.
Spey Valley is a far cry from the rugged surrounds of Scotland’s links offerings but it takes golfers on a journey that is quintessentially Scottish all the same.
Royal Dornoch is undoubtedly a member of the exclusive band of legendary links courses that enthusiasts flock to Scotland for and with modern giants like Castle Stuart joining the party in Inverness, the links golf on offer here takes some beating! The amazing Spey Valley Resort gives golfers a different taste of Scottish golf by taking them on a luxurious journey through the famed Highlands, which must be among the most beautiful natural wonders in the world. Variety and quality in abundance here.
Perthshire and the central region of Scotland, easily accessed from both Edinburgh and Fife, offer the perfect complement to the seaside golf that Scotland is so famous for. At the very top of the golfing tree in this part of the country is the amazing Gleneagles which not only boasts three stunning golf courses, one of which will host the Ryder Cup in 2014, but one of the finest 5* hotels, not just in Scotland, but in the world.
Gleneagles will host the 2014 Ryder Cup and as well as the PGA Centenary Course it boasts to fine James Braid layouts, the Queens and the Kings, which is pictured above.
Murrayshall House boasts two further golf courses of its own and The Green Hotel does the same. All in all if you have had your fill of links golf in Scotland, or if you simply fancy a sneak peak at what the golfing titans from the USA and Europe will face at the Ryder Cup in a couple of years time, then this is the place to be.
For further information on Scottish Golf Tours and Scottish Golf Breaks please visit www.yourgolftravel.com or call free on 0800 043 6644.
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