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Fairmont St Andrews, Scotland

Golf Breaks in Scotland

Why Book a Golf Break in Scotland

For any serious player, experiencing golf holidays & breaks in Scotland is absolutely essential. With around 560 courses within a relatively small area, it is understandable that golfers from all over the world make the pilgrimage to the home of golf.

Whether it is Ryder Cup venues (Muirfield - 1973 & Gleneagles PGA Centenary Course - 2014) or Open Championship venues (no less than 7 courses have hosted the event), a golf trip to Scotland is one that is sure to satisfy any Championship golf experience as well as providing a host of luxury 5 star resorts to base yourself in for both golf and spa breaks and relaxing Sunday Drivers.

Our guide to playing The Old Course St Andrews.

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Golf in Scotland

Scotland's east and west coasts are littered with the spectacular links golf courses that are so inherently Scottish; famous names from Open Championship history such as St Andrews, Carnoustie and Turnberry offer golf breaks with a slice of history in golf's home, while Gleneagles' Perthshire landscape offers unrivalled beauty.

There is an abundance of impressive golf courses and scenic views. The Torrance & Kittokcs at Fairmont St Andrews along with the East & West courses at the Dalmahoy Hotel are great examples of multiple course resorts while The Westerwood Hotel, Macdonald Cardrona and Roxburghe Hotel all have 18 holes of challenging golf to negotiate.

Our guide to playing the best golf courses in Scotland.

The Old Course, St Andrews, Scotland
The Old Course, St Andrews, Scotland
Royal Dornoch, Scotland
Royal Dornoch, Scotland
Carnoustie Golf Links, Scotland
Carnoustie Golf Links, Scotland
Trump Turnberry, Ayrshire, Scotland
Trump Turnberry, Ayrshire, Scotland
Gleneagles - King's Course, Perthshire, Scotland
Gleneagles - King's Course, Perthshire, Scotland
Fairmont St Andrews, Scotland
Fairmont St Andrews, Scotland

Best Destinations for a Golf Break in Scotland

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Trump Turnberry, Ayrshire, Scotland

Ayrshire

A visit to Ayrshire can include multiple Open Championship courses supported by a number of hidden gems. A rich golfing history, magnificent coastline scenery combined with both resort and standalone hotel options makes the region perfect for a golf break.

What’s more, with Glasgow just a stone’s throw away, there’s a myriad of other courses and nightlife for golfing groups.

Top golf courses & golf resorts for an Ayrshire golf break:

Golf Breaks in Ayrshire
Muirfield - The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers 1

The Lothians

Famously known as Scotland’s golf coast, East Lothian contains no less than 22 outstanding courses dotted along its jaw-dropping coastline. A myriad of accommodation options accompany the golf meaning its very easy to fill up a week long break with golfing itinerary.

Scotland's vibrant capital provides historic courses scattered around its outskirts along with excellent pubs, bars and restaurants.

Top golf courses & golf resorts for a Lothians golf break:

Golf Breaks in The Lothians
Gleneagles 2

Perthshire

Situated in the very heart of Scotland, Perthshire lives and breathes golf. Boasting stuning courses, a former Ryder Cup host and luxurious resorts golfers are in for an absolute treat when on a golf break in this region of Scotland.

The region is also ideal for large groups and those who want to mix and match resorts on a golf tour.

Top golf courses & golf resorts for a Perthshire golf break:

Golf Breaks in Perthshire
Old Course Hotel, St Andrews, Scotland

St Andrews

St Andrews is the birth place of golf, a visit to this region will allow you to sample world class links courses, historic layouts and hidden gems. The magnificent courses of Fife certainly uphold their reputation of the truest forms of links golf in the UK.

Any serious golfer will find their life incomplete without a pilgrimage to experience fantastic Scottish links golf.

Top golf courses & golf resorts for a St Andrews golf break:

Golf Breaks in St Andrews
Castle Stuart, Scotland

Scottish Highlands

The home of golf & whiskey contains courses that some say could stage The Open. This area of Scotland is home to some gorgeous scenery and is more accessible than you might think with flights direct to Inverness airport.

If you love a fantastic view while playing your golf then this is the place for you.

Top golf courses & golf resorts for a Scottish Highlands golf break:

Golf Breaks in Scottish Highlands
Carnoustie Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa 4

Popular Golf Destinations in Scotland

Dundee & Carnoustie
Edinburgh
East Lothian
Aberdeenshire
West Islands
Scottish Borders

Best Golf Courses for a Golf Break in Scotland

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The Old Course, St Andrews Links

The Old Course

St Andrews Links, Fife

  • Most likely the most famous, historic and iconic course in the world
  • Widely recognised as 'The Home of Golf'
  • 29 time host of the Open Championship
  • 5th ranked course in the world
More info
Royal Dornoch Golf Club, Dornoch

Royal Dornoch Golf Club

Dornoch, Sutherland

  • Ranked inside the top 10 courses in Scotland
  • Royal status for over 100 years
  • Tom Watson once quoted as saying "The most fun i've ever had on a golf course"
More info
Muirfield - The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, East Lothian

Muirfield Golf Club

Gullane, East Lothian

  • Ranked as the 3rd best course in Scotland and the 10th best in the world
  • It is the world's oldest golf club formed in 1744
  • Host to 16 Open Championships, the 3rd most used Open venue
  • An illustrious group of Vardon, Hagen, Player, Nicklaus, Trevino, Watson, Faldo, Els and Mickelson have all won the Open here
More info
Kingsbarns Golf Links, St Andrews, Fife

Kingsbarns Golf Links

St Andrews, Fife

  • Top 50 course in the world
  • Course opened in 2000
  • Hosted European Tour events annually since 2001 and the Women's British Open in 2017
  • 15 minutes drive from St Andrews
More info
Trump Turnberry, Ayrshire

The Ailsa Course, Turnberry

Girvan, Ayrshire

  • 4th ranked course in Scotland, 14th in the world
  • Last course to be added to The Open rota, host 4 times
  • Situated on some of Scotland's most dramatic coastline providing sensational views
  • Host to the famous 1977 'Duel in the sun' between Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson
  • 90 minutes from Glasgow
More info
Carnoustie Golf Links, Angus

Carnoustie Golf Links

Angus

  • Home to 3 courses; the Championship, Burnside and Buddon courses
  • The Championship is the 5th ranked course in Scotland and within the World's top 30 courses
  • Often dubbed as 'Carnastie' due to its extremely challenging nature
  • An 8 time host of the Open; Hogan, Player and Watson have all won here
More info

Reasons to visit Scotland for a Golf Break

  • Known as the home of golf
  • Home to Musselburgh Golf Links - the world’s oldest golf course
  • Play the Old Course at St Andrews - the world’s most famous course
  • Flights 1 hour 15 minutes from London
  • Enjoy the legendary Scottish hospitality
Quick Facts
Number of Golf Courses
560
Open Championship Courses
7 (5 on active rota)
Number of Ryder Cup Courses
2
Official Organisations
The R&A (St Andrews)

Golf Breaks in Scotland are recommended for

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Carnoustie Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa 1

Championship Golf

Scotland boasts five current Open Championship venues: Turnberry, Royal Troon, Carnoustie, Muirfield & The Old Course at St Andrews. The Scottish Open was held at Loch Lomond from 1996-2010, before switching to Castle Stuart between 2011-2013 and most recently to Royal Aberdeen in 2014, with Justin Rose winning the title.

Every Autumn, Scotland plays host to the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. A pro-am event on the European Tour with many of the world’s leading players joining a host of big name celebrities to battle it out over The Old Course at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns Golf Links.

Macdonald Cardrona Hotel, Golf & Spa 21

Societies

There are plenty of venues scattered throughout Scotland which afford groups great value breaks on some terrific courses. Popular favourites include the Macdonald Cardrona Hotel, whose outstanding golf course has been earmarked as a potential future Tour venue. Murrayshall is one of few destinations in the country to offer two excellent 18-hole courses, plus it’s a convenient 25 minute drive from Dundee airport.

While the Championship Course is the obvious star at Carnoustie, there are two less brutal courses at the resort which will appeal to society golfers. After your round, you can share your tales of success and demise over a pint in the history soaked walls of Calder’s Bar, conveniently located in the hotel which overlooks the 18th green.

Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa 18

Couples

For the perfect golf and spa break, Fairmont St Andrews has everything - from the stylish rooms, outstanding food options, 5* service, European-style spa to a spectacular position overlooking the two championship golf courses. You are also perfectly placed to explore the town’s historic castle & cathedral ruins.

The Roxburghe Hotel, on the Scottish Borders, is another great option for couples. Owned by the Duke & Duchess of Roxburghe, the service is befitting of royalty; you’ll feel more like you’ve arrived at a luxurious family home than at a formal hotel. If it’s an extra special weekend ask for a room upgrade & cuddle up by your own log fire in the comfort of a four-poster bed.

For something closer to the major cities, Mar Hall is a popular luxury wedding venue with spectacular views - and it’s just 10 minutes from Glasgow airport.

Nightlife - Donegal & Sligo

Nightlife

The pick of Scotland’s nightlife is centred around Edinburgh & Glasgow, where a vast number of bars, clubs & atmospheric old pubs provide the perfect setting for some late night shenanigans.

Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club is located just 7 miles from Edinburgh & its popular evening haunts on George St & the Royal Mile. For easy access to Glasgow, the Westerwood Hotel & Golf Resort is just a short drive from both the city & international airport. You may like to time your trip with a visit to either Celtic Park or Ibrox Stadium to watch Rangers and Celtic in the Old Firm derby.

As a student town, St Andrews also offers a lively atmosphere most nights of the week. You won’t find many better bases than at the Rusacks Hotel, which backs onto the famous 18th hole of the Old Course.

Trump Turnberry, a Luxury Collection Resort 5* - Courtyard

Luxury Golf Hotels

There are several top-class golf hotels in Scotland of which Gleneagles, Trump Turnberry and The Old Course Hotel are perhaps the most famous. Besides being chosen to host the recent Ryder Cup, Gleneagles has been a venue of international repute since its inception as a member of The Leading Hotels of the World.

Turnberry in Ayrshire and the Old Course in St Andrews boast magnificent hotels befitting the world-renowned championship golf courses on their doorstep, with guests assured of only the best in service, pampering and fine dining on their Scotland golf break.

Golf Travel Tips for Scotland

Golf in Scotland is most popular during the warmer summer months with golfers flocking to enjoy the long days of sunlight with golf possible on certain days long into the evening. Whilst many golf courses will be at their most expensive during this period of time, there are some very good deals to be had for those travelling on less busy days such as Sunday afternoons and Mondays as part of a Sunday Driver package.

With many golf courses in Scotland having a lower level of grass growth in the winter months, golf is often played on mats to protect the fairways. Do take this into consideration when booking and planning your trip, especially when playing some of the well-known ones such as The Old Course or Ailsa at Turnberry.

When to visit Scotland for a Golf Break
Best Golfing Weather
May - September
Best Value
April & October
High Season
May, June & September
Low Season
November - March

The most iconic destination in golf

Follow some of our golf travel specialists as the give you an insight into what it is like to experience likes of the Old Course St Andrews, Fairmont St Andrews courses, The Old Course Hotel, The Duke's Course and Kingsbarns.

We show exactly what you can expect when travelling to St Andrews on a golf breaks in Scotland.

Expert Tip: Guided Walks of The Old Course
The Old Course St Andrews is closed almost every Sunday, if you are on a tour in the St Andrews area why not book up a guided walk of The Old Course for a perfect Sunday stroll.

Frequently asked questions about Golf Breaks in Scotland

Where to play golf on a golf break in Scotland?

Scotland is home to numerous Top 100 Golf Courses, the best golf resorts in Scotland are Fairmont St Andrews (Fife), Trump Turnberry Resort (Ayrshire), Gleneagles (Auchterarder), Old Course Hotel (Fife), Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club (Edinburgh), Macdonald Cardrona Hotel, Golf & Spa (Peebles), Roxburghe Hotel & Golf Course (Roxburgheshire), Carnoustie Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa (Angus), The Westerwood Hotel & Golf Resort (Glasgow) and Macdonald Spey Valley Championship Resort (Inverness-shire).

Some of the best golf courses in Scotland include St Andrews Old Course, Royal Dornoch, Muirfield, Kingsbarns Golf Links, Trump Turnberry (Ailsa course), Carnoustie (Championship course), Royal Aberdeen (Balgownie), North Berwick (West course), Castle Stuart and Trump International Golf Links.
How many golf courses are there in Scotland?

There are 560 golf courses in Scotland. Many of the most famous golf courses in Scotland are found on the East and West coast. These seaside courses are known as links golf courses and have been the capstone in the creation of golf as a sport that millions enjoy each year.

While it is the links golf courses in Scotland that draw the eye, there is a huge variety of layouts and challenges on offer. Classic parkland golf can be enjoyed at the famed Gleneagles Resort in Perthshire or the picturesque and private estates of Loch Lomond and Skibo Castle both feature within the Top 20 golf courses to play in Scotland. Heathland golf is enjoyed at many courses in Scotland but fine examples are enjoyed at The Duke's Course which is just 15 minutes from St Andrews and Blairgowrie Golf Club with it's fast-running sandy soil framed perfectly by heather and grand pine trees.

Scotland isn't just a place to visit for those who are championship golfers, there are lots of opportunities to learn the game as well with many excellent golf academies and tuition available at the vast majority of golf courses in Scotland.

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