Loch Ness is typical of the courses built in the past twenty years by the recreational industry near major cities in Scotland. It is well designed, well maintained and interesting to play but with its wide fairways, even rough, slightly contoured greens and shallow bunkers, it lacks the novelty, charm and subtlety of Scotland’s old courses. It plays like any good course in America. One thing that distinguishes it from most other Scottish courses is its par 73 which it achieves by having three par-5s on the back nine.

The Machrie offers a links golf experience at its best. Fairways of classic links grasses roll between ancient shrub-covered dunes that separate holes from each other and from the nearby sea. Holes test you with blind shots to unseen fairway landing areas or greens hiding beyond hummocks covered with wisps of marram grass. Undulating greens challenge your ability to read their break but putt truly. And, of course, there are the elements, wind, sun, and perhaps rain, to bring variety to your game. The Machrie has it all. Further, The Machrie also offers a great bonus, especially for the golfer new to links golf. It sports fairways that are exceptionally wide compared to most links courses. Most holes also offer a generous first cut of rough that, though shortening your ball’s roll, will probably allow you to find it and continue play. There is even an absence of gorse thickets on The Machrie! All combine to make The Machrie the ideal place for an introduction to true links play.

Don’t be fooled, however. The Machrie is no push-over. At 5903 yards/par 71, it is a decent length for a links course. As the locals are quick to point out, the bad golf shot certainly will be punished and each hole presents a different challenge of length or placement. Also, though links golf is often characterized by the occasional blind shot, The Machrie has more than its share. Depending on the length and placement of your tee shot, you may play to as many as six landing areas that can’t be seen from the tee and you may need to hit as many as twelve blind approaches to hidden greens!

This is an old course that has succeeded in retaining an historical sense of connection to the early days of golf in Scotland. Notwithstanding a few minor changes made in the 1970’s, it appears substantially as it did in 1901 when “The Great Triumvirate” of Harry Vardon, John Henry Taylor and James Braid joined others in playing the first Machrie Open for the then unheard-of purse of £100 to the winner.

The course at Machrihanish is quite simply one of the finest links courses in the world. It and Royal Dornoch anchor the two ends of the magnificent crescent of highland and island courses described in this book. Machrihanish is largely unknown to most golfers, and those who know it want to keep it a secret. Located on the far southern tip of the long Peninsula of Kintyre, it is five miles from the nearest town, has no large hotels and only three bed and breakfasts nearby. Thus, despite the magnificence of the course, Machrihanish can never hope to be the site for any major, world-class competitions. It must remain the best unknown course in Scotland.

The course was originally laid out in 1876 as a 10-holer, but Old Tom Morris was brought across from St. Andrews three years later and extended it to a full 18-holes. Many of the holes have been changed over the years, but Old Tom must be given credit for placing the first tee where it is today, offering an incredibly challenging first swing. It is said, however, that Old Tom’s primary motivation for locating this tee where he did was to give golfers easy access to a local inn where they could avail themselves of a brew or a “bump of the bog water” before or after a round.

Machrihanish is a classic links course. The fairways wind through and over ancient sand dunes that have been overgrown with links grasses, and shrubs. Though there are never any large changes in elevation, many shots are blind, over hummocks tufted with straw and gorse or out of depressions that offer shelter from the winds. It is nine holes out and nine holes back, the outbound nine running very near the sea which you can often hear over intervening dunes when the wind is right. The fairways roll, dip and curve, often rewarding the well-aimed runner. Bump it up to the greens if you have the skill, unless, of course, they are guarded by bunkers that can be large and deep. Above all is the joy of hole after different hole, each offering its own particular obstacles and openings to success.

I have not played this course and so cannot offer a personal description. The club describes its course as follows:

Monofieth's Medal was elected by the Royal and Ancient GC of St. Andrews as a final qualifying course for the 2007 Open Championship. This course has recently undergone a 3 year recovery program under the head greenskeeper Scott Rennie and is in excellent condition with well grassed narrow running fairways, lush semi-rough, penal heavy rough and fast consistent greens not to mention the deep revetted bunkers to test any standard of golfer.

I have not played this course and so cannot offer a personal description. The club describes its course as follows:

The Medal Course at Montrose is a majestic layout in the true traditions of Scottish Links golf and has hosted many important events in its history including the Scottish Professional Championship in 1967 and 1970, the Scottish Amateur Championship in 1975 and the British Boys' Championship and Internationals in 1991.
Because of all these factors the Links was honored by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club in being chosen as a Final Qualifying Course for the Open Championship at Carnoustie in 1999 and again in 2007.

I have not played this course and so cannot offer a personal description. The club describes its course as follows:

Henry Cotton's preference for precision golf can be seen with the shorter but somewhat tighter new course with greens smaller than the Old but every bit as good, and equally challenging and rewarding.

I have not played this course and so cannot offer a personal description. The club describes its course as follows:

The old course is considered to be one of the finest links courses in Scotland. A classic links designed by Old Tom Morris with deep revetted bunkers, undulating gorse lined fairways and smooth fast greens. It is a superb test of golf with seven par fours over 400 yards.

Though this course claims to have been designed, at least in part, by James Braid, it actually has little of the magic that one would expect from the master. It is an old course, established in 1875, that runs on both sides of the rail line that goes north out of Inverness. Railway lines are common near Scottish courses and the quiet electric trains that run on them do not seem to interfere with the quality of the golfing experience.

I have not played this course and so cannot offer a personal description.

I have not played this course and so cannot offer a personal description. The club describes its course as follows:

I have not played this course and so cannot offer a personal description. The club describes its course as follows:

Newmachar Golf Club, which has hosted European tour and international events, is on the outskirts of Aberdeen, Scotland and near its international airport. Within a two hour drive are other renowned courses such as St Andrews, Gleneagles, Carnoustie, Cruden Bay and Nairn.
Opened for play in September 1990, this Dave Thomas designed, 6700 yard Championship Course, has been endorsed by Peter Alliss and is a real challenge to all who set foot on the first tee.
With a par of 72 (SSS 74), (US Slope Rating 143), Hawkshill is the toughest of all the courses in the area. With water hazards coming in to play in no fewer than seven holes, mature silver birch and Scots pine trees lining the strategically bunkered fairways and greens, the Hawkshill Course is already acknowledged as one of the true tests of golf in Scotland.
Although some commentators have likened it to an "American" layout, the real character of the course is firmly Scottish, with a similarity to the Kings Course at Gleneagles or Rosemount.

I have not played this course and so cannot offer a personal description.

I have not played this course and so cannot offer a personal description. The club describes its course as follows:

This creation of mother nature, among the dunes and across the links is a classic example of Scottish seaside golf at it's best - and the toughest!
Peterhead Golf Club was established in 1841. The ‘Old Course’ layout began as a 9 hole course in 1892, designed by Willie Park Jr. a dual winner of the Open Championship. The ‘Old Course’ was extended to 18 holes in 1908

I have not played this course and so cannot offer a personal description.

I have not played this course and so cannot offer a personal description. The club describes its course as follows:

“The Club is situated in the picturesque village of Portpatrick in South West Scotland, 7 miles from the ferry port of Stranraer.  The Clubhouse and golf courses command panoramic views across the North Channel to Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Mull of Kintyre.   The area enjoys a temperate climate due to the Gulf Stream and golf is playable all year round.
The Club is renowned for its friendly welcome to visitors with a fully modernised clubhouse including a well-appointed Lounge, Bar and Dining Room. This, together with full changing, showering and storage facilities, ensures that both our members and visitors are well catered for.
The excellent 9 hole, Par 3, Dinvin Course, which takes about an hour to play, is ideal for the golfer looking for a quick exercise or the beginner who feels ill- equipped for the rigours of 18 holes. The 18 hole Dunskey Course, with its interesting and varied holes, is a challenge to the low handicap player but will not intimidate those of lesser ability. Each hole has its own different view ranging from pastureland and woodland, through coastal scenes to stunning views across the North Channel to Ireland from the 13th tee, the Club's signature hole.”

If you want to talk history you have to talk Prestwick. It was here in 1860 that Willie Park won the very first British Open Championship with a score of 174 achieved in three rounds over the then-12-hole course.

You can play seven of the original greens today. Bounded by railway lines, the town of Prestwick and the sea, Prestwick has not been able to expand to meet the demands of modern golf equipment as other courses have. It thus has been forced to retain some of the old quirkiness of Scotland’s original classic links courses.

The 3rd hole, a 482 yard, par-5, is bordered on the right by the Pow Burn and the huge Cardinal Bunker that guards the turn of the dogleg. The choice is to try to carry over the Cardinal with your second stroke, or lay up and be faced with a log approach. Hole #5 is a blind, 206 yard 3-par that asks you to aim over a high ridge, actually an ancient sand dune, appropriately named “The Himalayas” to a green heavily guarded by sand bunkers. The 16th “Cardinals Back” is only 288 yards but, without an accurate tee shot, par is next to impossible. The longest par-4 on the course the 10th “Arran” at 454 yards, gives you a magnificent view of the sea, the famous Ailsa Craig and, on a clear day, the Isle of Arran.

Each of these holes demands its own, unique strategy for play. Local knowledge is paramount and, thus, playing with a member if you can arrange it, is especially sweet here. Close your eyes and you can almost hear the thunk of hickory on gutta percha and the exclamations of the past greats of the game as they worked their way around this wonderful course.

This rolling parkland course behind the town of Prestwick was built in the mid-1960’s to satisfy the growing need for affordable golf in the area. The huge number of trees that were planted then have now nicely reached maturity and define the fairways and generous greens.

Nine of the fairways are doglegged, putting an extra importance on your accuracy off the tee. Though there is not much change in elevation, numerous bunkers make life interesting. Further, six of the greens boast cleverly sloped aprons that deceive the eye and require extreme care in your execution of your approach shots. Add to that occasional multi-tiered greens and you have a delightful course that presents a legitimate golf challenge.

Just down the coast from its more well-known sister, the St. Nicholas course is as old as Prestwick and benefits from the same wonderful links land on which it is located.

Like many of the older Scottish links courses, it is short and tight, with a demand put on the accuracy, not the distance of your tee shots. The course plays to a par 69, having only one par-5 to counter its four par-3’s. Don’t be disappointed by the length. This course is great fun to play and, in the weather that often blows off the Firth of Clyde, can be very demanding.

The renowned golf course architect Donald Steele is quoted as saying of Reay, “In a different location, it would enjoy worldwide acclaim.” But it is precisely the location that gives the course at Reay its great distinction. As the most northernly18 hole course on the British mainland it presents views across the Pentland Firth and to the nearest Orkney Islands that are breathtaking. But more importantly, it takes advantage of wonderful seaside links land set among great sand dunes along Sandside Bay.

The course itself is a wonderfully true example of a links course, as you would expect when James Braid had a hand in its design. Your round will start with long but relatively straight-forward holes but will soon change as difficult elements begin to appear. Great long par-5’s, and par-3’s that are all carry will alternate with holes on which the ball’s roll in the fairway is key and holes that present blind shots to difficult greens. By the end of the round you will have needed every shot in your bag, and you might have developed one you did not know you had.
The greens are typically large, oval in shape and very well maintained. The fairways are composed of wiry links turf that encourages the use of bump and run shots that might be quite useful if the wind is a prominent factor as it often is.

Royal Aberdeen is everybody’s idea of the exemplary Scottish links golf course. Built near the sea among ancient sand dunes and hills covered by fescue and marram grasses, gorse and heather, it marches two miles out to the northeast, up the coast for nine holes then returns for the back nine to the clubhouse. Each hole presents a different challenge but all must be played in the wind and elements, in true links golf fashion. The course has its share of blind shots, rambling and undulating fairways, greens with imaginative tiers, slopes, knobs and swales, and, of course, bunkers. They combine to require a thoughtful approach to the game that rewards inventive execution over raw power and diversity of play over mechanical repetition.

Historians can’t determine how far back in time golf was first played on the Aberdeen Town Links but the first club was formed in 1780, making it the sixth oldest golf club in the world. The club moved to its current location, the Balgownie Links, in the late 1800’s and has continued to “sympathetically improve” the course as technology and skill have modified the game. Most importantly, the course has retained the clear characteristics and distinguishing qualities that make it a classic links course in the very best style of Scottish golf.

You simply have to experience this course. As you play over classic links land that borders the North Sea at the Dornoch Firth, you will be awed by its wild magnificence of sea, sky, mountains and ancient, grass-covered dunes while having every shot you have in your bag tested. This course saw golf being played long before the establishment of the Club , the first written record recorded in 1616. Golf Magazine recently ranked it the SECOND BEST course in Scotland, only outranked by The Old Course at St. Andrews. Yet, because of its remoteness (45 miles north of Inverness and 8 degrees below the Arctic Circle) Royal Dornoch is relatively uncrowded and retains a personal intimacy long since lost by the more famous courses in the south. Still, though relatively unheard of until recent years, increased popularity among British and American golfers suggests that a call ahead to book a time is wise, perhaps even a few months ahead. Most Independent Golfers plan their trips to the Highlands around a round or two at Royal Dornoch and it is good to pin down this time early in your planning.

The Struie course has always been the little sister and alternative-if-you-can’t-get-on to the Championship course at Royal Dornoch. But in the Spring of 2003 a substantial renovation was opened, including the rerouting of many of the existing holes, replacement of some old greens and, most importantly, the addition of five completely new holes. The Struie course may always be the Championship course’s little sister, but she has now blossomed into mature womanhood as a course worthy of considerable respect in her own right.

Here is both ancient and current Scottish golfing history. Though laid out in 1878 and extended to 18 holes 10 years later, Troon has continued to expand. It is one of the few classic Scottish links courses that has succeeded in keeping up with the evolution in golf equipment and skill so that it can continue to successfully host the British Open even today. By the time of the 1997 open the course had been lengthened to over 7,000 yards.

This is one of the easiest of the current Open rota courses to gain access to, though you will need to pay a dear price for the privilege. Once on, you will delight in tramping the same fairways and greens that the “big boys” play. Like them you will need to take great care in judging the wind’s potential effect on your tee shot at the #8 “Postage Stamp” with its green that is only 25 feet wide at its widest. You will need to put the best swing you have on your 2nd shot onto the green of the #10 “Sandhills” that is cunningly protected by a great bank of gorse on your right and a large gully to the left. Can you "keep it together down the stretch" as Justin Leonard did in 1997 to fend off Tiger Woods and reel in Jesper Parnevik to take the Open title?

The first nine holes, with the exception of the 114 yard “Postage Stamp”, march in linked step southeast nearest the sea. The course then doubles back upon itself and, with the exception of #12 “The Fox”, takes you northwest back to the clubhouse. Strategically placed bunkers, multi-tiered greens, rolling fairways, length, weather, Royal Troon offers everything you could ask for in a links golf experience.

Sited away from the sea and across the road from the Old Course, the slightly newer and shorter Portland course is a bit more sheltered from the weather. Though one might rightly label it a moorland course, it nevertheless succeeds in offering a links golf experience.

The course boasts a surprising four par-5’s, all on the back nine! This course’s original name, bestowed at its opening in 1895, was the “Relief” course. It would be fitting today to recall that name to service, given the Portland’s function of siphoning players off the Old Course during peak times.