Scotland's 50 Greatest Golf Courses
From the ancient links of St Andrews to the remote splendour of Royal Dornoch — the definitive editorial ranking of Scottish golf.
Showing all 50 courses
St Andrews Old Course
The Home of Golf, 18 holes on the West Sands coast
Design: Nature / Old Tom Morris
Royal Dornoch Championship
Remote links gem rated Top 5 globally
Design: Donald Ross birthplace
Muirfield
Host to 16 Open Championships
Design: Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers
Carnoustie Championship
The most feared Open venue in golf
Design: James Braid redesign
Royal Troon Old Course
Home of the Postage Stamp, par 3 eighth
Design: Willie Fernie / James Braid
Turnberry Ailsa
Lighthouse course, scene of the 1977 Duel in the Sun
Design: MacKenzie Ross
Kingsbarns Golf Links
Modern masterpiece carved from ancient farmland
Design: Kyle Phillips
North Berwick West Links
The original template for Redan par threes
Design: David Strath / Old Tom Morris
Prestwick Golf Club
The original Open Championship venue, founded 1851
Design: Old Tom Morris
Cruden Bay Golf Club
Eccentric dunes masterwork on the Buchan coast
Design: Old Tom Morris / Archie Simpson
Gleneagles King's Course
King of Scotland's resort courses, Ryder Cup 2014
Design: James Braid
Castle Stuart Golf Links
Dramatic firth-side links, Scottish Open venue
Design: Gil Hanse
Gullane No.1
Panoramic Firth of Forth views from the summit
Design: Willie Park Jr
Western Gailes Golf Club
The finest private links on the Ayrshire coast
Design: Tom Morris Sr
The Renaissance Club
Open qualifying venue, pure links golf experience
Design: Tom Doak
Machrihanish Dunes
Wild Kintyre Peninsula, remotely magnificent
Design: David McLay Kidd
Archerfield Links
Private estate links overlooking Fidra Island
Design: David Donoghue
Loch Lomond Golf Club
Highland loch setting, exclusive private members club
Design: Tom Weiskopf / Jay Morrish
Nairn Golf Club
Open qualifying venue on the Moray Firth
Design: Tom Simpson / Old Tom Morris
Brora Golf Club
Timeless links shared with highland cattle, James Braid's masterpiece
Design: James Braid
Gleneagles Queen's Course
Shorter but equally charming Gleneagles companion
Design: James Braid
Blairgowrie Rosemount
Scotland's finest heathland course in Perthshire forest
Design: Tom Morris / James Braid
St Andrews Castle Course
Dramatic clifftop holes overlooking the North Sea
Design: David McLay Kidd
Golspie Golf Club
Highland gem stretching beside the North Sea
Design: James Braid
Tain Golf Club
One of the oldest courses in the Highlands
Design: Old Tom Morris
Musselburgh Old Links
The world's oldest golf course, played since 1672
Design: Historic
Dunbar Golf Club
Classic East Lothian links, Open qualifying venue
Design: Tom Morris Sr
Craigielaw Golf Club
Modern East Lothian links with championship credentials
Design: Donald Steel
Elie Golf Club
Legendary clubhouse with periscope on the starter's box
Design: Old Tom Morris
Lundin Golf Club
Classic Fife links with Largo Bay views
Design: James Braid / Old Tom Morris
Leven Links
Co-host of Scottish Open qualifying, ancient Fife links
Design: Tom Morris Sr
St Andrews New Course
The second-oldest links in St Andrews
Design: Old Tom Morris
St Andrews Jubilee Course
Open qualifying course, links masterwork
Design: Donald Steel redesign
Fortrose & Rosemarkie
Breathtaking Black Isle peninsula setting
Design: James Braid
Ladybank Golf Club
Open qualifying heathland in the heart of Fife
Design: Tom Morris Sr
Kilmarnock Barassie
Ayrshire links qualifying course for The Open
Design: Old Tom Morris
Glasgow Gailes Golf Club
Historic Ayrshire links, Walker Cup qualifier
Design: Willie Park Jr
Southerness Golf Club
Solway Firth links, Scotland's most southerly gem
Design: MacKenzie Ross
Dunaverty Golf Club
Remote Mull of Kintyre links, spectacular views to Ireland
Design: James Braid
Royal Musselburgh Golf Club
The fifth oldest golf club in the world
Design: Founded 1774
Gullane No.2
Highly rated companion to the famous No.1 course
Design: Willie Park Jr
The Duke's Course
Elevated parkland with panoramic links views
Design: Peter Thomson
Trump International Golf Links
Championship links carved from dramatic Aberdeenshire dunes
Design: Martin Hawtree
Fairmont St Andrews Torrance
Resort links with Old Course views
Design: Sam Torrance / Gene Sauers
Dalmahoy East Course
Edinburgh's finest parkland, host to European Tour
Design: James Braid
Gleneagles PGA Centenary
Ryder Cup 2014 course, Jack Nicklaus design
Design: Jack Nicklaus
Crail Balcomie Links
Compact gem with dramatic sea views, 1786 vintage
Design: Tom Morris Sr
Brora Golf Club (South)
Timeless Northern links
Design: James Braid
Montrose Links
The fifth oldest golf course in the world
Design: Historic
Reay Golf Club
Britain's most northerly 18-hole links
Design: Tom Morris Sr
About this ranking
This editorial ranking draws on Golf Digest, Golf Magazine, and the collective knowledge of our Scotland specialists — who between them have played hundreds of Scottish courses. Scotland is the birthplace of golf and boasts the greatest concentration of links land on the planet. No two lists will ever fully agree, but we stand behind every placement here.
Courses are colour-coded by tier: World Class (top 6 globally competitive), Championship (Open or major-event pedigree), Premier (outstanding quality, destination-worthy), and Classic (historic or highly enjoyable regional gems). All 50 are worth your time.
Our Scotland specialists visit these courses regularly and have standing relationships with the best hotels and clubs. Call us on 01753 752 985 and we'll build your perfect Scotland golf itinerary from scratch.
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