Golf Trips to Scotland
Scotland is the birthplace of golf. A land where the game feels woven into the wind, the dunes, and the centuries-old towns that line its rugged coastline. From the storied fairways and historic streets of St Andrews to the dramatic seaside landscapes and championship links of the Highlands, Scotland offers a style of golf that defines the soul of the sport.
Scotland’s legendary courses read like a dream list: the Old Course, Muirfield, Royal Dornoch, Turnberry, Carnoustie, and many more, all of which can be seamlessly included in your itinerary. Off the fairways, Scotland offers its own magic, historic castles, whisky distilleries, coastal villages, vibrant pubs, and the warmth that makes every visitor feel at home.
Below, you’ll find a comprehensive guide to planning a golf trip to Scotland, including an overview of top courses, an interactive map (desktop only), driving distances, weather insights, and much more. Scroll down to explore—the home of golf awaits.
Scotland
Your Ultimate Trip Planning Resource for Golf in Scotland
*Use the desktop version to view our interactive map.
World Top 100 Golf Courses
Scotland is home to 19 of the Golf Digest World Top 100 golf courses.
Royal Dornoch (Championship)
2
St Andrews (Old)
3
Muirfield
6
Trump Turnberry (Ailsa)
8
North Berwick
19
Carnoustie (Championship)
16
Cruden Bay
21
Kingsbarns
22
Royal Troon (Old)
28
Trump International Scotland (Old)
34
Machrihanish
52
Cabot Highlands (Castle Stuart)
51
Royal Aberdeen (Balgownie)
56
Prestwick
61
Western Gailes
78
St Andrews (New)
91
Trump Turnberry (King Robert the Bruce)
94
Nairn (Championship)
95
The Open Championship Courses
Scotland is home to seven courses to host The Open Championship. Pioneer Golf has long standing relationships with all of these courses and is happy to book tee times at as many of these courses that your itinerary allows.
The Hidden Gems
Courses that rival The Open Championship Courses in every way, but they haven't made it on the rotation... yet.
Brora
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Highlands
Brora, tucked away in the Scottish Highlands, is a charming James Braid design that embodies the spirit of traditional links golf. Sheep and cattle still graze the fairways, adding to its authenticity, while the course itself blends rolling dunes, firm turf, and sea breezes for a pure golfing test. read more
Cabot Highlands (Old Petty)
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Highlands
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The Highlands’ newest addition, Old Petty offers a classic links-style experience infused with rugged natural beauty. Routed across rolling land with views of the Moray Firth and surrounding hills, it provides a blend of challenge and charm in a serene setting. read more
Crail (Balcomie)
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Fife
Crail’s Balcomie Links, designed by Old Tom Morris in 1895, is one of Scotland’s oldest and most endearing seaside courses. Set along the Fife coastline, it combines quirky charm with breathtaking views, featuring short but demanding holes that reward accuracy and creativity. read more
Dumbarnie
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Fife
Dumbarnie Links, a modern addition to Scotland’s golf scene, has quickly earned acclaim for its striking design and stunning Firth of Forth views. The course features wide, undulating fairways, risk-reward options, and dramatic elevation changes that make for exciting and memorable shot-making. read more
Dundonald
West Coast
Dundonald is a modern links that combines traditional charm with contemporary design. Known for its rolling fairways, deep bunkers, and testing greens, it provides a stern but fair challenge in true links fashion. read more
Gleneagles (Kings)
Perthshire
Gleneagles’ King’s Course, is a timeless heathland layout that showcases rolling fairways, strategic bunkering, and panoramic views of the Perthshire hills. Revered for its beauty and playability, it strikes a perfect balance between challenge and enjoyment for golfers of all levels. read more
Gleneagles (PGA Centenary)
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Perthshire
The PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles, designed by Jack Nicklaus, is a modern championship layout that has hosted both the Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup. read more
Sample Packages
Our Nine most popular trips
St Andrews
Highlands
Southwest
East Lothian
St Andrews & Highlands
St Andrews & Southwest Coast
St Andrews & East Lothian
St Andrews & Northeast
Highlands & Northeast
Packages
Additional Travel Information
Where should I stay?
The options in a bit more detail…
Ready to dive into some details?
What do other groups do?
Rental Vehicle
- Autonomy/Flexibility
- Cost
- Steering wheel is on the right side of the vehicle
- Driving on the left side of the road
- Dealing with busy roundabouts and narrow roads
- Fender benders and dealing with insurance if something happens
- Parking (especially in St Andrews and Edinburgh)
- No local driver to lean on for advice (or driving)
- Gasoline and diesel are significantly more expensive than in the US
Private Group Transfers
- Worry-free - no need to worry about driving on the other side of the road, dealing with roundabouts and narrow roads, or finding how to get to your destination
- Cost
- Our drivers are awesome!
- You will feel well taken care of
- Available in the St Andrews Area, East Lothian, and the Southwest Coast of Scotland.
- Little or no flexibility to adjust pickup or dropoff times once on trip
- If you don’t appear for the pickup at arrange time, you may lose your transfer
- Can’t leave belongings in vehicle
- Can’t stop for lunch or to visit the castle on the way unless prearranged
- Not available in the Highlands, the Northeast, and a few other less-traveled areas (rental vehicles or a full-time chauffeur and vehicle can be mixed in for these areas).
Full-time Private Chauffeur and Vehicle
- It will add so much to your experience!
- Worry-free - no need to worry about driving on the other side of the road, dealing with roundabouts and narrow roads, or finding how to get to your destination
- We use the best vehicles available in Scotland
- Our drivers are awesome and will make your trip special
- You can leave belongings in vehicle
- You can stop for lunch, dinner, or to visit the castle on the way (subject to driver limitations)
- Cost (although it becomes much more affordable with more people in the group)
- Driver Limitations (although generally not much of an issue in the UK as restrictions are generous)
Annual Temperature, Precipitation, and Daylight
The below chart contains the weather information that most golfers are interested in knowing when planning a trip to Scotland. The data below is for the town of St Andrews. The weather in the rest of the country is fairly similar especially with regard to average highs; however, the West Coast of Scotland does get a bit more rain than the rest of the country (on average about 1.5 inches more than St Andrews per month during the spring and summer). We organize golf trips beginning at the end of March and running through the end of October. Weather is only one of the factors to consider when planning a trip. Be sure to get advice from your Golf Travel Advisor on the other factors (e.g., St Andrews Old Course closures, availability, and lottery odds). Don't make the mistake of choosing your month of travel only based on the weather!
The ins and outs of securing a tee time at The Old Course
The St Andrews Old Course is often such an important factor in planning a golf trip to Scotland that we have created an entire page dedicated to everything you need to know about the St Andrews Old Course with a focus on how to obtain a tee time. Click below to access:
When should I book?
When it comes to planning a golf trip to Scotland, there are many timelines and deadlines at play. Most of our clients book their Scotland golf trip anywhere from two years to six months in advance. Depending on which courses you’d like to play or if you’d like to purchase a Guaranteed Old Course tee time, booking well in advance is of the utmost importance. A trip booked late to the St Andrews area can mean missing crucial lotteries for the St Andrews Old Course, missing out on guaranteed Old Course tee times, ending up with tee times after 3pm or 4pm, not getting to play courses that you’d like, or not staying where you’d like. Unfortunately, Scotland is the most popular golf destination in the world so early planning is a must. Our team of Golf Travel Advisors can talk you through the various deadlines to keep in mind such as Muirfield’s tee sheet opening (tee times disappear in a few hours) and the St Andrews Old Course annual tee time lottery.
Courses in Scotland
Archerfield Links – Dirleton Course
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Archerfield Links – Fidra Course
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Blairgowrie – Rosemount Course
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Boat of Garten
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Brora
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Cabot Highlands - Castle Stuart
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