Custom Golf Trips to Scotland

There are between 580 and 614 golf courses in Scotland. It features major championship golf courses, including St. Andrews Old Course, Carnoustie, Royal Dornoch, Muirfield, and Royal Troon. Scotland is known as the ‘Home of Golf,’ where the game has been played for centuries.

Scotland regularly hosts major tournaments that include:

• The Open Championship – This oldest and most prestigious golf major has been held annually since 1860. It is been played on 7 different courses in Scotland, with the Old Course at St Andrews Golf Club being the most frequent host.
• The Scottish Open – Part of the Rolex Series and the first DP World and PGA Tour co-sanctioned tournament and played every year since 1972, the Scottish Open is played on a different course in Scotland every year, with the Renaissance Club in East Lothian being the current host. 
• The Women’s Scottish Open – Co-sanctioned by the LPGA and the Ladies European Tour, this tournament is currently held at the Dundonald Links in Ayrshire.
• The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship– This pro-am event is played on three courses; the Old Course at St Andrews, Carnoustie, and Kingsbarns, and has been held every year since 2001.
• The Staysure PGA Seniors Championship – This is a Legends Tour event played on a different course in Scotland annually. It brings together Major winners, world number ones, and Ryder Cup captains and players, played yearly since 1957.

There are 5 main golfing regions in Scotland to experience. They include:

• St Andrews – St Andrews is the iconic town where golf was first played in the 15th century. This spiritual home of golf has seven public courses, including the Old Course, the world’s oldest and most famous golf course. You will also find luxurious hotels and resorts, including the Old Course Hotels, Rusacks St Andrews, and Fairmont St Andrews. 
• East Lothian – East Lothian, also known as Scotland’s Golf Coast, has 22 impressive courses along its breathtaking coastline, including Muirfield, which has hosted The Open Championship 16 times, Gullane, which has hosted the Scottish Open six times, and North Berwick, one of the oldest and most scenic courses in the country. 
• Ayrshire & Glasgow – This region sits on the west coast of Scotland, with some of the most challenging and prestigious links courses in the world. They include Royal Troon, which has hosted the Open Championship 9 times, Turnberry, which has hosted the same championship 4 times; and Prestwick, which hosted the first-ever Open Championship in 1860. You will also find vibrant cities and attractions along the way, such as Ayr, Kilmarnock, and Glasgow.
• Aberdeen – Located in the northeast of Scotland, this region boasts stunning coastal courses like Royal Aberdeen, the sixth oldest golf club in the world and two-time host of The Scottish Open, Cruden Bay, a quirky links course with spectacular views, and Trump International Golf Links, a modern and luxurious resort featuring a challenging course designed by Martin Hawtree.
• Highlands & Inverness – This region covers the north of Scotland. It offers several scenic and remote golf courses, including Royal Dornoch, ranked among the top 10 courses in the world by Golf Digest; Castle Stuart, a modern links course that has hosted The Scottish Open four times; and Nairn, a classic links course that has hosted The Walker Cup and The Curtis Cup.

Scotland’s most famous golf course is the Old Course, St Andrews Links. It is the world’s oldest and most iconic golf course, with golf being first played there in the 15th century.

Between 1873 and 2022, it has hosted The Open Championship 30 times, more than any other course, with the latest hosted in 2022. It is the ultimate pilgrimage for golfers around the world.

Golf travel season in Scotland normally runs from April to October. June, July, and August are the warmest and most popular, representing the season’s peak.

The best time varies from person to person, depending on daylight, weather, crowds, and rates. Consider late May, early June, or September to avoid the peak season’s crowds, high season rates, and busy courses.