The Old Course at St Andrews, the birthplace of golf, boasts a six-century legacy sculpted by nature rather than an architect’s design. Starting and ending in the heart of town, it’s famed for expansive double greens and shared fairways, alongside 112 imposing bunkers. The 17th hole, known as golf’s toughest par 4, requires a tee shot over part of a famous hotel. The Road Hole bunker and road itself await errant shots. A must-visit on every golfer’s list, it’s hosted The Open Championship 30 times, most recently the 150th anniversary in July 2022, when Cameron Smith claimed the title.

Eight miles south of St Andrews lies Kingsbarns, possibly the last true links to be developed in Scotland. In fact, Kingsbarns’ golf origins go back some 200 years when it was home to a nine-hole course and golf club. The new revival is heralded as a truly spectacular and worthy addition to the legendary St Andrews portfolio. Embracing the sea as it does, the layout is superb with each hole offering a great sea view, and seven of them actually playing over or alongside the sea. The course design provides great variety and presents a stiff golfing challenge balanced by generous greens and wide fairways.

While celebrated as one of the great venues in championship golf, Carnoustie must also be regarded as one of the most demanding. This is a tough golf course that few have tamed and it is often described as Scotland’s ultimate golfing challenge. Carnoustie is truly a great test for the able golfer and it is neither for the novice nor the faint hearted, although everyone who loves and enjoys the game will marvel at its intricacies. It is simply a ‘must’ for the avid player; as Hogan said, ‘No player’s experience can be complete without playing Carnoustie’. Fashioned by Old Tom Morris in 1857, and extended by James Braid in 1926, Carnoustie has played host to several Open Championships.

Dumbarnie Links is located 11 miles directly south of St Andrews on the Fife coast with a mile and half sea frontage overlooking the Firth of Forth. This Clive Clark design golf course has a unique topography that climbs from the water’s edge to a high point of 80 feet above sea level. The extensive 345-acre site at Dumbarnie has dual elevations, which are connected by a flowing escarpment and have provided the opportunity to create a number of elevated tees where holes play directly towards panoramic views of the sea.

Opened in 1919, the King’s is a triumph of golf course design. Every hole is a surprise – not one is overlooked by another so that you have the glorious sensation of being the only ones on the course. The King’s is a tough track and has hosted many great championships; James Braid’s plan for the course was to test even the best players’ shot-making skills. The King’s is arguably the best inland course in Scotland.

Muirfield is recognised as one of the oldest golf clubs in the world, with records dating back to 1744. Golf has been played at Muirfield since 1891 on a course laid out by ‘Old’ Tom Morris, and the first Open Championship to be played over 72 holes was held here in 1892. The course has been modified from time to time and ranks as one of the most challenging ‘Open’ venues. Muirfield is different to most traditional Scottish Links Courses in that it has two loops of 9 holes, rather than the usual out and in format.

North Berwick is one of Scotland’s oldest golfing venues with a character of its own: the beach, the burn and low walls present hazards that combine to make it that little bit different. The great mound of the Bass Rock sitting out in the Firth makes a splendid backdrop to an unforgettable course.Probably most renowned (and most imitated by architects all over the world) is The ‘Redan’, the fifteenth hole, which has remained unchanged for over 150 years, as has much of the course. The timeless nature of the course is reflected in the little jigger approach shots that one is forced to play.

Sited on a narrow tract of land between the Atlantic Ocean and the Ayrshire coast’s railway line, Western Gailes golf course is a marvellous classic links that has shades of Troon, Turnberry and Prestwick all rolled into one. With the well- sheltered holes winding through low dunes, Western Gailes is long and testing enough to have played host to some significant championships, including the Curtis Cup, and is a regular Open qualifying venue. Western Gailes is a course of great variety that is challenging for the experienced player and a test for the able beginner.

This prestigious club came into being in 1878, when twenty-three members from Prestwick went their own way and built this splendid links course. Today it is one of the great Open venues, having last hosted the event in 2016. It is favoured for its quirky greens and long holes that can make for low scoring or quite the opposite! Royal Troon has the shortest hole of all the Open venues: the 126-yard eighth hole – called ‘the Postage Stamp’ because of its tiny green. Miss a green at Troon and, quite simply, you drop a shot. Troon is surely one of the world’s great golfing shrines.

The most junior of Open venues, the Ailsa course is nevertheless one of the best and toughest challenges in championship golf. Sited between the magnificent Turnberry Hotel and the sea, this great course weaves in and out of spectacular dunes. Turnberry lighthouse and Ailsa Craig, standing over 1,200 foot high out at sea, form great backdrops to all of the holes, and the ruins of Robert the Bruce’s castle can be seen from the signature 9th hole. Although stretched to over 7,000 yards for Open Championships, the medal course is not one that demands great power for par but rather more care and attention to detail both off the tee and with the approach shots.

Cabot Highlands (previously Castle Stuart Golf Course) is a relatively new championship course. Opened in 2009 but already has a remarkable history, hosting some of the world’s leading golfers in the European Tour’s Scottish Open on four occasions. Designed by Mark Parsinen and Gil Hanse, it is regarded as a model for modern golf architecture. Being fun, engaging and playable for every-day players of all abilities, but also a challenge for the very best. At Cabot Highlands, nature bequeathed an opportunity for a links course to enjoy a rich landscape texture of whins. Gorse and broom, heather and marram – a landscape mosaic of rugged beauty.

Founded in 1887, Nairn was made the great links challenge that it is today by Tom Morris and, subsequently, the renowned James Braid of Earlsferry. Nairn might seem simply to be a track through whins and heather, but one only has to play it once to appreciate why it is considered one of the best championship courses in Scotland. Far from a casual walk through the dunes, the course requires that you call on the whole spectrum of shots available in a golfer’s repertoire. Nairn has hosted the Walker Cup and the British Amateur Championship, as well as other prestigious tournaments.

One of the world’s great courses and only the remoteness of its location hinders it from being an Open venue. Dornoch is possibly Scottish links golf at its best, whatever the time of year. In spring, the sea of yellow gorse is truly something to behold. On a summer’s evening, or in the still of an autumn afternoon when the heather is in full purple bloom, Dornoch is as close to a golfing paradise as one can get. Golf has been played here since the 17th century but it was the influence of the legendary Tom Morris in 1886 that made it the spectacle and challenge that it is today.

Commissioned by the Great North of Scotland Railways Company, Cruden Bay Golf Club was designed by Old Tom Morris and opened in 1899. Once regarded as a hidden gem, Cruden Bay is now viewed as a must play on most visiting golfers’ itineraries. Located on the shores of the North Sea, 20 miles north of Royal Aberdeen, the course is well worth a visit. Contoured greens, high sand dunes and magnificent panoramic views all add to the wonderful experience.

Donald Trump’s eagerly awaited golf course in Scotland opened for play in July 2012 after more than five years in the planning. The 18-hole championship course, designed by renowned golf course architect Martin Hawtree, compliments the natural landscape and offer sea views from nearly every hole. The course is both beautiful and challenging for golfers of all levels.

The Balgownie links of the Royal Aberdeen Golf Club lies on the edge of the town, running alongside Aberdeen Beach with endless yellow sand and north sea views. Balgownie has a long history with golf, dating back to the 18th century, and it is still considered one of the best golf courses in Scotland. The setting of this traditional links course, amidst beautiful dunes and wide fairways creating some of most memorable holes in golf. Host to the 2011 Walker Cup and the 2014 Scottish Open.