Custom Golf Trips to Scotland
Visit the home of Golf and play on some of the most iconic courses in the game
Scotland is a haven for all golf enthusiasts, with Scotland golf courses attracting players from every part of the world. The challenging natural landscapes are set against stunningly beautiful backdrops, creating an environment that was simply made for teeing off.
Known as the home of golf – mainly thanks to St Andrews Golf Courses – Scotland golf offers multiple Open rota courses, historic landmarks, and a vibrant culture steeped in tradition. It’s no surprise that Scotland is the world’s most popular golf destination.
Enjoy the history of a St Andrews Golf Tour, take in beautiful Ayrshire, explore Edinburgh and East Lothian, enjoy the wilderness of the Scottish Highlands, or play amongst the dramatic landscapes of Aberdeenshire.
Wherever you choose to visit, Scotland golf vacations guarantee unique and memorable experiences.
“I love the way the game of golf is lived and played in Scotland. I always have.”
Tom Watson
Premier Golf can arrange a custom Scotland golf package based on your specific requirements. We will guide you through the Scottish countryside and allow you to experience the best golf the country has to offer. Our representatives based in St Andrews can build itineraries based on your preferences, from luxury hotels to traditional favorites. With the perfect combination of world-famous clubs and unique courses, a golf trip to Scotland will leave you wanting more.
The Best Golf Courses in Scotland
The top golf courses can be found throughout the country, however there are five primary regions we recommend as base locations for your Scotland golf tour:
St. Andrews and Fife
St. Andrews and Fife, the most popular region, is home to the Old Course, with the world-famous Swilken bridge on the 18th hole. Other notable courses in the area include Kingsbarns and Carnoustie.
7 nights & 6 rounds from $5,720
Ayrshire
Ayrshire, in the south west of Scotland, is seen as one of the most historic and best-loved golfing regions in the country, and is home to Turnberry Ailsa, Royal Troon host of the 2024 Open Championship and Prestwick, the birthplace of the Open Championship.
8 nights & 7 rounds from $7,775
Edinburgh and East Lothian
Edinburgh and East Lothian combines world class golf with a stunning city vacation. Courses include The West Links of North Berwick Golf Club, recognized as the 13th oldest golf club in the world and Muirfield, host of 16 Open Championship’s, 11 Amateur Championships and The AIG Women’s Open Championship in 2022.
8 nights & 7 rounds from $7,405
The Scottish Highlands
The Scottish Highlands, famous for breathtaking views, scotch distilleries, and Loch Ness. Located in the northwest of the country, the Highlands also offers brilliant courses such as Royal Dornoch, Cabot Highlands (Castle Stuart), and Nairn.
8 nights & 7 rounds from $6,799
Aberdeenshire
North east Scotland has over 70 courses with prestigious clubs such as Royal Aberdeen, Trump International and Cruden Bay. Expect spectacular coastlines, dramatic mountain passes and top-class golf courses.
8 nights & 7 rounds from $5,505
Why is Scotland Renowned for Golf?
The home of golf, Scotland is a lush, green land that will provide a once-in-a-lifetime experience for anyone considering a golf trip.
Any Scotland golf break will revolve around their world-renowned courses, many of which have won coveted awards. Scotland’s pronounced, natural terrain and windswept coasts make it the perfect, ready-made environment for a golf course, providing both beautiful scenery and a perfect natural challenge.
The International Association of Golf Tour Operators Awards saw Gleneagles win the Community Value accolade, and Carnoustie Golf Links win the ‘Climate Action’ award in 2021. In the same year, Dumbarnie Links won World’s Best New Golf Course in the World Golf Awards.
During a Scotland golf trip, a round can be spent at one of the most famous courses in the world, the Old Course at St Andrews, with many an iconic golfing moment taking place at Swilken bridge. Great golf in Scotland comes in all shapes and sizes, with Trump Turnberry and Royal Dornoch among many more clubs providing near perfect playing conditions.
Wherever you choose to golf in Scotland, you will experience coastal links, windswept and natural shrubland, and fresh air in your lungs. When considering a golf holiday package, Scotland should be high on your list.
Our Top 3 Playable Scotland Courses
Experience the best of Scotland golf with our top three playable courses. Each course offers a unique blend of challenge, history, and stunning scenery, making them must-play destinations for any golf enthusiast.
Muirfield
Muirfield is renowned for its immaculate conditioning and strategic design, demanding precision and thoughtful play. As the home of The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, it offers a storied history and a challenging links experience, with consistently well-guarded greens and fairways.
The Ailsa, Trump Turnberry
The Ailsa course at Trump Turnberry is famed for its breathtaking coastal views and iconic lighthouse. Redesigned by Martin Ebert, the course features challenging bunkers, undulating greens, and dramatic seaside holes, providing a thrilling and picturesque golfing experience.
Carnoustie
Carnoustie is known as one of the toughest links courses in the world, with its famously challenging layout and the notorious Barry Burn. Host to multiple Open Championships, it offers a true test of golfing skill with narrow fairways, deep bunkers, and fast greens.
Read the rest of our top Scotland golf trip destinations that you can play.
Where to play golf in Scotland
Best accommodations for golf in Scotland
Ann Mabry, Managing Director
When it comes to accommodations and where to stay, it can be overwhelming with the abundance of great choices. After years of spending time at several different hotels and resorts, I have found my personal favorites to be the Ness Walk in the Highlands, the Turnberry Resort, and the North Berwick Marine in East Lothian.
I also would recommend stopping in the quaint town of Pitlochry which is located in the Heart of Scotland. This gorgeous town offers vibrant entertainment, great food, and the infamous Salmon Ladder”
Book a Golf Vacation to Scotland with Premier Golf
From organizing luxury Scotland golf tours since the 1980s, we know everything there is to know about golf in Scotland. With an office in St Andrews, our experts on the ground can provide local insights, and have a real knowledge of not only the well-known courses but the hidden golfing gems that Scotland has to offer.
How to get a Tee Time on the Old Course, St Andrews
Scotland Reviews
The delights of East Fife golf
The St. Andrews area of Scotland is an awesome place to take a golf trip. From the Old Course to Kingsbarns and Dumbarnie Links, the old and the new are a challenge and a delight to play, even on a windy day.
Amazing time
The 3 golf courses we played were a real highlight – we liked the experience of the different kinds of courses and must say, that Kingsbarns was amazing! What an experience!
My husband and son played Carnoustie on Sunday as well and liked it a lot – they had a day of sunshine out there.
Incredible trip
Just a quick note on how much we enjoyed our trip. The hotels, golf, restaurants and transportation were all terrific (especially getting on the Old Course!!!). Also, who ever had the connection upstairs on the weather…a big thank you!
Loved every minute
Thank you for my “BUCKET LIST” trip to Scotland.
The Premier Golf staff exceeded my expectations in every way possible. The courses were impeccable. The accommodations were first class
Every moment of the trip we felt catered too and treated most kindly. It was 72 and sunny when we tee’ed off on the
“Old Course” *Goosebumps*
My most sincere thanks for the trip of a lifetime!
Excellent time
Wow, what a great trip. It’s taken a few days for me to finally settle down and I have to say the trip to Scotland was fantastic. I am assuming you must have sent a memo to the weather gods because the weather turned out to be great. The hotels were excellent, especially in St. Andrews. Heidi’s recommendation of 18 Rusacks was absolutely on point!
The most amazing part was how Euan kept us on point. I swear he must have a twin brother because he was present at every single outing even when our groups were split. What a great person.
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Scotland Golf FAQs
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.