Scotland Golf Courses

WEST - TOP COURSES
Turnberry Ailsa
	Long regarded as one of the finest courses in the world, the Ailsa came to international prominence with the famous duel between Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson over the four days of the 1977 Open. It was then, in brilliant sunny weather, that a capacity crowd was treated to an exhilarating display of golf from two of the best golfers the world has ever known. Polls now regularly acknowledge the Ailsa as one of Britain's top three courses, confirmation that gives it eminence worldwide, with regular rankings within the world's top 20 courses.
Royal Troon
	One of the great links courses in Scotland, the Old Course is a challenging test of golfing ability. With the wind to contend with, and deep rough interspersed with gorse and broom, accurate shot making is essential. Players should make their scores on the outward nine, as the prevailing north-westerly wind can make the back nine extremely difficult.
Preswick
	Founded in 1851, the setting for the very first Open, this is one of the best known and most distinguished clubs in Scotland. The Club is situated just half an hour south west of Glasgow on the famous golfing Ayrshire coast. A stretch of land unequalled anywhere in the world for prime golfing terrain. Prestwick is every sense a true seaside course with traditional links turf.
Western Gailes
	Western Gailes Golf Club, founded in 1897, is situated on the Ayrshire coast of Scotland where many of the finest Scottish golf links are located. It is recognised as one of the finest and true links courses in Scotland measuring 6714 yards from the championship tees. The course has played host to the Curtis Cup, PGA Championship, Seniors and prestigious Scottish Amateur Championship. It is also one of the final qualifying courses when The Open is played at Turnberry or Royal Troon.
EAST - TOP COURSES
North Berwick (west)
	North Berwick is still an exhilarating place to find oneself. The West course runs in a predominately west-east direction along the coastline. Most holes afford lovely views over the Firth of Forth and Bass Rock. The golfer is likely to see many forms of vessels out in the sea, ranging from small fishing boats to clipper ships. As for the holes, the much-copied Redan originated here but there are plenty of other holes of great merit at North Berwick as well.
Gullane #1
	The eighteen holes of Gullane No.1 Course were established in 1884. The well maintained greens, links grasses, numerous bunkers and sea breezes make a unique challenge for the serious golfer. The 3rd hole was recently voted one of the top 500 holes in the world by Golf Magazine (USA). The world famous view from the highest point of the Course on the 7th tee across the course and over to Edinburgh, Fife and way beyond is worth the green fee alone. With every hole having its own distinct character, the Course is both memorable and enjoyable.
Muirfield
	Muirfield is considered hallowed ground, being one of the earliest courses in the world to use the design concepts of two loops of nine running contrary to each other.
Dunbar
	Designed by Old Tom Morris around 1850, Dunbar East Links situated on the estuary of the Firth of Forth, is a breathtaking layout of a Championship links course that stretches across 6404 yards of coastal terrain.  Well defined holes following the natural contours of the coastline. Being by the sea shore naturally means that the wind plays a main factor with the course itself, a light breeze can transform this course into a serious challenge, producing a new playing experience with every round.
CENTRAL - TOP COURSES
Gleneagles Kings
	The King's Course, opened in 1919, is a masterpiece of design, which has tested the aristocracy of golf, both professional and amateur. James Braid's plan for the King's Course was to test even the best players' shot-making skills over the eighteen holes. When they play the King's the world's greatest golfers admire the cunning and craft with which he achieved that goal.
ST. ANDREWS - TOP COURSES
Old Course St. Andrews
	The oldest golf course in the world has many remarkable features which help make it so special to golfers around the world. It is the Home of Golf where golf was first played 600 years ago and yet it remains a real test of golf for today's champions. Despite its reputation and status, it is a public course and is one of six public courses on St Andrews Links.
Carnoustie
	The course as it was in 1937 is much as it is today and the challenge the modern golfer takes on is the one which confronted the player nearly 70 years ago.   Carnoustie is a public links, and the opportunity is there for everyone to play the Championship course. There are many local golf clubs, all of which have playing rights over the course and the clubs themselves have a proud and interesting history.
Kingsbarns
	A scant six miles down the coast from the most revered links in the world - The Old Course at St. Andrews - lies a golf course that many believe will one day dominate the links landscape: Kingsbarns Golf Links. Despite the fact that the layout is still in its infancy, having just opened in July of 2000, Kingsbarns has been heralded as the last great links property available for development in Scotland, an end-all of Scottish links golf.
NORTH - TOP COURSES
Royal Dornoch
	Dornoch is considered the finest northerly course in the world, and no other course offers as delicious a feeling of getting away from it all or better provides the pieces of natural seaside beauty , challenge and enjoyment and shot values. The North Sea frames the right, mountains are ahead and hills lie to your left. You'll see people walking their dogs, cycling or wandering along a path up above.
Nairn
	This Traditional Scottish Golf Links Course was created on the shores of the Moray Firth from a Highland wilderness of whins and heather, and tests the talents of professional and amateur alike. Founded in 1887, it is now one of the best courses in Scotland, and hosted the 1999 Walker Cup. What delights the visitor and member alike is the Scottish-ness of the links.
NORTHEAST - TOP COURSES
Cruden Bay
	Cruden Bay offers an internationally famous golfing experience - old fashioned links golf at its best - on one of the best links courses in Scotland, and last year was placed at No 52 in the world by "Golf Magazine". Cruden Bay Golf Course creates unique challenges demanding the skills of power, placement and fine judgement upon the discerning golfer. Set against a backdrop of subtly contoured greens and magnificent panoramic views, a visit to Cruden Bay will be a most memorable one.
Royal Aberdeen
	Founded in 1780, Royal Aberdeen is the sixth oldest golf club in the world. For the first thirty five years of its existence the club was known as The Society of Golfers at Aberdeen, with members of the society being determined by ballot.