Turnberry Ailsa Course
This is one of the two golf courses on the Turnberry Resort, and play on these courses is for residents of the Hotel only. The Ailsa was the scene of perhaps the most memorable of all golf’s head-to-heads in the 1977 Open Championship, when Watson and Nicklaus fired pars and birdies at each other for two days with hardly a sign of faltering from either golfer.

Turnberry Kintyre Course
The other of the two courses at Turnberry, some people find the Kintyre more difficult than the Ailsa in the same conditions, mainly because it has far more gorse. These courses are seaside links golf courses with spectacular sea views of the Isle of Arran and the Ailsa Craig visible in the near distance. The greens on Kintyre are often difficult targets, but the course is flatter and lacks the drama of the Ailsa.

Royal Troon
Royal Troon was the site of the 1989 Open and is famous for its 126-yard 8th Hole, “The Postage Stamp”. It is a formidable links and extremely demanding with a back nine the equal of any in golf, in terms of ferocity. Portland Troon This is the second course of the Royal Troon Golf Club. It is slightly less taxing, but nonetheless pleasant.

Old Prestwick
Here you are on ground as historic as St. Andrews. Prestwick is a seaside links course, bounded by the railway and the seashore. Fairways are often extremely undulating, and there are steep sandhills and vast deep bunkers, as well as stretches of heather, gorse, broom and nearer the sea, buckthorn.

Dundonald Course
A composite of nine new holes and nine holes from the traditional course, the Dundonald offers a very challenging Par 69, with one par-five and four par-threes - three of these on the front nine.

Western Gailes
This course is situated in the north of Ayrshire and, although a links golf course, it has many features which are semi-inland. Scottish golf writer Sam McKinlay said of it, “Western Gailes occupies a place in the affections of Scottish golfers that cannot be explained solely on the grounds of its undoubted quality, its superb situation, or the creature comforts which it furnishes.”

Glasgow Gailes
A 6,432 yard, par 71 course, Glasgow Gailes is used for the qualifying rounds of the Open when held at Royal Troon or Turnberry. The course is a typical links, and the heather lining most holes is a persistent hazard. Conifer plantations are maturing and add to the attractive layout.

Scotland East:

St. Andrews Old Course
The home of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club, St. Andrews Old Course has hosted 25 Open Championships and was again the venue for the 2005 Open. Golf at St. Andrews Old Course offers the most memorable and emotional experience in any golfer’s life.

St. Andrews New Course
The second of the St. Andrews courses laid out in 1894 by Old Tom Morris, the “New” is a good, tight, links course, characterized by small bunkers around the greens and to the sides of the fairways. This 100-year-old championship course has held many tournaments and Amateur Championships.

St. Andrews Jubilee Course
Opened in 1897, the Jubilee is the third championship course at St. Andrews and, indeed, it played host to the Scottish Strokeplay Championship in recent years. It is a stern test, especially with its long six-hole home stretch.

St. Andrews Duke’s Course
Designed by five-time Open winner Peter Thomson, the Duke’s Course is situated two miles inland from the city, on land surrounding Craigtoun Park. In its elevated parkland setting, with majestic views over St. Andrews, the coastline to Arbroath and Countryside to the Highland, this typical Scottish inland course will provide a great contrast to the famous links at St. Andrews.

Kingsbarns
One of Scotland’s newest venues, Kingsbarns is a seaside links course which lies just 6 miles south of historic St. Andrews. The sea figures prominently on every hole, and the golfer will find Kingsbarns to be a challenging, enjoyable and very playable course.

Carnoustie
One of the great championship links of the world, Carnoustie has been host to the Open Championship five times and is considered to have one of the toughest five finishing holes in golf. James Braid was responsible for the present layout. Carnoustie hosted the 1999 “British Open”.

Crail Golf Club
The Crail Golfing Society is the 7th oldest golf club in the world. The course is located at Fifeness, the most easterly point of the East Neuk of Fife and 11 miles Southeast of St. Andrews. It is a classic links course with some parkland.

Lundin Links
Originally designed by the famous golf course architect, James Braid, Lundin Links is unusual in that for a seaside links, it makes good use of both water and tree hazards. Indeed, the course is held in such high regard that it is a regular British Open final qualifying course.

Devlin Course - St. Andrews Bay Golf Resort & Spa
Designed by Gene Sarazen and Bruce Devlin, the course is a par 73, 7,049 yard layout stretching over Kittock’s Den and along the sweeping coastline.

Torrance Course - St. Andrews Bay Golf Resort & Spa
The Torrance Course was designed by the late Gene Sarazen and winning Ryder Cup Captain, Sam Torrance. It sweeps its way around the hotel and down the coastal edge.

Scotland North:

Royal Dornoch
Ranked in the World’s Top Ten Golf Courses, Royal Dornoch is a favorite of both Tom Watson and Ben Crenshaw. It is a difficult test of golf but can be enjoyed by golfers of all levels of skill.

Nairn Golf Club
This is one of Scotland’s great links courses, yet one of its best kept secrets. Set among great stands of whin and heather, it provides a magnificent challenge, with wonderful putting greens as firm and fast as will be found anywhere.

Royal Aberdeen
One of the premiere courses in Scotland, there are hints of the game being played at Royal Aberdeen as early as 1565, making it the 6th oldest in the world. It is an excellent balance of long and short par 4’s, testing par 3’s and two par 5’s that play differently every day, depending upon the wind.

Cruden Bay
This hidden gem links course is rapidly becoming popular. Cruden Bay is ranked in the top 40 courses in the UK and presents a real challenge for the serious golfer as well as a feast for the eyes of the holiday golfer. The course offers magnificent views over the bay to Slains Castle.

Scotland Central:

Gleneagles King’s Course
This championship course, designed by James Braid in the early 1900’s and opened in 1919, is considered possibly the finest of his work. It and the Queen’s Course are heathland golf courses with heather, gorse, broom and undulating terrain.

Gleneagles Queen’s Course
Many find this shorter course even more attractive than its senior partner. Many of the greens are framed or backed by stands of dark firs, which help with club selection. Panoramic views abound throughout the 18 holes on the course.

Gleneagles PGA Centenary Course
Opened in May 1993, Gleneagles Centenary Course was designed by Jack Nicklaus. It is a mixture of natural heathland and skillful construction to match. Golf carts are available.

                                          © Copyright 1999-2005  Classic Golf & Leisure - All rights reserved. No duplication.
                           http://www.Classic-Golf.com