Carnoustie is one of golf’s most storied and demanding links, a course whose reputation is well earned. Often referred to as “Carnasty”, it is defined by deep bunkers, firm fairways and the ever present Barry Burn, which weaves through the closing stretch with dramatic effect.

Yet for all its difficulty, Carnoustie is a deeply rewarding course. Strategy matters here. Choosing the right line, managing risk and trusting your decision making are central to the experience. Iconic holes such as the 6th, Hogan’s Alley, invite you to test yourself against history, while the closing run delivers a finish that stays with you long after the round is complete. Carnoustie is challenging, memorable and unmistakably great.

Crail Balcomie is one of Scotland’s oldest and most charming seaside courses, set on a beautiful stretch of coastline south of St Andrews. Designed by Old Tom Morris in the 1890s, it has a wonderfully natural feel, with holes that follow the contours of the shore and others that climb gently into higher ground before returning to the water.

The layout is not long, but it is full of interest. Tight green surrounds, clever angles and the ever shifting character of the terrain reward steady, thoughtful play. Several short par fours tempt you into taking on more than you should, while the coastal holes deliver classic links drama. Balcomie is friendly, scenic and full of personality, a course that brings together history and enjoyment in equal measure.

Dumbarnie Links is one of the newest additions to Scotland’s east coast and has quickly earned a strong reputation. Set across a broad ribbon of shoreline south of St Andrews, it offers wide horizons, striking visuals and a layout that feels open and inviting from the start. Designed by Clive Clark, the course uses its natural terraces to create a series of elevated tees and sweeping views.

Several holes play close to the water, while others use the inland ridges to shape thoughtful driving lines and distinctive approach shots. The short par fours are a particular highlight, offering tempting chances without feeling forced. Presentation is first class and the overall experience is polished without losing its sense of fun. Dumbarnie Links is a modern course that fits beautifully into a classic golfing region.

Elie is a wonderful course on the Fife coast, rich in history, full of character, and blessed with some great views. Golf has been played here since the 15th century, with the present 18 holes laid out by Old Tom Morris in 1895. James Braid was born and bred in Elie and made changes to his home course in 1921, after which it has remained largely untouched.

Don’t forget to look through the iconic periscope in the pro shop to ensure the fairway is clear before the blind opening tee shot is played over the hill.

Elie is a quirky course and never plays the same way twice. It isn’t long, but with sixteen par fours and two par threes, every hole has its own personality and challenge. The stretch from the 10th to the 13th, played along the dramatic coastline, is particularly strong.

It’s the kind of course people want to play again and again, endlessly entertaining and unmistakably Scottish.

Kingsbarns is one of the world’s most impressive modern links, set along a sweeping stretch of coastline just south of St Andrews. The course feels open, spacious and beautifully connected to the sea, with views of the water on almost every hole. Fairways are generous but full of interest and the greens are shaped to encourage creative approaches and a variety of short game shots.

The signature holes sit right beside the water, take your pick from the epic par 5 twelfth and the celebrated par 3 fifteenth that plays across a rocky cove. Kingsbarns combines first class presentation with an engaging and enjoyable design. It is a must play on any golf trip to the St Andrews area.

Lundin Golf Club sits on the north shore of the Firth of Forth and offers some of the finest examples of traditional links holes in Scotland. The course remains largely as it was a century ago, with a layout that reflects both its natural setting and its layered history.

The opening five holes are pure links in character, running out from the clubhouse towards the Mile Dyke over firm, open ground. From there, play crosses the line of the now-extinct railway to reach the nine ‘newer’ holes added in 1908 by James Braid. These inland holes bring a slightly different feel, with more contour and subtle changes in elevation, before the course crosses back for the closing stretch of classic seaside links. Not long by modern standards, Lundin places the emphasis firmly on control, positioning and judgement, offering a testing and thoroughly engaging round on the Fife coast.

Panmure is a club rich in history, one of Scotland’s great old-school venues, and a course held in high regard by those who know their golf.

Ben Hogan famously spent two weeks here preparing for his 1953 Open victory at Carnoustie, and his presence still feels close. Time in the clubhouse is well spent, elegant, traditional, and steeped in heritage.

The course was originally designed by Old Tom Morris, with later refinements by James Braid. It takes a few holes to reveal its character, but when it does, Panmure shows its class. The 6th, a long par four guarded by Hogan’s Bunker, is one of the finest holes in the region. From there through to the 14th, the course is superb, varied, testing, and full of subtle challenge.

Panmure rewards precision, patience, and respect for the game’s traditions.

While the Castle Course may not have the centuries of history of some of the other courses in St Andrews, it’s a thrilling modern links layout with an exciting contemporary twist.

This is a course that asks you to be creative, with a routing that heads west before turning back along the coast from the spectacular 6th hole, offering wonderful views of St Andrews. From there, you’ll head inland again before returning to the clifftops for a dramatic finish.

You might have heard stories about the wild greens at the Castle Course, but they are very much part of the fun. You’ll enjoy a rollercoaster experience, with banks, false fronts, and ridges that demand your full attention and your most imaginative touch.
The Castle Course is a thoroughly modern interpretation of links golf.

Bring your camera and a good attitude, and you’ll have a fantastic and memorable time

The Jubilee Course at St Andrews offers a very different challenge from its more famous neighbours. Originally opened in 1897 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, it was redesigned in 1988 by Donald Steel to become a true championship links. Today, many consider it the toughest test among the St Andrews courses.

As you make your way around, you’ll find that the raised tees provide wonderful views – but they also expose you to the wind sweeping in from St Andrews Bay. The Jubilee places a real premium on accuracy, with narrow fairways and punishing rough.

The signature hole is the par four 15th, known as “Steel’s Gem” – a demanding dogleg with a semi-blind drive and an elevated, well-guarded green set into a dune.

It may not have the fame of its neighbours, but the Jubilee offers a thoroughly rewarding test of traditional links golf.

When you’re in St Andrews, you may hear locals say their favourite of the seven courses in the town is the New Course. It may not share the Old Course’s fame or mystique, but it offers something quietly special – a pure, classic links that captures the essence of golf in this town.

It’s a little sterner than the Old Course too, with more defined fairways and gorse waiting for any stray shot. But there are many similarities with the Old – the shared greens, the firm turf, and the ever-present skyline of St Andrews drawing you home.

Every hole feels considered and true, testing your full range of shots without ever feeling unfair. The New Course may sit in the shadow of its neighbour, but those who know it well will tell you there’s real magic here – subtle, timeless, and deeply satisfying.

Welcome to the place where it all began. The most famous golf course in the world, and truly, there’s nowhere else like it.

Even the very best golfers in the world feel a nervous thrill as they step onto the first tee of the Old Course – just take a deep breath, and soak it all in. 

A round here is pure magic. This is where the game took shape, and it still defines what strategic golf is all about. Every shot has options, every hole tells a story, and imagination is always rewarded.

The list of Open champions who have triumphed here reads like a who’s who of the game’s greats – a reflection of the course’s timeless challenge.

You will be pinching yourself all the way round but, of course, the finish is unforgettable. The Road Hole tests every nerve before you cross the Swilcan Bridge as you walk up the iconic 18th.

Playing the Old Course isn’t just another round of golf, it’s a moment you’ll remember for the rest of your life.