The Best Links Golf Courses in Scotland and Its Region
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Today
Few places on Earth are as steeped in golf history as Scotland. As the birthplace of the game, it’s home to the world’s most iconic links courses — rugged, windswept, and full of character. Links golf, by definition, refers to courses built on sandy, coastal terrain with natural undulations and few trees. In Scotland, these courses aren’t just golf venues — they’re hallowed ground.
St Andrews – The Old Course
It would be impossible to begin anywhere else. The Old Course at St Andrews isn’t just a golf course; it’s a pilgrimage. Believed to have been established as early as the 15th century, it’s widely regarded as the oldest course in the world. The course’s strategic design — with massive double greens, unpredictable wind, and the infamous Road Hole — continues to test even the best players today. Hosting The Open Championship 30 times and counting, St Andrews remains the beating heart of links golf.
Royal Dornoch – Championship Course
Located in the remote Highlands, Royal Dornoch is often described as the best course never to have hosted The Open. Its stunning seaside setting and natural dune formations make it one of the most beautiful and challenging links courses in the world. Donald Ross, the famed golf architect who shaped much of American golf, learned the game here. The Championship Course is known for its elevated greens, penal gorse, and tactical demands. Golf Digest and Golf Magazine consistently rank it among the top ten courses globally.
Dumbarnie Links
Located just 12 miles south of St Andrews along the Fife coastline, Dumbarnie Links is one of Scotland’s newest and most celebrated links experiences. Opened in 2020, the course was designed by former Ryder Cup player Clive Clark and occupies a rare, elevated stretch of coastal terrain overlooking the Firth of Forth. Though young, Dumbarnie has quickly earned its place among the greats, offering a unique blend of traditional links character and modern flair. The routing makes full use of natural dunes, rolling fairways, and multiple elevated tees that frame sweeping sea views on 14 holes. With generous landing areas, risk-reward drivable par 4s, and championship tees stretching over 7,600 yards, Dumbarnie delivers a strategic and visually stunning round for golfers of all levels. It has already hosted the Women’s Scottish Open and continues to draw acclaim for its exceptional layout, fast greens, and welcoming atmosphere. Dumbarnie proves that a modern links course can honour tradition while redefining it.
Muirfield
Home to The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers — golf’s oldest organised club — Muirfield offers a different kind of links challenge. Unlike the traditional out-and-back routing of many links, Muirfield features two loops of nine holes in opposite directions, minimising the impact of prevailing winds. The course has hosted The Open 16 times, with winners including Nick Faldo, Ernie Els, and Phil Mickelson. Muirfield is known for its fast-running fairways, deep bunkering, and rigorous demand for strategy and precision.
Carnoustie Golf Links – Championship Course
Often dubbed “Golf’s Greatest Test,” Carnoustie is renowned for its brutality in bad weather and its tight, unforgiving layout. It’s the toughest of the Open rota courses. The Barry Burn, a winding stream that snakes through the course, has broken many championship dreams, most famously Jean Van de Velde’s collapse in 1999. Despite its reputation, it’s a fair course that rewards thoughtful play and punishes carelessness.
Turnberry – Ailsa Course
Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Ailsa Craig and the Firth of Clyde, Turnberry’s Ailsa Course combines breathtaking scenery with an unforgettable golfing challenge. After a 2016 redesign by Martin Ebert, the course now incorporates more of the rugged coastal landscape, especially at the iconic lighthouse between the 9th and 11th holes. Turnberry hosted The Open four times, including the legendary “Duel in the Sun” between Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus in 1977.
Kingsbarns Golf Links
While relatively young compared to its legendary neighbours, Kingsbarns has quickly earned a reputation as one of Scotland’s finest modern links courses. Opened in 2000, just a few miles from St Andrews, it seamlessly blends traditional links features with innovative design. Wide fairways, artfully placed bunkers, and dramatic views over the North Sea make Kingsbarns a visual and strategic masterpiece. It’s also a co-host of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Western Gailes
Often overlooked in favour of more famous neighbours, Western Gailes is a gem of the west coast. Established in 1897, the course lies between the railway line and the sea, with a narrow strip of land dictating a unique layout. Its exposed nature makes it a true links challenge — especially when the wind howls off the Firth of Clyde. The subtle elevation changes and firm, fast fairways demand creativity and shot-making skills.
Cruden Bay
Cruden Bay, located north of Aberdeen, offers one of the most unique and whimsical links experiences in Scotland. Designed by Old Tom Morris in 1899, the course twists through towering dunes and blind shots with a layout that feels as though it was discovered, not built. The views over the North Sea and Slains Castle (said to inspire Bram Stoker’s Dracula) are worth the visit alone. It’s golf at its most raw and romantic.
Machrihanish Golf Club
Tucked away on the remote Kintyre Peninsula, Machrihanish is worth the journey. The opening tee shot, which plays over the corner of the Atlantic Ocean, is one of the most exhilarating in golf. The course, laid out by Old Tom Morris, offers a rugged, isolated, and entirely authentic links experience. Its natural dunes and rolling fairways are a reminder of how golf began — in harmony with the land.
Legendary Links Beyond the Borders
While Scotland dominates the conversation, the spirit of links golf lives on in neighbouring regions. Royal County Down in Northern Ireland rivals any Scottish course with its stunning setting and demanding layout. Royal Portrush, also in Northern Ireland, hosted The Open in 2019 and is set to host again in 2025. In England, Royal Birkdale, Royal Lytham & St Annes, and Royal St George’s continue the tradition with firm fairways, deep pot bunkers, and gusty coastal winds.
