Golf’s birthplace has an almost endless choice of legendary courses, but as a golf resort, Trump Turnberry is hard to beat. Set on the west coast, on Ayrshire’s beautifully rugged Firth of Clyde, the resort provides 5-star facilities with the main hotel housed in a stunning Edwardian mansion facing the Irish Sea. The selection of rooms, suites, villas, and self-catered apartments provide the perfect opulent haven for every travelling golfer.
There’s a magnificent spa, a signature gourmet restaurant and The Duel in the Sun bar in the clubhouse, named after the 1977 Open battle between Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus which was played on the resort’s world-famous Ailsa Course.
Guests lucky enough to play here can follow in the footsteps of Tom and Jack across these storied fairways. Renovated in 2017, the course is now even better. The changes to the 9th hole have created one of the most exhilarating holes in all of golf. Played across the bay to the famed Turnberry Lighthouse, the hole is as beautiful as it is dramatic.
The Ailsa Course was joined in 2017 by the King Robert the Bruce course, named after the warrior who was born in Turnberry Castle over 700 years ago. The famous Lighthouse here now stands among its ruins. The course was met with worldwide acclaim when it opened and proudly stands alongside its illustrious neighbour.
Only 20km south is Prestwick Golf Club, a name synonymous with the birth of golf. Originally designed by Old Tom Morris, golf was first played here in 1851 and it hosted the first ever Open Championship in 1860. Only St. Andrews has hosted golf’s oldest major championship more times. Huge dunes, deep bunkers and rippling fairways make it a truly authentic and historic Scottish links experience.
Merely 3km north is Royal Troon, host of the 2024 Open Championship won by Xander Schauffele. A 10-times Open venue, the front nine on this wide open links is a brilliant test of golf with the 120-yard 8th, heavily bunkered with a small green known as the Postage Stamp, one of the world’s most famous par 3s. The back nine is a fabulous stretch of golf and though this historic links has been modernised over the years it remains wonderfully old-fashioned and traditional.
Meldrum House Country Hotel
Meldrum House Country Hotel & Golf Course, on the east coast, is another fantastic golf resort for those making a pilgrimage to the sport’s birthplace. Meldrum House is a 13th-century manor house tucked away in 240 acres of tranquil Aberdeenshire countryside, a stunning retreat that combines centuries of history with the latest in luxury service and modern amenities. It’s famous for whisky, fine dining and warm hospitality. Rich in Scottish golfing heritage, it provides the opportunity to play at three of Scotland’s best courses.
The resident Meldrum House Golf Course is one of the finest and most beautiful parkland courses in Scotland. It provides guests with a different taste of Scottish golf other than links and it perfectly showcases Scotland’s breathtaking scenery of mature woodland, lakes and abundant wildlife. Less than 30 minutes away on a beautiful stretch of Aberdeenshire coastline, the excellent courses at Murcar Links and Cruden Bay both offer yet more exhilarating places to play golf.
Murcar Links is wonderfully rugged with huge sand dunes, crumpled fairways, burns and heather with glorious views from the elevated tees. Cruden Bay has towering dunes, elevated tees, humped and hollowed fairways and punchbowl greens. There’s sea views and a stunning beach making it one of the country’s most picturesque links.
South of these courses, Carnoustie Golf Course and Kingsbarns Golf Links are two more world-renowned venues to play. About an hour away, Carnoustie most recently hosted The Open in 2018 and is one of the world’s most challenging courses.
South from here, around 10km south of St Andrews, is Kingsbarns designed by Kyle Phillips. Opened in 2000 to worldwide acclaim, it now proudly holds its own among Scotland‘s heralded links courses and co-hosts the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on the DP World Tour and hosted the AIG Women’s Open in 2017.
