In this piece, we take a closer look at what you need to know ahead of playing Golf in Scotland. The good, the not so good (depending on how you look at it), and the undeniable.
So, without further ado, let’s kick things off.
1. Everyone (well most people anyway), in St Andrew’s are Golf mad. Scotland is the Birthplace of golf and home to the very first Golf course, which is the Old course (of course), and golfers have played there since 1552. There’s no getting away from the golf frenzy that engulfs the town of St Andrew’s – especially when there is a tournament happening.
2. It is home to arguably THE best Links courses in the world. Any pro or amateur golfers for that matter, will tell you - there’s something special about playing golf in Scotland and St Andrew’s. And, with the likes of the Old Course, Kingsbarns, New Course, Carnoustie and Dumbarnie – all within an hour’s drive of each other, who can blame them?
3. The Haar comes in thick and fast - especially on our coastal courses. Now Haar, for those of you who aren’t down with the lingo, is a cold wet fog that forms over the sea and is found mostly along the Northeast coast of Scotland and England. Now, imagine the Haar hurtling towards you as you tee off on one of the 21 coastal courses (across 30 miles) that Scotland has to offer – a bit of a challenge, right? Well, that’s all part and parcel of playing on coastal links courses.
4. When it rains, it pours. Now, it wouldn’t quite be a trip to Scotland without a spot of rain, that’s part of the Scottish charm and one of the reasons our guests choose to play here. The rain and wind definitely make for a challenge, even for the most experienced golfers, and to be honest - you never really know what weather you're going to get!
5. If you're teeing off early or playing late, expect sensational sunrises and sunsets. Scotland is renowned for the most beautiful, jaw dropping sunrises and sunsets you will ever come across. And if you don’t want to take our word for is, take a look at the below….
6. Expect to play some of the best holes in the world. Now, sources and opinions do differ on which holes are ranked as the ‘best’ in the world – but with holes like; Old Course, No.1, 17 and 18, Kingsbarns No. 12 and 15 and Carnoustie No.6 – there is a plethora to pick from.
7. There are 247 true links courses in the world - 85 of which are located in Scotland (211 total in the British isles). Now that number really does speak for itself, if you want to play a links course – head to Scotland and you will be spoilt for choice.
8. Being the 'home of golf', you're likely to see a celeb or two when playing in and around St Andrew’s. Famous faces like Gareth Bale, Tom Cruise, Bill Murray, David Beckham, Ben Stokes, Bill Murray, as well as plenty of golfing professionals can often be spotted.
9. It's challenging even for the most skilled golfers. It’s not always about your skill and handicap when it comes to playing golf in Scotland. The unpredictable weather and conditions, twists, turns and bunkers in the courses, make for a challenge for everyone. We suppose that’s what makes it that even more special and entertaining, right?
10. Once you play in Scotland, you'll develop a burning desire to play there time and time again. Now, we’re not saying nothing else compares, but there is a certain magic about playing golf in Scotland. Whether it’s the world-class courses, exceptional holes, breath taking views or the unpredictable weather – there’s no denying it’s pretty epic. If you’re interested in finding out more about playing golf in Scotland, take a look at our luxury golf programmes here.
