1. The Experience of Playing Golf in Scotland

What can be said that hasn't already been said about playing golf in Scotland... I would say the feeling you breathe is that of a "golf community." What do I mean by this? That wherever you go, golf is in the air. Both from locals and visitors. Everyone talks about golf, all the time. In the fields, in the pubs, in the hotels, the restaurants, on the street. It's golf 24/7. The millions of people who visit Scotland every year go for the golf. And the locals know it. And they welcome all golfers. They ask how the round of the day was, where they played, and what other courses they are going to visit during their stay.

About the golf itself, I can say it is different from what is usually played in other parts of the world. The ground is different, the weather is an important part of the game (and course design). The way of playing is even different. There is more ground game and not so much through the air. You play a lot with the contours of the greens. There is much more imagination involved when playing these courses.

And the bunkers... the blessed pot bunkers! To put it in a few words: they are a penalty stroke. Many times you simply have to hit the ball sideways, or even backwards. And if you manage to move forward, it's only a few yards. It's like a penalty stroke. They must be avoided at all costs.

But it is a golf suitable for every golfer. It is a golf that can be enjoyed by golfers of all levels. Because you don't need to hit it long, you don't need to carry over large portions of water or cliffs, because you can play along the ground, because every shot has more than one option on how to be played. It is entertaining.

The point is that playing golf in Scotland is a unique experience and different from everything else. Because of its history. Because it's fun for everyone. Because in Scotland everything revolves around golf. It is an experience that must be lived. At least, once in a lifetime.

2. Golf Regions in Scotland: Destinations

In Scotland there are 5 main regions where the best golf courses are found:

1. St. Andrews and Fife. The main city in this area is St Andrews, world-famous for being the cradle of golf and for having the Old Course right within the city. Another of the most recognized courses in this area is Carnoustie Golf Links.

Other standout courses: Kingsbarns, Lundin Links, Dumbarnie, and the New, Jubilee, and Castle Courses at St. Andrews Links.

Wegolfers at Carnoustie. One of the, if not the most difficult courses in the destination and in Scotland.

2. East Lothian and Edinburgh. In the eastern area of Scotland, it is considered the "kindest" area regarding the weather. It is home to courses like Muirfield, North Berwick, and Gullane.

Other standout courses: Dunbar, Kilspindie, and Musselburgh, the oldest course in the world.

Wegolfers at Muirfield. Tradition dictates that to eat in the dining room and enter the Clubhouse, you must wear a jacket and tie.

3. Ayrshire and the West Coast: This area is located on the west coast of Scotland. You can base yourself in the town of Troon and play courses like Royal Troon, The Ailsa – Trump Turnberry, and Prestwick, home of the first Open in history in 1860.

Other standout courses: Western Gailes and Dundonald Links.

Wegolfers at Royal Troon. Host of multiple Opens, the last in 2024 won by Xander Schauffele.

4. Aberdeen. This is the third largest city in Scotland (behind Edinburgh and Glasgow). It lies on the east coast, about 2 hours north of St. Andrews. Here you can play courses like Cruden Bay, Trump International Scotland (2 courses), and Royal Aberdeen. It is a great destination.

The virtue is that there is less of a crowd than in other destinations.

5. Inverness and the Highlands: Far to the north of Scotland, and with a more inhospitable and austere spirit, we find courses like Royal Dornoch, Nairn, Cabot Highlands (Castle Stuart), and Brora.

These destinations are "combinable" with each other on a trip to Scotland of at least one week. Distances are not that great. For example, from St Andrews to Aberdeen is about 2 hours by car. The same from St. Andrews to Troon or North Berwick. So you can organize to play about 3 rounds in each destination and thus visit more than one region in a single trip. And within the same destination, the distance to the courses is usually very short. Sometimes as little as 5 minutes (or even less!).

Many contact us to ask about tee times at the Old Course or the ballot. I suggest you read the following articles we have on the blog:

- Old Course St. Andrews: The Cherry on Top

- Old Course St. Andrews: The Cradle of World Golf

- How to Play the Old Course at St. Andrews?

3. Top 10 Must-Visit Golf Courses in Scotland

In Scotland, you can find more than 500 golf courses. Therefore, it is difficult to list only 10 courses as "the best links in Scotland." But below we list our Top 10 most iconic courses, either for their history or for having hosted the British Open:

1. Old Course – St. Andrews
2. The Ailsa Course (Trump Turnberry)
3. Royal Dornoch
4. Muirfield
5. North Berwick Golf Club
6. Carnoustie Golf Links
7. Kingsbarns Golf Links
8. Royal Aberdeen
9. Royal Troon
10. Cruden Bay

For more information on each course, you can read our blog post TOP 10: The Best Golf Courses in Scotland.

4. Traveling to Scotland to Play Golf

At Wegolf, we put together several golf packages to Scotland per year. And to everyone who asks us, we suggest they plan the trip at least 10 months in advance. And if you can do it with more lead time, even better.

The golf season in Scotland is not very long, and it receives millions of golfers every year. Almost everyone seeks to play more or less the same courses. Therefore, the availability of tee times is very limited. If you want to choose the courses to play and have good tee times, it is key to organize the trip well in advance.

And to finish the round, a beer to share stories of the day's shots. Not bad, right?

It's similar with accommodation. Cities like St Andrews, North Berwick, Troon, or Aberdeen do not have large hotel chains to choose from. There are usually small hotels, with some exceptions. And hotels have few rooms. June, July, and August are the most requested months, and in these months it is difficult to find accommodation in the main golfing destinations.

5. Why Travel with Wegolf?

After 20 years organizing golf trips to Scotland and having visited the destination on several occasions, we have learned a few things about the destination... We have tips, suggestions, we know the courses, we know the accommodations. And we pour all that experience into every trip we organize for our clients.

Furthermore, we understand that not everyone wants the same trip to Scotland. For some, it is their first trip to this destination. For others, it is their fourth time. Some prefer hotels, others houses or apartments. There are those who want to play many rounds of golf, while others prefer to do some tourism too. At Wegolf, we put together tailor-made trips for each client. Listening and understanding what each one is looking for and putting together an itinerary that meets those expectations.