5 must-play Scottish golf courses, according to our experts

Royal Troon, host of this week’s Open Championship, is in a golf-rich region of the world. What are your five must-play Scottish golf courses?

Hindrik Gommer, panelist since 2015: In the Netherlands, we are fortunate to have a direct flight to Inverness, a gateway to golf in the Scottish Highlands, where tee times run from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the summer. My top-five recommendations in the region are: Royal Dornoch (Donald Ross’s home course, rightly ranked among the finest in the world); Nairn (Old Tom Morris designed it); Brora (a rustic gem 20 miles north of Dornoch); Castle Stuart (designed by Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner, it is now part of the Cabot Collection, and next year it will have a sibling course, designed by Tom Doak); and Skibo Castle (exclusive, expensive and immensely enjoyable).

Paul Arnould, panelist since 2023: Fair warning. Getting to all of these in a single trip will require a lot of driving, or winging around in a whirlybird. Let’s start with Cruden Bay, where the iconic “bathtub” green on the 14th hole is one of countless unforgettable features. Prestwick, the birthplace of the Open Championship, is in my opinion the best match-play course in the world. Machrihanish is golf in the Scottish dunes at its purest. It has the best opening hole in Scotland (though you could also make a case for the 1st at Prestwick). Elie is close to St. Andrews, but off the beaten path. It includes 12 holes of madness by the sea. Finally, Turnberry, Ailsa course — one of the grandest courses in Scotland.

Simon Holt, panelist since 2019: Firstly, plan ahead!  Even courses we used to think of as hidden gems are in high demand, often selling out before the end of the year preceding a trip. Because the Old Course almost goes without saying, I’ll suggest five others. Muirfield: One of the greatest courses in the world, it has a club experience to match. The visitor day consisting of fourball in the morning, world class lunch, followed by foursomes in the afternoon, is as good as it gets. North Berwick: An architectural masterpiece that keeps all levels of golfers engaged from the first shot to the last. And if you’re having an off day, enjoy the views while taking one of the best walks in golf. Royal Dornoch: Everything golf should be. It’s hard to articulate the aura, a rightness that I can only describe as having “the feel” when you arrive on the first tee. A world-class set of par-3s is more than supplemented with rumpled fairways, elevation changes and an exceptional set of green complexes. Brora: A short drive north of Dornoch and a step back in time. Livestock, electric fences, rough and ready fairways; a no-frills experience that will go down as the cigar-story of your trip. Turnberry, Ailsa: The Ailsa is all the better for its changes. Holes that needed tweaking have been redone to unanimous praise. This is a “proper” course for those who revel in championship golf.

Philip Gawith, panelist since 2019: Muirfield: Because of the strength of the architecture, but also the depth of history and the magical clubhouse ambiance. Dornoch: Beautiful course, especially when the whins (gorse blooms) are out. Memorable holes, such as Foxy (a long, bunkerless par-4 with wild, natural mounding) and the terrifying 2nd and 6th short holes. Wonderful sense of destination and arrival so far north. The uphill walk to the 7th tee delivers probably the greatest single view in golf. Brora: The purest, natural links you will ever play. Soul golf at its finest. North Berwick: A half dozen of the most memorable holes you will ever find in a single course, in a uniquely Scottish seaside setting. Turnberry, Ailsa: Only Pebble Beach can match this combination of championship golf and coastal beauty.

Tim Gallant, panelist since 2019: It can be easy to just want to play the Open rota courses, but Scotland has a wonderful variety of links that makes it difficult to pick. I live in Scotland and would never grow tired of the following. Royal Dornoch: There is something spiritual about this links course set in the Highlands. Go in May with the gorse in full bloom and you’ll think you’re in heaven. North Berwick: If you like to smile when you play golf, this is your place. Machrihanish: Probably the best front 9 in golf. It’s not close to anything, but that remoteness means that it’s about as pure of a Scottish golf experience as you can get. The Old Course: Every golfer needs to see it at least once. I could put you to sleep with why the course itself is so good, but forget all of that. No place oozes golf quite like the ancient home of the game. Muirfield: For the full experience, play your own ball in the morning and see how challenging championship links courses can be. Then retreat for the best lunch in golf and come out in the afternoon ready to play foursomes (alternate shot) for fun!