The West Coast

Royal Troon is a nine time host of The Open Championship and one of the most complete tests of links golf in Scotland. The opening stretch is near the coast across relatively flat ground and offers the early scoring chances while easing you into the rhythm of the round.

The middle section moves into taller dunes and brings real drama, with shifting angles, bold carries and wide coastal views. This is where you find the Postage Stamp, a tiny par three that delivers one of the most memorable shots in the game.

The final act is a tougher closing stretch back toward the clubhouse, a run of holes that has shaped more than a century of Open Championships. Royal Troon blends heritage, strategy and atmosphere to create a round that tests skill and spirit in equal measure.

Prestwick Golf Club is one of the most historic places in the game, the birthplace of The Open Championship and a course that still carries a strong sense of its nineteenth century origins. Founded in 1851 and shaped by Old Tom Morris, Prestwick remains a rare example of early links architecture, full of quirks, bold features and holes that feel unlike anything built today.

There are highlights from beginning to end. The third, the Cardinal, is a brilliant par five that brings the vast Cardinal bunker and the Pow Burn into play. The seventeenth, the Alps, is one of the most famous blind approach shots in golf, played over a tall dune to a green protected by the fearsome Sahara bunker.

Prestwick rewards imagination and embraces its heritage. It is a course that delivers atmosphere, charm and unforgettable moments, all rooted in the early story of golf itself.

The Ailsa course at Turnberry is one of the most iconic places in golf. This is where Nicklaus and Watson produced the famous Duel in the Sun, with the lighthouse and Ailsa Craig providing a backdrop recognised the world over. The modern redesign has elevated the course even further, using the coastline to spectacular effect and creating a layout that is both beautiful and brilliantly challenging.

The run around the turn is unforgettable. The par three ninth, played across the rocks to a green set against sea and sky, is a true highlight, and the lighthouse halfway house is one of the finest stops in the game.

Turnberry’s Ailsa course blends history, drama and world class design, offering a round that feels special from the first tee to the last.

Western Gailes is a beautifully traditional links laid out on a slender strip of land between the railway and the sea. Since 1897 it has offered a warm welcome and a course full of character, shaped by its setting and its classic design.

The routing is distinctive, with the clubhouse positioned midway and the holes running out and back. This means changes in wind direction play a major part, making accuracy from the tee essential. Burns cut across several approaches, and the par three seventh stands out as a highlight, a lovely coastal hole framed by dunes where a precise strike is rewarded.

Western Gailes is thoughtful, natural and quietly demanding, a course that showcases the very best of traditional Scottish links golf.

Glasgow Gailes is a traditional Ayrshire links with real pedigree, long used as an Open qualifying venue. The course sits on classic sandy ground with firm fairways, natural humps and hollows, and a routing that feels purposeful from the very first hole.

Gorse frames many of the drives, placing a premium on accuracy, while the greens are well protected and reward thoughtful approach play. There is a pleasing flow to the round, with a mix of strong par fours, testing par threes and a few holes that offer genuine scoring chances if you find the right lines.

Glasgow Gailes showcases the purity of Scottish links golf and provides a fair, rewarding test for all levels.

Dundonald Links is a modern Ayrshire course designed by Kyle Phillips, the architect behind Kingsbarns, and it carries his signature mix of playability and strategy. The layout moves through dune corridors and more open ground, creating a round with steady variety while keeping a clear links identity. Fairways give you room to play but reward a committed line, and the greens are shaped to make short game choices interesting without feeling overworked.

The course has hosted several notable events, including the Scottish Open, the Ladies Scottish Open and Final Qualifying for The Open. Dundonald is polished, enjoyable and a strong addition to any Ayrshire itinerary.

Machrihanish is a trip every golfer should experience, a place that delivers on its reputation from the very first swing. The opening hole, played across the wide sands of Machrihanish Bay, is one of the most thrilling starts in the game and sets the scene beautifully.

The front nine that follows is outstanding, weaving through dunes and firm fairways in a way that encourages imagination and confident shot making. It feels natural, unforced and rooted in the pure traditions of links golf.

Machrihanish has a rare sense of place, full of character and charm. It is authentic, memorable and the kind of course that stays with you long after you leave.

The Machrie on Islay is a historic island links set beside Laggan Bay, combining Willie Campbell’s original 1891 design with a thoughtful modern update by D. J. Russell. The setting is spectacular, with sweeping ocean views and the hills of Jura in the background.

The course feels generous from the tee but rewards well placed drives, and the greens are surrounded by clever run offs, bold shaping and revetted bunkers that favour imagination. Variety is a real strength, with tempting short par fours and well crafted par fives.

Shiskine is one of the most distinctive and enjoyable courses in Scotland, a twelve hole links perched above the Kilbrannan Sound on the Isle of Arran. It may be short in length, but it delivers a level of charm, variety and sheer fun that many larger courses struggle to match.

The layout moves through natural dunes, rocky outcrops and sweeping coastal ground, creating holes that feel instinctive and full of character. Blind shots, clever doglegs and beautifully sited greens keep you thinking, while the scenery provides a constant sense of place. Highlights include the famous Himalayas hole and the wonderfully framed Shore hole, both of which capture the spirit of Shiskine perfectly.

Play here and you quickly understand why so many golfers make a point of returning. Shiskine is relaxed, welcoming and memorable, a true island gem.

The King Robert the Bruce course at Turnberry occupies the land where the famous Scottish king was born. Redesigned by Martin Ebert, it offers a polished modern links experience, with gorse lined fairways, smart bunkering and greens that reward positive, well struck approaches.

The highlight of the round is the run from the eighth to the eleventh, played high above the shoreline with wide open views of the lighthouse, Ailsa Craig and the Isle of Arran. The ninth, with its green set close to the cliff edge, is a standout moment.

A strong par five brings you home beside the clubhouse and rounds out a course that complements the Ailsa beautifully. It is a scenic, engaging and worthwhile addition to any Turnberry trip.