You may not be planning a golf trip to Scotland, England, Ireland, or anywhere else in the British Isles, but here are 10 U.S. properties that pay homage to that region through a combination of elements: a links-style course; food and beverage options; coastal views; pot bunkers; or scenic wee burns to strategically avoid. With any luck, some charming people will encourage you to feel welcome and completely transported.
Ballyneal Golf Club—Holyoke, Colo.
Reminiscent of the rolling dunes in Ireland and Scotland, but located in eastern Colorado, Ballyneal is a private club with inland links golf. This walking-only course, designed by Tom Doak with no formal tee markers, is part of the traditional atmosphere at Ballyneal. Several cottages overlook the 12-hole par-3 Mulligan Course, named for the original caddie at Ballyneal, Charlie Mulligan. An evening round or a session on The Commons, a one-acre Himalayas-style putting course at the heart of Ballyneal Village, will pair nicely with the gloaming and a pint of Guinness from the Ballyneal Turtle Bar & Restaurant.
Bandon Dunes Golf Resort—Bandon, Ore.
Coastal views abound and ocean scents blow across seven walking-only links courses in Bandon, Ore., drawing comparisons to a British Isles golf heaven. (“Bandon Dunes is true to the spirit of Scotland’s ancient links” is the first thing you read when visiting the resort’s website.) Except, spread across 2,500 acres, these courses skirt the Pacific Ocean. Celebrate your day at the Scottish-inspired McKee’s Pub, and share the stories your caddie shared with you. Finish your meal with a single malt scotch by the natural wood bar, or indulge with a serving of sticky toffee pudding or some Irish apple cake. Get ready to explore a different course the next morning—chances are good that a fine British mist will join you.
Erin Hills—Erin, Wis.
The details of the day-to-day slide away as you travel County Road O to reach Erin Hills, then roll slowly down the property’s long driveway, enjoying views across the vast space and the green and gold contrasting grasses in Erin, Wis. There is a rustic bar in the club house, overlooking the Drumlin putting course, which is lit at night. A little further on is the Irish Pub with firepits and a stone patio. Try a Fescue Rescue—Jameson, ginger beer, and lemonade—and you won’t be disappointed. The caddie barn by the practice facilities is where you can arrange your next round on this firm-and-fast, walking-only championship venue set to host the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open, complete with shamrock tee markers (like that of the club’s logo).
Glenlaurel—Rockbridge, Ohio
About an hour south of Columbus, Ohio, The Scottish Links at Glenlaurel is an 8-hole course with sand tees and greens, designed by Dr. Mike Hurdzan and his son, Chris. Play the course with the available hickory shaft clubs and a sand tee mold to engage in the full historical experience. There is a nightly social from 5–6:30pm in The Old Course Pub, and the laird’s “call to dinner” means it is time for guests to be seated for an optional seven-course experience. Choose from the Ross or Douglas Highlander Suites, or a number of cozy crofts for a peaceful slumber and dreams of yonder.
Kohler Wisconsin—Sheboygan, Wis.
In Sheboygan, Wis., Kohler is home to two unique golf settings—Whistling Straits and Blackwolf Run—with four courses designed by Pete Dye. At Whistling Straits, Scottish Blackface Sheep roam the Straits course, host of three PGA Championships and the 43rd Ryder Cup, helping maintain the rough on this walking-only links course along the coastline of Lake Michigan. The Irish course is routed through sandy coastal dunes where the wind plays friend and foe. Both championship designs are mesmerizing through sunbeams, shadows, and lush green turf evoking images of Ireland. The Horse & Plow offers a traditional pub atmosphere, and you can check into a Heritage room for luxurious British Isles-themed accommodations.
Legends Golf Resort—Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Located on South Carolina’s Grand Strand, Legends offers a Scottish Village and five different courses. Heathland, designed by Tom Doak, evokes all the feel of the “Old Country.” Players can imagine they are across the pond playing holes reminiscent of the well-known links at St. Andrews, Lahinch, or Cruden Bay. The bunkers can be deep and the breeze stout, so bring your best game and stay out of the greenside sand to keep your clean round from screeching to a halt. Try the Guinness Roast or Fish-and-Chips at the Ailsa Pub and don’t forget a dash of malt vinegar on those chips.
Mistwood Golf Club—Romeoville, Ill.
Located in the western suburbs of Chicago, Mistwood was renovated in 2011 under the guidance of architect Ray Hearn. He used Carnoustie and the Old Course at St. Andrews as a guiding spirit for the design, focusing on strategy and playability. With stacked sod-wall bunkers, a performance center resembling an old Scottish cottage, McWethy’s Tavern, and its crested logo of the Scottish flag, Mistwood evokes the atmosphere of the British Isles. Beautiful stone walls and bridges cover the property and hole names such as “The Burn,” “Wee Pots,” “Highlands,” “Long Loch,” and “Doon,” the Scottish word for “down,” all describe the round in front of you.
Royal New Kent Golf Club—Providence Forge, Va.
With the tagline “Golf Ireland in Virginia,” this course just east of Richmond is one of only a few original Mike Strantz designs. Seeing the landscape at Royal New Kent, Strantz was inspired by some of his favorite Irish courses, Royal County Down and Ballybunion. The club’s motto, “Invicta” means “undefeated or unconquered” and is the motto of the County of Kent in England. Before your first shot, indomitable ancient spirits are challenging you to take driver all day. Whatever your score on this difficult design, visit Strantz Pub for a beverage of your choosing to go with the Irish Burger or hot corned beef.
The Highlands—Harbor Springs, Mich.
In northern Michigan at Harbor Springs, The Highlands resort is adding The Back Yaird (Scottish for “yard”), a 1.5-acre Himalayan-style putting course offering 27 holes, and Doon Brae (roughly translated to mean “down a hillside”), a 9-hole par-3 course complete with sod-faced bunkers and lights in the evening, in 2025. The main lodge is covered in ivy and styled after a country estate in England—consider having a hot cup of tea. The Heather Highlands Inn offers condo-style units containing separate bedrooms and lofts, just right for family fun and located near the first hole of The Heather course, designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. in 1966. Spoiled for choice, other available courses include Arthur Hills, Donald Ross Memorial, and The Moor.
Golf Clubs at The Tribute—The Colony, Texas
There are two courses north of Dallas at The Tribute: Old American Golf Club and The Tribute Golf Links, the latter the one to play to feel transported to the British Isles. Designed by Tripp Davis, the first hole shares a fairway with the 18th, inspired by the Old Course in St. Andrews in Scotland. The entire layout is an homage to golf abroad. The 4th is a nod to the 4th hole at Royal Dornoch in northern Scotland, with its famous plateau green. The 5th is a nod to Royal Troon’s “Postage Stamp” par three, the shortest par-three in the Open Championship rota. Other British Isles courses paid tribute by The Tribute include Muirfield, Prestwick, Trump Turnberry, Nairn, and Carnoustie. Keep a lookout and you may even see your favorite tartan or a wandering bagpiper.
What scents, sights, or sounds transport you to the British Isles?
