By Graylyn Loomis
When you make the bucket-list journey to Scotland, it’s only natural that you’d want to play the most well-known courses. You want to see the Open Championship venues and walk in the footsteps of the game’s great players. We get it! But, it is also our job to educate you on where else you should go, particularly some of the lesser-known courses that offer tremendous experiences.
First, though, an important point. Instead of “hidden” gems, these are “local” gems. They aren’t hard to find or even unknown, but they likely fly under the radar of the American golfer who is thinking about their first trip. These courses offer an authentic, local feel that you won’t find at the larger courses. And as an added bonus, they’ll go easy on your budget. For every budget-busting round, throw in one of these and your experience will be all the better for it.
The list below pairs a local gem with a course you’ll likely have seen before.
St Andrews Old Course – Golf House Club Elie
Just 25 minutes down the coast from St Andrews, Golf House Club Elie—simply called Elie—offers all of the quirk, views, and traditional links golf one could want. When the starter uses a former submarine periscope to check over a hill to see if the first fairway is clear, you know you’re in for a great round. Like so many other classic courses in Scotland, the course begins and finishes right in the charming village. If you have time after the round, it’s worth exploring the town. Be sure to stop for a pint at the Ship Inn.
The club was also home to James Braid, who in addition to designing over 200 courses across the UK, also won the Open Championship five times.
Carnoustie – Panmure Golf Club
When Ben Hogan visited Scotland for the 1953 Open Championship, it was his first visit to the country. To acclimate to the different style of golf, he spent two weeks before the championship at nearby Panmure, learning the ground game and the various challenges of the links. The time clearly paid off, as Hogan won the Open by four strokes, setting a new scoring record of 68 at Carnoustie in the process.
Panmure opened in 1843 and is a traditional links test in every way. Like Carnoustie, there are no expansive ocean views, but the history of the course makes up for any lack of visual appeal.
Cruden Bay – Fraserburgh Golf Links
30 minutes north of Cruden Bay (one of the most fun rounds in Scotland) is the seventh oldest club in Scotland—Fraserburgh Golf Links, founded in 1777. After 145 years of play, the course was redesigned in 1922 by James Braid. That design is the one players see today and its large dunes and ocean views place it in the conversation alongside nearby Royal Aberdeen and Cruden Bay. A weekend round at Fraserburgh before 2PM will only cost £55.
Royal Troon – Kilmarnock (Barassie)
A seven-minute drive from Royal Troon is Kilmarnock’s Barassie Course. The club has an interesting history starting in the 1870s, which was covered in the 2016 Summer Issue of LINKS Magazine. The course serves as a final qualifying venue when the Open Championship is at Royal Troon, and the layout’s doglegs and famously fast greens put a premium on local knowledge during such tournaments. Although the course doesn’t initially look like a links, with few ocean views and tree-lined fairways, the firm fairways, burns, and revetted bunkers leave little links doubt after the round.
Muirfield (HCEG) – Dunbar Golf Links
Unless you’re planning over a year in advance, securing a tee time at Muirfield will be a challenge. Fortunately, there are many other options in the area. A great one is Dunbar, where the bulk of the course is routed between an ancient stone wall and the North Sea. The experience peaks in the middle of the round with expansive views and quirky features like a sunken green, a picturesque stone building, and greens set beside crashing waves.
While in the town of Dunbar, make sure to visit Belhaven Brewery for a pint of Belhaven Best—a classic Scottish ale.
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What are your favorite local gems in Scotland? Let us know in the comments below!
Elie is a not miss, not only because its site is beautiful, but also because the course is great. There are no par 5s. There are only two par threes…one long the other short. Of the 16 par 4s, two are easily reachable, the rest are a nice mixture of medium and “killer” (at least for a medium hitter like me).
….and you begin at the starter’s house looking through a real submarine periscope to see if you can play away.
Do not miss it.
Cheers,
Arthur Little
Crail is also a lovely hard by the sea links course in fife.
When visiting Troon or Prestwick another local course that’s really great to play is Prestwick St. Nichols. It’s private but they will allow visitors.
While at Cruden Bay or Royal Aberdeen, Murcar Golf Club sits at the north end of Royal Aberdeen and has the same rolling terrain and many spectacular holes as it’s neighbor.
5 minutes north of Barassie is Glasgow Gailes, another course used as a qualifier for the Open.
Glasgow Gailes is very, very good. As is its better-known neighbor, Western Gailes…..
One other place to consider would be Dalmahoy. Two great courses designed by James Braid. Truly enjoyable courses and a Marriott Hotel on property as well. Just about an hour from Edinburgh. Well worth looking into.
We have made a habit of combining local gems with rota courses and better known names on our various trips to Scotland. Of those cited, I have played Elie and Dunbar, and I agree with Graylyn’s assessment of each. I will play Barassie in July. Scheduling the local gems, along with the famous names serves two purposes, both positive. It helps to keep the cost of your trip down,and, more important, you get to play some excellent courses that many visitors miss.
Tain, Brora, Nairn, Fortrose&Rosemarkie, Boat of Garten, Lossiemouth, North Berwick, Dundonald
If the traveler is going from Cruden Bay/Fraserburgh to Dornoch, stop at Lossiemouth; its finish presents a triumphant march up hill and back into town. Just further down the road is Nairn.
In the capital, visit the “Silver Fox” Tommy Armour’s Braid Hills #2; from some of its elevated tees, the golfer actually looks down on Edinburgh castle.
Balcomie Links @ Crail is one that I found to be very enjoyable. Just a short drive south of St Andrews and Kingsbarns.
If you’re going up to play Royal Dornoch, three local gems are right nearby that shouldn’t be missed — Brora, Tain and Golspie. They don’t get the attention of their more famous neighbor, but they are well worth the play.
Also, when near St. Andrews, Crail (Balcomie) is a wonderful, charming old course with a ton of history, great views and a lot of memorable holes.
Nairn and North Berwick are definitely worth playing.
I second the emotion on Crail Balcomie, but don’t miss the adjacent Craigshead by Gil Hanse. Yes, it’s modern but with plenty of charming quirks, like stone walls across a fairway and directly behind a green. Loved Elie too, as well as Lundin Golf Club nearby.
When scheduling golf at North Berwick West Links, it’s definitely worth the trip back for a round at the Glen Golf Club – just a mile down the coast. There are views of the Forth from every hole and one of the most unique par 3’s in all of Scotland! It’s truly a hidden gem.
North Berwick west course is a treasure.
Please don’t send people to Fraserburgh– I want to keep it all to myself! Seriously, it’s truly a gem. If you play it two days in a row, it can be a wholly different course if the wind has shifted
Wick
For a links course you must go to Gullane! Site of recent Scottish Open. Concur with North Berwick, The Glen and Dunbar in East Lothian. There are also shorter but challenging courses in the vicinity like Luffness and Kilspindie that are great links courses. In Fife Lundin Links and Crail are very nice. Near St Andrews a challenging wee course with local charm is St Michael. It’s what they call a parkland course over there as apposed to a links course. It’s not pampered like typical US courses but it does reflect how golf was meant to be played. Up north I concur with Elie and Tain but don’t overlook Torvean near Inverness. Any course with a par 5 over 600yds is going to provide a challenge. Finally my wife is originally from Edinburgh and we visit at least twice a year. I joined Liberton at Kingston Grange over 10yrs ago as a Country Member. My annual fee is low, I pay no green fees and I can bring guests for a significantly reduced rate, so family foursomes are easy. Through friends who have memberships at other courses I get to play as their guest and can reciprocate at Liberton. So don’t forget about the social benefits of playing over there. I absolutely love it!!
If you make the trek to Kintyre to play the outstanding links at Machrihanish and Mach Dunes, don’t miss the hidden gem at Dunaverty in Southend at the southern tip of the peninsula. Beautiful views, “an “honor box” for payment and the chance to play with locals makes this course an enjoyable option.
Don’t forget to visit the 12 hole course at Blackwaterfoot on Arran. Shiskine is a truly unique golfing experience. It’s just a short ferry ride from Campbeltown or Ayr making it somewhat “local”.
North Berwick West Links is equal to any course in all of Scotland. It should be a priority.
Also near Crudeness Bay are 2 great courses: Peterhead and Mintrose.. Up north try Narin and Portnoo, Rosapenna, and Port Salon.
Montrose not Mintrose
The last three on your list are great courses, but are in Ireland..
Second the motion on Dunbar, Panmure, Elie and Fraserburgh, Kilmarnock! I’d add: Brora and Fortrose (Dornoch), Lundin Links and Crail (St. Andrews), Murcar (Cruden Bay), Luffness New (Muirfield).
MF
Gullane #1.
When staying in Fife (near St. Andrews) – try the “throwback” 9 hole hickory track near Cupar – Kingarrock. The property has a restored mansion, wonderful gardens – and the private golf field. It was restored and reopened in 2008. You play with their hickory clubs and a choice of replica ball. My most memorable day of golf happened on the 2008 trip – played the Old Course in the AM – and Kingarrock in the afternoon. A wonderful memory.
Kilspendie, near North Berwick, is a favorite.
North Berwick, Crail and Gullane #1 are all great courses!
Forgot that Luftness New is one of the more difficult courses. Also Royal Musselburgh has a clubhouse with 3 sections built in 3 different centuries starting in the 1600s.
Across the street from Lundin Links is another gen, Leven Links.
A couple parkland gems, Blairgowrie and Downfield.
Just returned from Scotland. Played Elle.Balcomie, old and New course,Carnoustie,North Berwick,and Gullaine. Absouletly fantastic golf experience.
These are all wonderful courses and true “hidden gems”. I had a to wait a bit here to see Kilspendie mentioned. Not great but a working man’s club as is Dunbar. But some very good holes at Kilspendie. Also, the Fraserburgh is one neat track. But continue north and west again toward Dornoch and stop to play Old Moray, right next to an RAF base, and Peterhead.
I recently retuned from a NW England trek to the Lancashire Coast where the golf is the most understate anywhere. But hit southern Scotland, Powfoot, Portpartick, Straener, and Southerness, all good. And the locals love you because you have come all that way to play “their” course.
And, yes, if you do the Kintyre Penin. try to get to Machrie and then to Shiskine. You can talk about it forever .