Below you will find our golf course reviews from venues in the West of Scotland including Dumfries & Galloway, Ayrshire, Arran, Glasgow, Clyde Valley, Argyll & Bute, Stirlingshire and the Western Isles.
Following a 4:00am alarm call we’d already driven for more than six hours and covered over 350 road miles before boarding a ferry at Oban sailing to Lochboisdale.
Not all golf courses are created equal and that can certainly be said about Trump Turnberry.
Prestwick has been on my hit list of golf courses to play for quite some time and I’m ashamed to say it has taken me far too long to visit this iconic links. From everything I’d read and heard I was expecting it to be ‘my type’ of golf.
Playing Royal Troon less than a fortnight after Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson had produced what is arguably the greatest golfing duel in history, and certainly the best final day of an Open Championship, was a special occasion.
Western Gailes is a thing of true beauty. Something extra special. Near perfection at times.
Playing at The Machrihanish Golf Club is perhaps not as romantic a prospect as it was several years ago. None-the-less it’s a fabulous golfing experience.
It was an impulsive, crazy… and some would say utterly ridiculous… decision that took me to The Machrie in the Spring of 2018.
The game of golf has the ability to take you on amazing journeys to the most wondrous places where you meet such interesting people.
Except for the undeniable beauty of the 12th hole there’s nothing truly outstanding at Southerness. Please note that this isn’t meant with negative connotations though because everything about this true links course is of a consistently high standard and is undoubtedly one of Scotland’s sleeping gems.
The experience of visiting and playing at Loch Lomond, an exclusive club with an international clientele, is a difficult one to describe.
Located within touching distance of the Atlantic Ocean on the Kintyre Peninsula Machrihanish Dunes is the first true links course to open on Scotland’s west coast in over one hundred years.
In an area steeped in history and tradition Dundonald Links has, in the space of just over ten years, commanded the respect of golfers who flock to this part of Scotland to tackle Open Championship venues and other prestigious links courses.
The Gailes Links at Irvine belongs to Glasgow Golf Club, a club steeped in history and the 9th oldest in the world.
Since my last visit in 2017 when the second course here was called the Kintyre much has changed.
I heard the squelch first. The gentle sinking sensation soon followed. However, it was a few seconds before I felt the warm, moist trickling sensation around my ankle. The smell arrived shortly afterwards.
There are over a dozen fine links golf courses on the Ayrshire Coast. The Irvine Golf Club stands proudly as one of the best but perhaps the most unheralded.
The Barrasie Links at Kilmarnock Golf Club is an extremely fine and well-presented golf course. It’s also a superb test of every part of your game and has a real consistent feel of quality to it.
Prestwick St. Nicholas is one of those links courses that you just cannot fail to fall in love with.
The Dunskey course at Portpatrick is one of the most fun and enjoyable I have played in Scotland.
A quick stop-off at Lanark, to break up the journey on the way home from St. Andrews, proved to be a very enjoyable few hours out on one of Scotland’s premier inland courses.
The West Kilbride Golf Club at Seamill is located on a stunning piece of the Ayrshire coast, with spectacular views across the Firth of Clyde to the beautiful island of Arran.
The Kintyre course at Turnberry has been redesigned and is now called the King Robert The Bruce.
The Hillhouse loop, formerly part of the main course but now a standalone nine hole layout, is an absolute treat.
The Isle of Harris Golf Club at Scarista is a cracking little nine-hole golf course that delivers a true links experience.
Powfoot is a no-nonsense golf course close to the Solway Firth just over the English-Scottish Border in Dumfries & Galloway.
Shiskine Golf (& Tennis) Club, set in a truly stunning location at Blackwaterfoot on the Isle of Arran, may only have 12 holes but there is nothing lacking in terms of the enjoyment or test of golf that is presented when playing this wonderfully captivating links.
The Darley links is one of three courses emanating from the starters office at the Troon Municipal golf complex which is owned, managed and run by South Ayrshire Council.
The second links at Troon, the “Portland” created by Fernie in 1895 and formerly known as the Relief course, has its moments of excellence.
Stranraer is not a great course but it is certainly a very good one with no two holes the same and boasts lots of varied and interesting shots.
Just off the A75 in Dumfries & Galloway you will find one of the most genuine and authentic links courses in Scotland; Wigtownshire County.
Glencruitten is a fascinating golf course I whole-heartedly recommend anyone should play.
A round of golf at Traigh is a unique Scottish golf experience.
The Lochgreen links is one of three courses emanating from the starters office at the Troon Municipal golf complex which is owned, managed and run by South Ayrshire Council.
Not many people know but there is also a third course at Turnberry and this is the nine hole Arran course.
I wouldn't necessarily recommend you visit Colonsay specifically for the golf, however, that's not to suggest you shouldn't visit this beyond beautiful island, inhabited by less than 150 people, in the Hebrides and play their truly unique golf course.
The Fullarton links is one of three courses emanating from the starters office at the Troon Municipal golf complex which is owned, managed and run by South Ayrshire Council.
Girvan is very much a tale of two halves although mathematically speaking it is actually a story of 8/18's (or should that be four-ninths?) and 10/18's.
Dalmally is a picturesque nine-hole course in a lovely setting just off the A85 Perth to Oban road.
The setting and location for the Isle of Skye Golf Club at Sconser could possibly be the best I have ever seen.
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