Scottish Tourism Guide - Articles
Golf in Scotland
Golf in Scotland by Martin Sayers
Where in the world can you play golf on courses steeped in the history of the game and be surrounded by some of the most fabulous scenery on the planet? Scotland, of course.
Nobody is entirely sure when the game actually started but the first record of it was in 1457 when King James II of Scotland banned the game because it was distracting young men from their archery practice. However, by 1502 the game had been taken up by James IV and became more socially acceptable. It soon spread right across the British Isles and then across the world.
Not only is Scotland the home of golf, it also offers some of the finest golfing challenges in the world. You would be mistaken if you think that golf in Scotland is lost in a bygone era of wooden clubs and plus-fours. This small country has over 540 golf courses to choose from, including world famous courses that have hosted the Open such as The Old Course St Andrews, Royal Troon and Carnoustie. Scotland is also a world leader in golf course design with fine new courses such as Kingsbarns and The Roxburghe.
Then there are hidden gems such as Machrihanish Golf Club on the Mull of Kintyre, which will test the mettle of even the most experienced golfer.
Perhaps the Mecca for any golfer is St Andrews, the home of the Royal and Ancient golf club and the governing body of golf throughout the world outside the USA. This is a truly magnificent set of links and, perhaps somewhat surprisingly, the land and all the six courses on it are open to the public. Anyone coming to play golf in Scotland can tee off on the Old Course and follow in the footsteps of the legends of the Open, from Bobby Jones to Tiger Woods.
It would be a mistake for golfing tourists to limit themselves to the great links courses as venturing further inland can also provide some fantastic golfing challenges. Perhaps one of the best of these is at Loch Lomond golf club. Many golf fans will know this as the home of the Scottish Open, annual curtain raiser to the Open itself, but it truly has to be seen to be believed. Designed by Tom Weiskopf, winner of the Open in 1973, this magnificent course is situated just 25 minutes from Glasgow but is surrounded
by the beauty of Loch Lomond and the Scottish Highlands. At 7100 yards and with a host of natural hazards the course provides a stiff test to any golfer.
There are so many fantastic courses in this small country that many golf tourists choose to purchase a golf pass. These cost around $100 and entitle the golfer to reduced rates at a selection of quality clubs in one area of the country, a must if you are looking to play a lot of courses.
As for accommodation, Scotland is also blessed with some of the best hotels in the world. Many of these are attached to the finest golf courses in the land, including the Old Course Hotel at St Andrews.
From the famous coastal links courses to superb inland fairways beside loch and glen, golf in Scotland is something that anybody who loves the game has to experience. Scotland is a destination that no golfer can afford to miss out on.