With a total of 587 courses Scotland has more places to play golf per head of capita than any other country on on the plant, so there’s no lack of choice for people looking to play a round.
But not all courses are created equal, with location, layout, course architect, length and numerous other variables combining to make every 18-hole journey a unique adventure.
And the best courses are a destination in their own right – in 2019, pre-pandemic, 47 per cent of overnight visitors to Scotland from overseas played golf.
Golf tourism is worth £286million each year to the country’s economy and is expected to continue to grow exponentially in the future.
Most visitors to the ‘Home of Golf’ will have bucket list of places they are keen to play, with a number of key courses likely to play a part in their sporting pilgrimage.
Here are some of the most prestigious – the 10 best golf courses in Scotland, as rated by global golf site www.top100golfcourses.com.
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9. Castle Stuart
Located near Inverness overlooking the Moray Firth, Castle Stuart Golf Links is the ninth best course in Scotland. The Highland landmarks of Kessock Bridge, Chanonry Lighthouse, Fort George and Castle Stuart itself are all visible from the course, making for a round of golf soaked in Scottish history. Photo: Castle Stuart Golf Links
10. Trump International Golf Links
By far the newest of Scotland's great golf courses, the Trump International Golf Links, located in Menie, just north of Aberdeen, was only opened in 2012. It is ranked the tenth best golf course in Scotland, is set amidst dramatic sand dunes, and was designed by renowned links architect, Dr Martin Hawtree. Photo: Canva/Getty Images