Scotland, Fun/Interesting Courses

[KragLoch]

I'm heading to Scotland the first week of June (10 days) and wanted to get everyone's opinions on some "must" plays.  I'm very interested in the "Big Names":   Prestwick, Western Gailes, Turnberry (Ailsa, if worth the hotel and green fee), Royal Dornoch, Nairn, Cruden Bay, Royal Aberdeen, St Andrews (Old), and North Berwick.  What other courses are tops on your list?  Thanks!!!

[Slag_Bandoon]

KragLoch,     I haven't been to Scotland (yet) but one on my wish list is Gullane;  to play golf and meet the legendary Dr. Archie Baird, curator of a Scottish golf museum and author of "Golf on Gullane Hill".  Of which I am sure to buy a copy.  
You may check the Inland Scotland thread for some other recommended options.

[Tom (Guest)]

You might try Montrose which is just up the coast from Carnoustie and is a classic out and back links course !! Really great fun and a final qualifying site for the Open.

Tom

[Hart Huffines]

My group "toured" Scotland for a week in August and
the first thing we all would tell you is that North
Berwick is a must play for fun and amazement.

Our goal was to play Scotland's Rota courses and they were
all incredible.  It was tough trying to play them in one week
though.

Turnberry was well worth the money. Troon and
Prestwick make a nice double for one day.  Somehow
I keep wishing I were at Troon ready for another round.

I would also return to Muirfield in a second.  

[Doug Wright]

Prestwick and N Berwick for sure if you're into GCA. Muirfield for the impeccable routing. One that I really liked that does not get a lot of notice is Elie. The tee shot over the mountain on the first hole is a classic (the starter uses a periscope to let you know when it's clear ). See the posted Course Profile.

[Mike Erdmann]

North Berwick, Royal Dornoch and Cruden Bay are "musts" for fun and interesting courses.  Quirky is probably a better description for North Berwick and Cruden Bay.  I had more "fun" on those two than on bigger name courses like Carnoustie, TOC, Muirfield or Royal Aberdeen.  I enjoyed Royal Aberdeen, but I wouldn't go especially out of my way to get to it unless I was combining it with Cruden Bay.  If you're going to make the trip up north to Royal Dornoch (highly recommended!), get in a round at Brora as well which isn't more than 20 minutes or so up the road.  You'll find it quite different than the other courses you listed, but it's a throwback to a different era and is as firm & fast as you'll find.

[Bryan Pennington (Guest)]

I was on the trip with Hart this summer and would agree with his comments (highly unusual for us to agree).  When we were playing Kingsbarns (nice but not worth the money or the time considering your other choices), we played very near Crail.  That course looked great and I wished we would have played.  Both Kingsbarns and Crail are fairly near St. Andrews so it should be easy to add Crail if you are playing TOC.  We were also scheduled to play Lundin but could not make due to a schedule conflict.  The Secretary at Lundin was very accommodating and the course looked like it would be fun to play.  I'll echo the positive N. Berick comments, it was great fun.    

[Evan Fleisher]

I'll echo the following suggestions...North Berwick, Cruden Bay, Crail, and even Prestwick for quirk, fun, and more fun.  

The rota courses were great to play, having such historic and architectural interest and value...but the others mentioned above were far more exciting and exhilarating to play.  Just my opinion.

[Allen Rebstock]

Definitely include Troon if you're going to Ayr to play Turnberry, Prestwick & Western Gailes.  If you're going to East Lothian to play North Berwick and looking for something off the beaten path try Whitekirk or Luffness New.  I would agree that Gullane is also a must.

In Fife, Kingsbarns, Crail, Scotscraig, Leven or Lundin Links, Panmure and Monifieth are possibilities for a second round after playing Old Course.  Carnoustie is a must.

In the Highlands, Moray Golf Club, Fortrose & Rosemarkie and Boat of Garten are others if you're looking for a second round after playing Nairn or Dornoch.    

Due to the time of year you're going, daylight last till 11:00 pm

[John_D._Bernhardt]

All the ones above plus the great Macharanish.

[Steve Sayers]

Give Panmure Golf Club a try – it's just across the firth from St. Andrews and on the way to Carnoustie.  Hogan practiced here before his win at Carnoustie in the 1953 Open.