Thanks Daryl for the suggestions, I will make note. Also, I should have said I am not a huge seafood fan and there seems to be an abundance of seafood eaten in Scotland.

I will say the golf there is worth the struggle for food. My two trips to Scotland were the best two trips I have taken for golf.

Sorry make that 3 out of 5 on the US team...but I would place Merion in my top 5 anyway and then it would be 4

Awesome Gary, thanks for the info. I can't wait for my next trip.

Sitting here, sipping a single malt at the end of the day - I'm going to have to go with the Scottish 5.

Not even close.

Augusta, National, Cypress, c'mon now..

Chris,

None.

But there's no way I choose the Scotland five.  If anything because of access.

But, if that were not an issue, my two dream courses are on the American list, CPC, and NGLA.
No way I could pass those down, even if, as mentioned, access were no issue.
Cypress Point would be like an absolute dream...there is no course I'd rather play, ever.

USA by a wisker, but scotland would claw it back if it could include Ireland.

I would like to echo Jordan's sentiments. I have played only one course that could be considered top 5 caliber (Merion) but I think that the US 5 would be much more appealing that the Scottish 5. The US list has variety where Scotland is all links courses. My personal top 5 courses in the US that I would most like to play would be: Pine Valley, Cypress Point, Shinnecock, Sand Hills. There is great variety in style and strategy at those courses while the Scottish links all encourage the ground game. I'm not saying this to say that they are all the same. I'm just saying the US has much greater variety.

Call me crazy, but I would rather play the top 5 in Ireland (Royal Portrush, Royal County Down, Lahinch, Ballybunion, and maybe The European Club) than the top 5 in Scotland

Steve,

I agree.
If I could play any course in Europe, it would be RCD.  TOC would be a close second.
And I think I would take an Ireland trip over a Scotland trip.
But Scotland is still a dream of mine too!

For what it's worth, it doesn't seem like the Scottish courses can hold a candle to the US courses from a variety perspective...but then again, I'd guess the American courses don't hold a candle to the Scottish on an individual, day-in and day-out variety basis.

Jim,

Sutherland House (I think that's the name.. Sutherland something) on the square in Dornoch is a truly fine restaurant.  Try Luigi's for lunch.. their local salad greens are memorable.  The dinner scene at Tain GC, worth the little trip, is remarkable for its earthy comraderie.  Plus if you go to Dornoch you must play Tain period.

The club at Lossiemouth serves a fine meal if you happen to get over that way, which I do recommend.

Udny Arms in Aberdeen purports to be the originator of the aforementioned Sticky Toffee pudding and serves up a nice dinner as well.

Gary

Gary

Next time you are in Dornoch try Luigi's at night, the Castle and Two Quail.  They are all better than Sutherland's, which I agree is a very fine place to eat.  I've also heard that the new chef at Tain is great, which might just bring me back there...  There is also the Bridge Hotel at Helmsdale, which Philip Gawiath can vouch for.

As to the main point, I'd go for the USA if only because I haven't played 3 of the 5 you have listed whilst I know the Scottish ones very well.  However, it is a hypothetical, and one which really doesn't compare apples to apples, at least if you look at the two experiences realistically and holistically.

To do the USA Gang of Five you would need a Gulfstream and a lot of time and logistical angst.  If you took only a week to do it you would be frazzled at the end, and probably remember pakcing and unpacking your suitcase more than the golf.  Two weeks would be the minimum I would even think of spending on a trip like this.  But what if you decided you liked Pine Valley or Augusta so much that you wanted to stay for a few more days, or even a week, to hang out with the home boys and play some more golf?  This is where hyoptheticals become fantasies, at least in the USA.

Alternatively, you could do your Scottish Gang of Five with a minibus rather than a jet easily in a week, and if you wanted to stay for two weeks, you could have at least two good days at each place.  Not only that, but if you decided you wanted to stay for half of the time in North Berwick, to hang out with the home boys, you could do it, on the spot, most times of the year!

Not only that, but your list, as fine as it is, is personal.  Just off the top of my head I made up 3 more lists which could be just as satisfying, using 15 other Scottish courses.  How about:

Muirfield
Carnoustie
Turnberry
Loch Lomond
Western Gailes

or...

Royal Aberdeen
Cruden Bay
Murcar
Panmure
Gleneagles (Kings)

or...

Brora
Machrie
Elie
Gullane
Kingsbarns

What Scotalnd has that the USA will never have is both propinquity (pace Zelda Gilroy...) and access.

And the golf ain't bad, either.

Rich