Top 100 Golf Courses in Scotland

Top 100 scoTland 2015
EXclUsIVE
‘It is still
the soul of
the game’
By top designer Kyle Phillips.
I think the soul of the
game is still in Great
Britain and Ireland.
People like to walk,
they like quirky
courses, they
appreciate the aesthetics and
understand the tradition and history
behind the game a bit more.
so much of golf is now played in
buggies and I think that is a shame.
The idea of golf is surely that you are
supposed to be with friends, walking
together, telling stories and breathing
it all in.
so many scottish links provide the
ideal setting for that experience.
I am proud of my courses in
scotland; Kingsbarns has been a real
success while dundonald (pictured
below) hasn’t perhaps quite had the
same plaudits. But I can tell you it is
a links I am very pleased with and I
know they are trying hard there, so I
am really pleased to hear it is ranked
so highly in Golf World’s list.
Kingsbarns didn’t have an
exceptional natural plot – better than
what I was given to work with at, say,
Yas links in Abu dhabi, but not a
fantastic piece of land. It did have the
sea right next to it though...
Maybe what I’ve been able to do is
figure out a way of doing it which
makes it appear more natural and
believable.
The skill is in making it look very
natural and not as if it has just had a
face lift.
Hopefully what we have been
doing proves it is possible to create
great natural golf experiences on less
than perfect sites.
n Kyle Phillips is one of the world’s
foremost designers with feted work
in Europe, Asia and America,
including Scottish Top 100 courses
Kingbarns and Dundonald.
67 Elie ( ▲ 3 )
Elie, Fife. Par 70, 6,273 yards.
Designer: Old Tom Morris.
BB sacred place as Braid learnt his golf there.
IM Probably the only course you’ll play where
the starter checks the fairway is clear by
looking through a submarine periscope!
NS some nice holes when you get to the shore.
BS Many R&A members are also members at
Elie. Why? Because they know a good links.
GW VERDICT short, quirky, full of character.
65 Fortrose & Rosemarkie ( ▲ 9 )
Fortrose, Inverness-shire. Par 71, 5,881
yards. Designer: James Braid.
IM on a thin strip of land jutting out into the
Moray Firth this is one of the most scenic links
you could hope to find. The only course where
I have watched a colony of dolphins at play as I
have putted out. It is simply a captivating sight.
NS A great course with lots of variety of length
of holes. A fair bit of gorse to avoid as well.
GW VERDICT Ingenious design on a tiny spit.
66 Turnberry Kintyre (▼ 8)
Turnberry, Ayrshire. Par 72, 6,891 yards.
Designers: Mackenzie Ross/Donald Steel.
BS Is there a better single location for two
rounds of golf than the Kintyre and the Ailsa?
IM set within the magnificent Ailsa, it sufers in
the shadow of sister. A couple of great holes.
NS The two nines difer in character, the first
being more open and the second having whins
on both sides which you have to keep out of.
GW VERDICT Nice, but sufers in comparison.
64 Carnoustie Burnside ( ▲ 26 )
Carnoustie, Angus. Par 70, 6,028 yards.
Designer: James Braid.
NS Underrated because its brother. Just a
super test of golf and maintained to an equal
standard to the Championship course.
AF Great links course. only got one or two
weaker holes, otherwise a great test.
GW VERDICT: Refurb has it is arguably the
best condition of all the courses at Carnoustie,
don’t be surprised if this ends up in the top 50.
CoURTEsY sTEWART GRANT
63 Grantown on Spey ( ▲ 10 )
Grantown, Morayshire. Par 70, 5,710 yards.
Designer: Willie Park.
AM Almost comparable to Boat of Garten in
terms of design, presentation and playability,
so should be closer in ranking.
AF lovely inland course. some good holes.
With more consistent quality of hole, would for
me be higher. lovely location.
NS some great views from a pleasant course.
GW VERDICT: Exquisite, short heathland.
62 Prestwick St Nicholas ( ▲ 7 )
Prestwick, Ayrshire. Par 72, 6,044 yards.
Designers: John Allan/Charlie Hunter.
DC some really entertaining holes.
DD deserves to be higher than 2013 listing.
Nice links with a great short par-4 16th.
NS some terrific holes particularly towards the
end of the round.
BS A good old-fashioned links; nothing fancy,
just genuine and honest good links golf.
GW VERDICT: super 36 holes with the old.
12 Golf World ToP 100 sCoTlANd 2015