Top 100 Golf Courses in Scotland

2019?
many will be realised?
In September 2014 planning
permission was approved for
the construction of a five-star
hotel with leisure and spa
facilities and an 18-hole
championship golf course.
URY EsTaTE
Where – Stonehaven
Designer – Jack nicklaus
Developers – FM Group
A planning application was
lodged in February 2015 for an
18-hole championship course
with enabling housing
development. Current planning
policy does not cater for
housing but the homes are
crucial to fund the course.
BlaIRs collEGE
Where – Aberdeen
Designers – paul Lawrie/
European Golf Design
Developers – Muir Group
planning permission is sought
for private housing to fund
infrastructure, afordable
housing and leisure facilities
including a championship golf
course to act as an enabling
development – over a 10-year
period – for the re-use of listed
Blairs College as a hotel.
37 Boat of Garten (▼ 2)
Boat of Garten, Inverness-shire. Par 70,
5,876 yards. Designer: James Braid.
IM A beautiful course set among heather and
birch trees, it is not overly demanding but still
requires precision to stay out of the trees.
NS An improved 1st helps as you no longer
question what all the fuss was about when you
first play the course. Simply beautiful.
MSt Almost as good as Braid’s Gleneagles duo.
GW VERDICT: Fun, tranquil and beautiful.
36 Monifieth (▼ 5)
Monifieth, Angus. Par 71, 6,655 yards.
Designers: Allan Robertson/Alan Pirie.
IM Old fashioned links with gently undulating
fairways bordered by clusters of tall pine trees.
NS A classic links which produced in Ian
Hutcheon one of the great Scottish amateurs.
GW VERDICT A drop for Monifieth is not
indicative of our view of it, it is purely due to
others leapfrogging into the late 20s. This is a
dreamy links and a brilliant, value day out.
34 Moray Old ( ▲ 3 )
Lossiemouth, Inverness-shire. Par 71, 6,995
yards. Designer: Old Tom Morris.
IM An absolute gem (and the new is not too
far behind). Gorse lined fairways and deep
revetted bunkers that are truly punishing.
AM Superbly sited by the sea, a hugely
underrated course with some great holes.
NS A very fine links with possibly the best 18th
in Scotland, played to long elevated green.
GW VERDICT Unanimous afection for Moray.
33 Dunbar ( ▲ 3 )
Dunbar, East Lothian. Par 71, 6,597 yards.
Designer: Old Tom Morris.
BB Underrated and absolutely charming.
Stunning for five holes around the 9th.
JC Weak start and finish, otherwise exceptional.
AM Really strong design, good scenery.
NS Another great links after a modest start.
BS A proper links with holes right by the sea.
GW VERDICT After Brora and Moray, this is
another links the panel widely adored.
35 The Duke’s (▼ 6)
St Andrews, Fife. Par 71, 7,002 yards.
Designers: Peter Thomson/Tim Liddy.
IM A well presented heathland which seems
a strange phrase to use about a St Andrews
course but it is a change to constant links golf.
IJ A superb test in amongst the gorse, heather
and pine.
GW VERDICT The Duke’s gets better... but so
does the competition. A first-rate heathland
that should be on your St Andrews itinerary.
32 Blairgowrie Lansdowne ( ▲ 9 )
Blairgowrie, Perthshire. Par 72, 6,689 yards.
Designer: James Braid.
AM Almost as good as its sister, Rosemount.
NS I actually believe this is a harder test than
Rosemount particularly the holes where you
have to play between the trees.
AF Good course with great front nine.
GW VERDICT We’re happy the Lansdowne now
sits close to the Rosemount in our list. There
really isn’t much between these inland stars.
TOp 100 TOp SCOTLAnD 100 EnGLAnD 2015 Golf World 525