St Andrews — Old Course
St Andrews, Fife
The Home of Golf. Seven double greens, the Road Hole, the Swilcan Bridge. The Old Course has hosted The Open 30 times — more than any other venue. Played by anyone for the cost of a ballot, including the world's best every five years.
Carnoustie Golf Links — Championship Course
Carnoustie, Angus
Nicknamed "Car-nasty" for good reason. The Barry Burn snakes through the closing holes, and the wind off the North Sea makes par a luxury. Jean van de Velde's 1999 collapse on the 18th is the most famous golf disaster of the modern era.
Royal Troon
Troon, South Ayrshire
Home of the famous "Postage Stamp" 8th hole — one of the shortest, most fearsome par-3s in championship golf. Wind off the Firth of Clyde shapes every shot.
Muirfield (Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers)
Gullane, East Lothian
The world's oldest golf club, founded 1744 and at Muirfield since 1891. A links of perfect fairness — front nine clockwise, back nine counterclockwise, so the wind affects every hole.
Turnberry — Ailsa Course
Turnberry, South Ayrshire
Cliffside links on Scotland's west coast with a lighthouse, ruined castle, and views to Ailsa Craig. Host of the legendary 1977 "Duel in the Sun" between Nicklaus and Watson.
Kingsbarns Golf Links
Kingsbarns, Fife
A modern links so convincing it feels four centuries old. Every hole has at least a glimpse of the North Sea. A regular Dunhill Links Championship co-host.
Royal Dornoch Golf Club
Dornoch, Highlands
Highland links in the far north of Scotland — the most remote of the great Scottish links. Donald Ross learned course design here as a boy. Tom Watson called it the most fun he had ever had on a golf course.
North Berwick — West Links
North Berwick, East Lothian
The most quirky and original of the historic Scottish links. The 13th — Pit — plays over a stone wall. The 15th — Redan — is the template hole copied around the world.
Gleneagles — King's Course
Auchterarder, Perth and Kinross
The original Gleneagles course — moorland golf at altitude in the Scottish Highlands. The PGA Centenary (a separate course) hosted the 2014 Ryder Cup; the King's remains the architectural masterpiece.