The Netherlands & Belgium

Golfing the European Low Country

Golf isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when people think of The Netherlands and Belgium. But these countries offer fantastic courses close to fantastic cities. We love to play eight courses here: four links along the North Sea, four heathland in the interior. Many were designed by famed English architect Harry Colt, and draw comparisons to Britain most recognized courses. With stays in Amsterdam, Antwerp and Brugge, this trip is the perfect European vacation.  

What We Love About The Netherlands & Belgium

We start in Amsterdam, one of the most uniquely beautiful and fun cities in the world. It also puts us within a 45-minute drive of three great links courses—Kennemer, Noordwijk, and Koninklijke Haagsche (known as “Royal Hague”)—and Utrecht De Pan, a great heathland course. In the south part of the country, Bernardus is just a few years old but is already hosting major tournaments and receiving widespread acclaim. And Eindhoven is a six-time host of the Dutch Open; it winds through dense forest in the province of North Brabant, birthplace of Vincent Van Gogh. 

Moving on to Belgium, you’ll notice more chocolate, waffles and French fries—and find two courses we consider “must play.” Antwerp is a beautiful old city known as the “diamond capital of the world.” Just outside it is Royal Antwerp. Dating back to 1888, it’s the oldest course in the country. To close out the trip, travel back up to the North Sea coast to play Royal Zoute, the fabulous, unconventional links, before spending your final afternoon and evening in the incredible medieval city of Brugge.  

Favourite Courses

  • Koninklijke Haagsche (“Royal Hague”): The oldest club in The Netherlands and a previous host of the Dutch Open, you’ll be surprised this World Top-100 course isn’t in Britain or Ireland.

  • Kennemer: A classic links course with dunes, undulating ground and very setting-appropriate thatched-roof clubhouse. Located in the popular seaside resort town of Zandvoort.

  • Noordwijk: Nine-time host of the Dutch Open and the third notable links course on the Dutch coastline alongside Kennemer and Haagsche.

  • Utrecht De Pan: Designed by Harry Colt in the English heathland style, it’s the second oldest club in The Netherlands (by just one year). Another World Top-100, it requires good decision-making.

  • Bernardus: Opened in 2018, this new high end course is already hosting major tournaments, including the KLM Open in the summer of 2020.

  • Eindhoven: The layout of the holes is in two clockwise loops, each returning to the beautiful thatched roof clubhouse. This is a true Colt classic.

  • Royal Antwerp: A Willie Park Jr. design, with a Tom Simpson redesign, it weaves its way through beautiful pine forests.

  • Royal Zoute: A links on Belgium’s North Sea coast that breaks from the traditional out-and-back layout and offers consistently great holes throughout.

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Ardfin

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Isle of Jura

We don’t often post a singular golf course on its own trip page, but we don’t often come across a golf course like Ardfin. This is a unique experience in a unique location and can be added on to almost any Scotland or Northern Ireland trip. Like so many other great remote golf courses, including Bandon Dunes and Cabot Links, this is golf’s Field of Dreams: build it and they will come. It is not easy getting there, and nor is it cheap, so you might as well take a helicopter.

What We Love About Ardfin

In 2010, Australian hedge fund manager Greg Coffey bought the Ardfin Estate on the Isle of Jura. Inspired by Kerry Packer, who created Ellerston, the uber-private golf course located 200 miles north of Sydney in Australia’s Hunter Valley. Coffey turned to Ellerston’s architect Bob Harrison to create something similar at Ardfin. A remote exclusive World Top-100 worthy golf course. (BTW, Ellerston is #77 in the world). You can hear Bob discuss the process on “The Thing about Golf” Podcast.

After a few years of private play only, outside play is welcome starting in 2021. While you will pay a pretty penny sterling, we are thankful for golf benefactors like Coffey to create such incredible courses. Always a passion play, rarely a money maker, Ardfin should be on your “Top Courses I Want to Play” list.

As with some of the other great old courses of Scotland, there are quirky obstacles and features like stone walls, ancient artifacts, ruins and walled gardens to navigate. Put this all on the country’s western coastline and soaring mountains and the setting is sublime.

The Ardfin experience is not just about the golf. The accommodations are outstanding, as you’d expect. The 18thC Jura House has ten rooms and is ripe for exclusive use, while Ardfin Quads had 13 rooms including a couple of apartments for those who want to stay longer.

Lastly, we love quirky tidbits, such as the band KLF Burning a Million Quid in the then-abandoned boathouse of the Ardfin estate.

Favourite Courses

  • Ardfin: The only course on the Isle of Jura, perhaps the only golf course of its kind in the world.

What does your trip look like?

Ardfin can be added to most Scotland and Northern Ireland trips. Yet, we love equally remote Machrie, Machrihanish and Mach Dunes. A trip off the beaten path to these gems would be epic.

Cornwall & Devon

The Rugged Beaches of Britain

Though often overlooked by overseas travellers, perhaps due to the lack of Open rota courses, the golf cognoscenti know there’s a great golf trip in the South West Peninsula. Famous for its great beaches, the counties of Cornwall, Devon and Somerset are well endowed with terrific hotels, and two coastlines leading to some stunning links courses. This is exactly the type of destination that North Americans should seek.

What We Love About Southest England

After arriving at Heathrow airport, we start the journey westward towards the peninsula dangling off the south west of Great Britain.

Most will be anxious to hit the links, but the curious traveller might want a quick stop at the mysterious ancient wonder of the world, Stonehenge. Or, those who prefer more recent history, might stop at the Roman town of Bath for lunch.

If it is only about the golf, head straight to Burnham & Berrow, a traditional out-and-back links with a church in the middle of the course founded in 1890. At the end of the round, you’re a stone’s throw from beautiful beaches and the two fantastic courses (East & West) of Saunton Golf Club at the Saunton Sands Hotel. 

Continuing south, Royal North Devon is a must-play on your way towards the tip of the peninsula. From there, you move even further south to Cornwall, where our two favourite courses are unquestionably Trevose (Championship Course) and St. Enodoc (Church Course).

For your last stay on the peninsula, we recommend a memorable night at the stately Bovey Castle, a private home until Peter de Savary turned it into a luxury hotel.

Some like to be close to the airport before flying home the next day, if that is the case, it should involve spending the night at Coworth Park Hotel, which offers an excellent location and fine rooms (plus polo lessons and horseback riding, if you have some extra time!) alongside one more round at Sunningdale, Swinley Forest, or St. George’s Hill, all World Top-100 courses.

Favourite Courses

  • Burnham & Berrow: An Open Championship qualification course that’s a Harry Colt-designed traditional out-and-back links with some great quirk, including a church in the middle of the course.

  • St. Enodoc: Ultra-natural undulating fairways, humbling dunes and highly variable holes make this James Braid links a coastal gem. As a past client once put it, “On a sunny day, there are not many golf courses with as beautiful a view as the Church Course at St. Enodoc.” Check out this great video.

  • Trevose: A windswept links with dramatic views across rugged coastline and golden shores.

  • Saunton Golf Club: Two courses - East & West - which combine to be amongst the finest 36 holes of coastal links in England, set on an unspoiled coast, just north of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Braunton Burrows.

  • Royal North Devon: The oldest course in England still playing along its original fairways and the oldest links course outside Scotland, this is an absolute “must play”.

  • Bovey Castle: If you’re going to stay there, you’ll want to play there, too. A fine tight parkland course nestled in the rolling valleys of Dartmoor National Park in Devon.

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Northern California

The Course at the Top of Your List

Ask most golfers what course they want to play before they hang up their cleats and the answer is likely to be Pebble Beach. And with good reason: it’s not only one of the world’s most famous courses—the site of numerous memorable US Opens—it’s also one of the most beautiful. In fact, people pay $10.50 just to motor along the 17-Mile Drive, a scenic route through the gated community of Pebble Beach. And with so much more to do in this part of the state, including play more golf, this truly is a trip of lifetime.

What We Love about Northern California

A round at the iconic Pebble Beach Golf Links is, of course, the crowning event of a trip here. We love taking photographs of the par-3 #7, then flying our approach shot over the cliffs of #8. But this trip provides so many highlights, including playing Pasatiempo and walking by Alistair Mackenzie’s house on #6.

The weather in the fall is sunny and warm, perfect for golf. And we’re spoiled with non-golf options, including checking out the charming town of Carmel, where Clint Eastwood was mayor in the 1980s, and visiting stunning Big Sur. On our way down from San Francisco, we love to play a round and stay at the fabulous CordeValle resort, a member of one of our favourite luxury hotel brands.

On our way home, we always spend a night in San Francisco, take in a Giants, 49ers, Sharks or Warriors game and enjoy one of America’s greatest cities.

Favourite Courses

• Pebble Beach Golf Links: Bring your camera and your A game

• Pasatiempo: U.S. Amateur Champion and entrepreneur Marion Hollins hired Alistair Mackenzie to design this excellent course, which opened in 1929; in the 1990s, Tom Doak’s team restored it using photos from the ‘30s

• CordeValle: This hilly course just south of San Jose has hosted PGA events and is a great halfway point between SFO and Monterey Bay

• Spyglass: Designed by Robert Trent Jones in 1966, this course is even more demanding than its more famous sibling at Pebble Beach

• The Links at Spanish Bay: Get your first taste of the sea with a great first round at the Pebble Beach resort before returning to the clubhouse for the bagpipes at sunset

• Wente Vineyards: Start your trip south from SFO with a fun round among the vineyards and then enjoy a great California Cab

• Of course, we also love Cypress Point and the courses of Monterey Peninsula, but these private clubs are hard to access unless you have some well-connected pals

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Wales

Golf in a Strange but Wonderful Land

And now for something completely different: Wales. Choose between two great trips. A northern one gives you with the option of moving on to the courses of Liverpool. A southern one lets you also do the courses of Cornwall. Or, even better, cross the Snowdonia Mountains that divide Wales and do both the north and the south.

What We Love About Wales

Few golf vacations are truly exotic, but this one is. Sure, you can find great courses, beautiful green landscapes and stunning views lots of places. But Wales adds a quirky culture that’s both fun and fascinating. In the North, we love Royal St. David’s, or as the locals call it, Clwb Golff Brenhinol Dewi Sant. And Porthmadog is great, especially if you also want to hike the mountains or visit Portmeiron, a charmingly weird town designed to look like an Italian village.

In the South, Royal Porthcawl is perhaps the best course in the country. But don’t miss Pennard, which rightfully bills itself as “The Links in the Sky” and provides spectacular views of a river valley and cliffs leading down to a deserted beach. Enjoy your rounds, but also revel in the experience of the people and the culture.

Taste local delicacies like Welsh Rarebit in Swansea, where Dylan Thomas grew up, and Laverbread in Mumbles, where Catherine Zeta-Jones is from. And just try to pronounce the names of the towns as you drive through them. This is one golf trip you never forget.

 

Favourite Courses

  • Royal St. David’s: The medieval Harlech Castle, the Bay of Tremadog and the mountains of Snowdonia create a golf setting of remarkable beauty

  • Aberdovey: A true links course located within Snowdonia National Park

  • Porthmadog: The back nine is pure excitement and like any classic Braid course, the four par-3s all face a different compass direction

  • Nefyn & District: Overlooking the Irish sea, this course bestows a special thrill—four holes on the isolated Lleyn Peninsula

  • Royal Porthcawl: With a fun layout and Atlantic Gales that make it a real test of golf prowess, this former Top 100 course is still great

  • Pennard: Called “The Links in the Sky” because the tumbling fairways are as much as 200 feet above sea level

  • Southerndown: Perched high above Porthcawl with great views of the Bristol Channel

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Lancashire

All You Need is Lancashire

The coastline around Liverpool is deservedly known as the Golf Coast. Three of England’s four British Open courses—Royal Lytham, Royal Birkdale and Royal Liverpool—call this region home. All of them are historic, offer beautiful scenery, and present a worthy challenge. And when you’re not golfing, Liverpool is a great city to explore. 

What We Love About Lancashire

The Golf Coast offers options galore. Playing all three Open Rota clubs is an obvious, but fabulous, choice. But before that, you might want to start at Formby. The Ladies course affords an excellent opening round to get your irons working after your flight before taking on the longer track.

The area’s 18 courses are all within an hour’s drive, most much closer than that. But since many of them are along the rail line, we think taking the train to our rounds is a blast. Saturdays are members’ days at the clubs, making tee times hard to come by, so we love to take a day off golf and catch a football match at Anfield in Liverpool or at Old Trafford in Manchester.

Both Liverpool or the coastal town of Southport have good hotels and you can certainly stay in one for the whole week, though we prefer to spend a bit of time in both cities. We also include a night at the recently renovated Dormy House at Lytham and enjoy a formal dinner in the dining room. The Hard Day’s Night Hotel, in Liverpool’s Beatles Quarter, is excellent with just the right amount of kitsch. And be sure not to miss a Beatles tour with Jackie, our favourite Fab Four expert. 

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Favourite Courses

  • Royal Birkdale: Ranked #40 in the world, the fairest Rota course has played host to 10 Opens, most recently Jordan Spieth's remarkable win in 2017

  • Royal Liverpool (Hoylake): With no lighthouses, mountains or wild undulations, this is not most conventionally pretty course, but it ranks #65 and is a fierce challenge, requiring supreme shotmaking when the wind is up

  • Royal Lytham & St. Annes: This rugged links course, which ranks #61, features roughly 200 bunkers and while there are no views of the sea here, the wind and vegetation shout “seaside”

  • Formby: The main course surrounds the Ladies one and offers a variety of vistas—from pines to heather to dunes

  • Hillside: Located between Birkdale and Southport & Ainsdale, but with a different feel than either of them. Famous for its excellent back nine

  • Southport & Ainsdale: Next to Hillside, and four years older, this fine James Braid course hosted two consecutive European-based Ryder Cups in the 1930s

  • West Lancashire Golf Club: Every hole demands your full attention in a breeze and recent upgrades make the greens firmer and faster, but still playable

  • Wallasey: The home of the Stableford scoring system boasts lots of history in the clubhouse, including what may be the only signed portrait of Bobby Jones, who qualified here before winning The Open in 1930

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Portugal

You Can’t Go Wrong in Portugal

The weather is gorgeous, the season is long and the courses are outstanding. But golfing in Portugal means making a tough choice. You can relax at a fabulous seaside resort. Or you can live it up in the thriving capital city of Lisbon with its rich history, traditional culture and contemporary lifestyle. Or do both. Fortunately, there’s no bad pick here.

What We Love About Portugal

The golf highlights of this up-and-coming region include Oitavos Dunes, a tremendous oceanside course that until recently was a member of the World Top 100, and West Cliffs, which just opened in 2017. And while we like to stay in one hotel for the week, we wouldn’t miss a day trip to Setubal to play Troia, followed by a cruise and lunch at Sal, one of the world’s best beachside cafés.

If you choose to stay in Lisbon, you can revel in the great food and the vibrant night life. If you want something a little quieter, yet sexy, we recommend the Sublime Comporta and the Areais do Seixo. Both are luxurious and we love the juxtaposition of these chic new hotels and some of the most down-to-earth people in Europe. Wherever we stay, we love the custard tarts and the delicious wines that never get a chance to leave Portugal.

Favourite Courses

  • Oitavos Dunes: Relatively new to the golfing landscape, this course passes through woodlands while winding by the Tagus River

  • Troia: Hone your short shots before you get here because this classic proves a course doesn’t need to be long to be difficult

  • West Cliffs: Up the coast from Lisbon, this new course offers a view of the Atlantic Ocean on every hole, designed by Cynthia Dye, who joined the family business started by legendary designer Pete Dye

  • Penha Longa (Atlantico): Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., this course weaves around the resort and the nearby Grand Prix track in Estoril

  • Praia D’El Rey: Located just south of West Cliffs, but built before it in 1997, Praia is one of the top golf resorts in Europe. We love the the way the courses wends its way through pines before opening up to the Atlantic Ocean.

These two courses in Portugal’s Algarve region are a great option for people doing a Costa del Sol trip:

  • Monte Rei: This Jack Nicklaus signature course is probably the best in the country and certainly one of the most difficult

  • Dom Pedro (Old): While there are four other excellent courses at the club formerly known as Vilamoura, we still think the oldest is the best

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Southeast England

The Royal Treatment

Combining links courses on the coast and heathland courses in Ascot, this trip mixes variety and majesty. The gem is Royal St. George’s (aka Sandwich). Ranked #33, it’s the host of the 2020 Open Championship. But Sunningdale is equally regal and because we can’t decide between the Old Course and the New Course, we always play both. 

What We Love About Sandwich

We suggest starting in Kent, which is a two-hour drive from Heathrow. Or save time with a 45-minute helicopter ride that follows the Thames and gives you a great overhead tour of London along the way. For Royal St. George’s, book early and book on Tuesdays, as that’s the only day to play as a four-ball.

We also highly recommend the nearby Royal Cinque Ports, where you need to beware the ancient Roman road, a hazard on a couple of holes. On the way to Ascot, we like to play a round at Rye, an old traditional private club that allows visitors as two-balls only to keep the pace of play moving.

Once in Ascot, nothing beats a 36-hole day at Sunningdale—on two Top-100 courses, both designed by Harry Colt—with a delicious traditional lunch in between. Walton Heath also features 36 holes at a welcoming club that allows outside play on Saturdays. 

You can choose from a few great places to stay within 10 miles of Sunningdale, but our favourite is the Coworth Park Hotel, which offers an excellent location, fine rooms, polo lessons and horseback riding. We also love to watch the ponies and the people at the famous Ascot Racecourse.

Favourite Courses

  • Royal St. George’s: Winding fairways, intimidating pot bunkers and wind that might be with you or agin you for the full round since this is not an out-and-back course

  • Royal Cinque Ports: Just missed the cut for World Top 100 courses (four balls on Mondays and Tuesdays only)

  • Rye Golf Club: Only 6,500 yards, but difficult so you have to make your shots. The two-ball rule means a two-hour-and-thirty-minute round

  • Walton Heath (Old & New): As stern but fair tests of character and shotmaking, these heathland courses have few peers

  • Sunningdale (Old): Ranked #29, this is one of the earliest inland courses and established a new standard in design

  • Sunningdale (New): Some people prefer this charming, more muscular course, which is ranked #73

  • Swinley Forest: A classic heathland course with understated beauty and tranquility, it vaulted to #55 with GOLF Magazine in 2020

  • St. George’s Hill: The purple heather makes for a beautiful backdrop at perhaps the prettiest of all the heathland courses, which debuted at #86 in the world rankings

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Cabo

Sun and Fun in Cabo

If you grew up in the 1960s or ‘70s, Cabo may make you think of sportfishing. But after Jack Nicklaus opened the Ocean Course in 1994, the region around Cabo San Lucas, at the far south end of the Baja Peninsula, became among the faster growing golf regions in the world. Some of the greats, including Tiger Woods, Fred Couples and Greg Norman, followed The Golden Bear and designed their own courses here. For after your rounds, the area is tough to beat, with its fantastic resorts and a choice between the party-hearty Cabo San Lucas and the culturally rich San Jose.

What We Love About Cabo

First of all, we love the golf, of course. Ten of Mexico’s top 15 courses are here. And we have to admit we can’t resist the comfort stations—stocked with margaritas, cervezas, tamales and ice cream—that pop-up every few holes.

Second, we love the after-golf life with farm-to-table meals at Flora’s Farms, chic dining at Toro Latin Kitchen and El Farallon and live music at Wabo Cabo. We can also keep busy when we’re not golfing with whale watching, deep-sea fishing and a sunset cruise on a catamaran. Third, we love the perfect weather—nothing but sun—and the ability to unpack once and stay in one of the many great hotels, resorts or luxury villas.

The only thing we don’t love about Cabo is that setting an itinerary can be a bit tricky because many courses are private or for hotel guests only, but we have lots of experience navigating that maze and will smooth the way for you.

Favourite Courses

• Cabo del Sol Ocean: Recently redesigned and renamed Cove Club, the region’s marquee course will soon become private

• Cabo del Sol Desert: Going in the opposite direction from the clubhouse as the Ocean course, this Tom Weiskopf design offers spectacular views of the sea from on high

• Quivira Golf Club: The sheer cliffs, sandy shores and steep dunes make for fabulous views and several fun target holes

• Palmilla: This Jack Nicklaus design features three nine-hole layouts—Arroyo and Mountain and, a subsequent addition, Ocean—with the first two offering the best 18

• Diamonte Dunes: Set in white sand dunes on the Pacific coast, this stunning course earned Davis Love III his first Top 100 ranking and has outstanding comfort stations loaded with margaritas and tamales

• Cabo Real: This Robert Trent Jones Jr. layout affords views of the Sea of Cortez from both up high and up close

• Rancho San Lucas: Set on the same gorgeous white sand dunes as Diamonte, this new Greg Norman course has a 17th hole that will remind you of the famous 17th at Sawgrass

• The Oasis Short Course at Diamonte: If staying at Diamonte, this 12 hole par-3 course designed by Tiger Woods is perfect for a casual second round as the sun sets (possibly in bare feet with a couple of cerveza from the Palapa Bar)

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Northern Ireland

Golf Giants in Northern Ireland

This region offers a fantastic culinary scene, the legendary Causeway Coast and lots of world-class golf. The two best-known courses, Royal Portrush and Royal County Down, both deserve their Top-15 rankings. Other highlights—including Portstewart, Ballyliffin and Ardglass—offer unique links experiences with clifftop sea views and some of the best holes you’ll ever play. 

What We Love About Northern Ireland

Any trip that includes two top-15 courses, that you play twice, is sure to be memorable. Start with a non-stop flight to Dublin, a warm-up round at County Louth, aka Baltray, and a sleep at the delightful Slieve Donard, just a 9-iron from Royal County Down’s first tee.

After playing Ardglass, a true hidden gem, it’s time for your first round at RCD. (We love going out the Slieve Donard’s back door and walking to the first tee.) Then head to the north coast where Portrush and Portstewart are just 15 minutes apart, ideal for an unforgetable 36-hole day.

You might also add a round at Castlerock, a whisky tasting at Bushmills, a visit to Giant’s Causeway, a fun pub night in Belfast or spend some time learning about The Troubles and the Titanic. Then head south again for your second round at RCD before a final night of celebration in Dublin. 

Favourite Courses

  • Royal County Down: Plenty of savvy golfers call it the best in the world

  • Royal Portrush (Dunluce Links): Always ranked in the Top 15, this 2019 Open Championship host is the home club to Graeme MacDowell and Darren Clarke

  • Castlerock (Mussenden): Founded in 1901, it runs along the coast amongst the dunes

  • Portstewart (Strand Course): A few miles from Portrush, it features a superb front nine through deep dune corridors

  • Ardglass: A hidden gem that we include on all itineraries — and not just because the fabulous clubhouse is a medieval castle

    And, if you want to add Machrihanish and Mach Dunes, take the Kintyre Express. Check them out in Ayrshire.

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Ayrshire

Scenery, Scotch and Superlative Golf

The scenic southwest coast of Scotland, not far from Glasgow, is a hub of exceptional golf with over 100 courses. Along with Open Championship hosts Turnberry, Royal Troon and Prestwick, the region boasts links courses galore, from Western Gailes to the remote Macrihanish and Machrie, (technically in Argyll, but a nice add on). Be prepared for stunning scenery, a few good glasses of scotch and lots of outstanding golf.

What We Love About Ayrshire

Our favourite trips to this special region look something like this: a round at the historic Prestwick, the birthplace of the Open Championship; a meal at MacCallum’s Oyster Bar; a round at Royal Troon; and a few sleeps at Turnberry with a loop on the famous and newly designed Ailsa course.

To make your trip even more memorable, go to Kintyre, across the Firth of Clyde and not far from the Mull of Kintyre. Getting there takes a little effort—the adventurous take a RIB boat, though a helicopter is also a great way to go—but worth it because you’ll get to play Machrihanish, home of one of the best opening shots in golf, and Mach Dunes.

Oh, and while you’re at Machrihanish stay at Ugadale Cottages and try the Haggis Nachos.

Favourite Courses

  • Historic Prestwick: The birthplace of the Open Championship and #100 in the world

  • Aisla (aka Turnberry): Ranked #16 in the world, and home of many memorable championships, including Nicklaus and Watson’s Duel in the Sun of ’77

  • Royal Troon: This regular on the Open Rota is ranked #47 and features the famous Postage Stamp hole

  • Western Gailes: A typical links course with an apt name because the ever-changing westerly winds make for a challenging round

  • Dundonald: Almost named Southern Gailes, Kyle Phillips first design effort after his success at Kingsbarns.

  • Machrihanish: A perennial world Top 100 (currently #88) and always in conversations about the best opening tee shot in golf

  • Mach Dunes: Only 10 years old, but well worth playing (and with great cottages to match)

  • Machrie: Located on the island of Islay among more than 14 Scotch distilleries, Machrie is an old classic recently renovated in 2018 and the 47 room luxury hotel shortly after that.

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St Andrews

Play the Oldest Golf in the World

To golfers, the peninsula of Fife may be the most famous spit of land in the world. The area boasts 45 highly rated and historic courses, most notably the Old Course at St. Andrews, which has been around for 600 years. But there’s much more to this sacred ground. Carnoustie (playfully referred to as Car-Nasty) and Kingsbarns make most bucket lists, but don’t sleep on classics like Elie and Crail.

What We Love About St. Andrews

Whether you’re a low handicapper or a weekend warrior, the Home of Golf is on your list. And it never disappoints, managing to ooze history while still buzzing with energy. Play nine holes with hickories or tour with a golf club artisan who makes them.

Warm up for your experience of a lifetime on the Old Course by putting the 18 holes on The Himalayas. We love to enjoy a pint at The Jigger Inn and then savour 28-day dry-aged beef down the road at the Steak Barn. For a groups of eight or more, a private bothie at Forgan’s is always fun.

Stay at the grand Old Course Hotel or at one of the many charming B&Bs in town. And, finally, after the round you’ve always wanted to play, celebrate by raising a glass at the most famous 19th hole, The Dunvegan Hotel.

Favourite Courses

  • Old Course: The original track

  • New Course: The locals’ favourite

  • Kingsbarns: The latest masterpiece in Fife is ranked #64 in the world

  • Carnoustie: “Car-Nasty” was the host of the 2018 Open

  • Elie: Golfers have been playing this quirky links course—just 12 miles from the Old Course—since the 15th Century

  • Crail Golfing Society (Balcomie): This short and unique course along the shoreline is the fifth oldest golf club in the world

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What They Said…

 
What They Said

“I’ve been meaning to write and let you know how much we enjoyed Scotland and to say thanks for all your efforts in making it a very memorable trip indeed. I can’t think of a single complaint!”

RC, Briarcliff Manor, NY

“I wanted to send this note to thank you and your staff for your incredible help with pulling our Masters package together. The experience went far beyond my expectations. We had amazing seats, a beautiful place to stay and the dinners were perfect. …

We had a great time, I will certainly recommend your services to anyone who is thinking about going to The Masters or any trip in general.”

KM, Toronto, ON

“The trip was awesome. Everything went off without a hitch.

4 great lodges
11 great courses
We loved European Club
1 great driver.
10 great weather days.

Thank you for everything. “

SB, West Bloomfield, MI