Legends

St. Andrews
St. Andrews, Fife
Old Course 18 holes - 6566 yards - SSS72
New Course 18 holes - 6604 yards - SSS72
Jubilee Course 18 holes - 6805 yards- SSS73
Eden Course 18 holes - 6401 yards - SSS71

The Old Course is a golfing myth retaining the basic original design of playing out and then back in, with many of the green sharing holes played in different halves. However the Old Course used to be played in both clockwise and anti-clockwise directions, with the start and finish beside the clubhouse of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews. The New, Jubilee and Eden courses are very fine tests, offering top league alternatives if the Old is unavailable. The New would almost certainly be classed a championship course if it did not lie in the shadow of her elder sister, and the Jubilee and Eden have been revamped to increase their stature.
More About St Andrews

Carnoustie Golf Links
Carnoustie, Angus
18 hole Championship - 6939 yards - SSS74
Last held the Open in 1975 when Tom Watson won after an 18 hole play-off. It was described by Walter Hagen as the best course in Great Britain and one of the finest in the world. This must be the 'jewel in the crown' for this area. Even after the first 15 holes, the visitor is still unprepared for the real test of Carnoustie - the toughest finish in championship golf. If you can par the final holes you deserve the feeling of total satisfaction. The British Open was held here in 1999.


Gleneagles
Auchterarder, Perthshire
Kings Course - 6125 yards - SSS71
Queens Course - 5660 yards - SSS67
Monarchs Course - 6134 yards - SSS71
A truly magnificent setting for golf. There are two 18 hole courses, the Kings and the Queens with an adjoining 'Wee' course. Another 18 hole championship course, the Monarchs was designed by Jack Nicklaus. However the courses are only for hotel patrons. The Kings course a par of 70 and 6471 yards is the showpiece of the area. The course was designed by James Braid and almost every hole is in a supreme setting with panoramic views of the surrounding hills. To play at one of the finest sporting complexes in the world doesn't come cheap, but it is worth a once-in-a-lifetime visit.


Turnberry Golf Courses
Maidens, Ayrshire
Ailsa - 18 holes - 6408 yards - SSS71
Arran - 18 holes - 6276 yards - SSS69
Ailsa is the magnificent Open Championship Course with panoramic views over Turnberry Bay to the Isle of Arran and Ailsa Craig. Turnberry came on the Open scene in 1977 and on its debut provided the famous " Duel in the Sun " between Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson, with the latter winning by one shot but having to score the lowest 72 hole aggregate of 268, which stands to this day. Both the courses at Turnberry have given pleasure to countless golfers from every part of the world and will certainly continue to do so. Courses only available to Hotel Guests.


Royal Troon Golf Club
Troon, Ayrshire
18 holes - 6641 yards - SSS73
A relatively late arrival to the Open circuit in 1923 but the stature of the course has now made it a regular venue. It has hosted many other tournaments and is always in great demand. The 8th hole at Royal Troon, the shortest hole in Open golf, is known as The Postage Stamp because of its tiny green. Severely trapped on both sides many players Ping-Pong to and fro across the green - one Open contender in 1950 ran up a 15 doing just that. However the great Gene Sarazen scored a historic hole in one, on the 50th anniversary of his first appearance in the Championship.


Prestwick Old Golf Course Prestwick, Ayrshire
18 holes - 6544 yards - SSS72
This historic golf course was the venue of the first Open Championship played in 1860 and since then has played host on 23 other occasions, the last being in 1925. Many of the holes remain unchanged demanding some blind shots to small greens and to the modern golfer represent a tricky challenge. Thoroughly recommended and a must if you are in Ayrshire.


Royal Dornoch Golf Club, Dornoch, Sutherland
18 holes - 6577 yards - SSS72
This is the 3rd Oldest golfing town in the world after St. Andrews and Leith, with records dating back to 1616. When played by Tom Watson and Ben Crenshaw they both said it was one of the finest courses they had ever played. Designed by Tom Morris it has become a shrine, and has 200 overseas members from the USA alone. Only because of its remoteness has Dornoch not been considered a venue for the Open Championship.