Six Breathtaking Scottish Golf Courses You Can Actually Play
Scotland is the birthplace of golf — its spiritual home, where the game meets wind, weather, and raw coastal beauty head-on. It’s where fairways have been walked for centuries, shaped by nature and time. But for many visiting golfers, the dream of playing here can feel out of reach. The famous courses are often booked out, restricted to members, or priced like private jets.
So, we went in search of something better: six stunning Scottish golf courses you can play — ones that don’t just offer the scenery, but actually welcome visiting golfers. These aren’t the headline-grabbers. They’re the soul of the game: historic, scenic, challenging, and full of character.
Leven Links at Sunset: Photo Credit: Fife Council / Airborne Lens
1. Crail Balcomie Links — Fife
📍 Crail, East Neuk of Fife
💷 Green Fees: ~£70–£160
One of the oldest clubs in the world, Crail is where golf feels like it belongs. Designed by Old Tom Morris in 1895, Balcomie Links is quirky, charming, and beautifully playable. The course hugs the rugged coastline with several holes perched dramatically above the sea — expect cliffside shots, ancient stone walls, and salty air on every green.
It’s less than 30 minutes from St Andrews but worlds away from the bustle. The atmosphere is relaxed, the welcome is warm, and the views are world-class.
Why play here: Coastal beauty, historic pedigree, and true links magic — without the crowds.
Crail Balcomie Links, Fife. Photo Credit: Fife Council / Airborne Lens
2. Boat of Garten Golf Club — Cairngorms National Park
📍 Near Aviemore, Highlands
💷 Green Fees: ~£50–£100
Nestled in the heart of the Cairngorms, Boat of Garten is a world away from the coastal links — but no less magical. Designed by the legendary James Braid in 1930, this inland course weaves through ancient birch woods and heather-lined fairways, with snow-capped peaks often visible in the distance. It’s not long, but it’s clever, scenic, and relentlessly enjoyable.
Known locally as “The Boat,” this Highland gem rewards finesse over force. Wildlife is abundant, the turf is springy, and the views — especially in the golden light of early evening — are something special. If you’re looking to balance your itinerary with something different from the traditional seaside fare, this is it.
Why play here: A Highland masterpiece that proves breathtaking Scottish golf courses you can play aren’t limited to the coast.
Boar of Garten Golf Club, Cairngorms: Photo Credit: Visit Scotland / Paul Tomkins
3. Cruden Bay Golf Club — Aberdeenshire
📍 Cruden Bay, north of Aberdeen
💷 Green Fees: ~£185–£200
Cruden Bay doesn’t just look dramatic — it is dramatic. The course tumbles through huge dunes, with blind tee shots, elevated greens, and views across the crashing North Sea. It feels wild and untamed, yet thoughtfully designed — a rare balance.
It’s often ranked among the world’s best, yet is refreshingly down-to-earth. Local players mingle with international visitors, and there’s a strong sense that this is golf in its purest form.
Why play here: Raw, windswept, and wildly fun — this is bucket-list material that’s actually bookable.
4. Elie Golf House Club — Fife
📍 Elie, East Neuk of Fife
💷 Green Fees: ~£60–£180
Elie is a course that rewards imagination more than muscle. Dating back to 1895, it has no par 5s and few straight holes — just clever, charming golf along the sea. You’ll tee off from the 1st with the help of a periscope salvaged from a Royal Navy sub (seriously), and from there, it’s all quirky brilliance.
Waves crash in the distance, stone walls bisect fairways, and the light on the Firth of Forth is ever-changing. It’s a timeless experience, just a short drive from St Andrews.
Why play here: Links golf with personality and playability — plus one of the most photogenic settings in Fife.
Elie Golf House Club, Fife. Photo Credit: Fife Council / Airborne Lens
5. Machrihanish Golf Club — Kintyre Peninsula
📍 Campbeltown, Argyll
💷 Green Fees: ~£85–£140
Machrihanish is a pilgrimage. Getting there involves a scenic drive (or flight) to the edge of the Kintyre Peninsula — and what awaits is one of the finest links experiences in Scotland. The opening tee shot across the Atlantic surf is legendary, and the rest of the course winds through natural dunes and rugged coastal terrain.
Originally laid out by Old Tom Morris in 1876, it remains wonderfully untouched. Few visitors make it this far — which is part of what makes it magical.
Why play here: Quiet, classic, and completely immersive — worth every mile to get there.
Machrihanish Golf Club, Campbeltown. Photo Credit: Visit Scotland / Paul Tomkins
6. Isle of Harris Golf Club — Outer Hebrides (Wildcard Pick)
📍 Scarista, Isle of Harris
💷 Green Fees: ~£25–£40
This is the wildcard — a nine-hole gem on a white-sand beach in the Outer Hebrides that looks more like the Bahamas than Scotland. The Isle of Harris Golf Club is remote, rustic, and unforgettable. With the Atlantic Ocean on one side and mountains on the other, every shot feels cinematic.
There’s no clubhouse in the traditional sense, and sheep are part of the hazard list. But that’s exactly the charm. This is golf stripped back to its essence — pure, peaceful, and connected to the land.
Why play here: For scenery that stops you in your tracks — and a once-in-a-lifetime experience few golfers even know exists.
Isle Of Harris Gold Club, Outer Hebrides. Photo Credit: Visit Scotland / Alexander Insch
Final Thoughts
You don’t need prestige, deep pockets, or 18 months' notice to experience incredible golf in Scotland. These are Scottish golf courses you can play — without begging for tee times or raiding your retirement.
Each one offers something different: ancient history, sweeping coastal views, ingenious design, or just the feeling of playing where golf belongs. So grab your waterproofs, your sense of adventure, and your best bump-and-run. The true spirit of Scottish golf is right here — and it’s ready when you are.