Vacations | Accommodation | Courses

The Great Links of Scotland

10 days / 9 nights in superior/first class hotels / 8 rounds of golf

Day 1:

Depart from the USA for Scotland; all flights are overnight. Allow for the 5 hour time difference from EST. Enjoy dinner and the movie on board.

Day 2:

You will be met on arrival at Glasgow airport in the early morning by an AtlanticGolf representative who is there to welcome you to Scotland and assist you in any way necessary. Pick up your rental vehicle or meet your driver and head off to Troon, a 1.5 hour drive through pleasant scenery. This Burns country and there are numerous placed commemorating his like and poetic works.

On arrival, check into the Highgrove House Hotel for 2 nights.

Day 3:

Following a traditional Scottish breakfast, head down to play your first British Open course on this trip.

Golf at Royal Troon

Lunch at the clubhouse

Courtesy round at Troon Portland.

Caddies are available, but not carts

Remember, if you travel early in the season, May or June, it is light until very late in the evenings, up to 11 pm in mid June, so a late evening round of golf is a possibility.

Day 4:

After breakfast, transfer to Prestwick, another Open course set on a stretch of coastline with an abundance of great links, - Westerns & Glasgow Gailes, Dundonald and Barassie.

Golf at Prestwick

Caddies available

Following golf, drive to Nairn in the Highlands; this will take around 3.5 hours and will bring you by Loch Ness, famed for its “monster”.

Check into the Claymore House Hotel for 2 nights. Nairn is 16 miles east of Inverness.

Day 5:

Breakfast at the hotel before the trip north to Dornoch, an old cathedral town on the edge of the Dornoch Firth, a designated National Scenic Area.

Golf at Royal Dornoch

Carts available all year; caddies in the summer.

Following golf, consider a visit to Glenmorangie Distillery, close to Tain. Spirits have been distilled here since the 1700s.

Day 6:

Nairn is a popular holiday spot for Scottish people and has 2 championship courses. You will play the more famous – the host of the 1999 Walker Cup.

Golf at Nairn

Caddies available

Following golf, consider a visit to Cawdor Castle romantically linked to both Shakespeare and Macbeth or to Johnstons Cashmere Center in Egin.

Day 7:

Breakfast at the hotel before the trip east to Cruden Bay, a little south of Peterhead. The drive will take about 75 mins and you are in for a big surprise as you play one of the world greatest unheralded links.

Golf at Cruden Bay

Carts available all year; caddies in the summer.

Check into the Udny Arms for a night – a small unique property.

Day 8:

Breakfast, then drive to Carnoustie. The drive will take 2 hours and bring you past Aberdeen, the Granite City. Carnoustie has 3 courses, but you will play the Championship links.

Golf at Carnoustie

Glamis Castle, the legendary setting for Shakespeare’s Macbeth, has been a royal residence since the 17c. It is located about 40 mins west of the golf course, a well worth diversion for history buffs. The golf course is only a few minutes’ way, so you can actually walk or drive.

After all this, drive 50 ins to St Andrews, the last stop on this great trip. Check into the Ardgowan Hotel for 3 nights The hotel is located within 2 mins of the Old course and within another 2 minutes walk of the town center. St Andrews has a wide range of attractions including the St Andrews Cathedral

Day 9 :

After a good Scottish breakfast, walk across to the St Andrews Clubhouse to get started on this segment of your golf odyssey.

Golf at St Andrews New course

St Andrews has a number of fine golf stores with a wide range of Scottish and golf merchandise. Most close pretty early, around 6 pm, so you might want to stock up early in the trip.

Day 10 :

The highlight of the trip, the most famous course in the world. And you golf course is only a few minutes away, so you can actually walk to the starter.

Golf at the Old course

Following golf, consider some sightseeing: there are a number of small fishing villages in the vicinity: Crail, Anstruther and Pittenween, all worth a visit.

Day 11 :

Leave St Andrews for Glasgow or Edinburgh for departure to the US. Both have Duty Free shopping, but remember that international visitors can reclaim Value Added Tax at Departure on all purchases taken home.