DESTINATION GOLF SCOTLAND 2026
Crail( Balcomie)
Crail( Balcomie)
Laid out along a promontory which juts into the North Sea, the Balcomie links is a par 69, measuring 5,900 yards from the back tees. Don’ t let that fool you though, for the ever-present wind has to be tackled all day long. This is traditional, open links, laid out by Old Tom Morris, and several holes are on show from the high 1st tee. It promises an adrenaline-fuelled start, which continues as you must drive over the beach on holes 4 and 5. The course is quite narrow as it works its way along the seashore and the six par threes use the dune tops( and a cliff or two) to perfection. Stunning views. The Craighead course makes Crail a delightful double act.
Carnoustie
Widely regarded as the toughest course on the Open rota, Carnoustie is also one of the toughest courses, full stop. Certainly the closing three holes have delivered the most dramatic finishes in Open history( Paul Lawrie, 1999, and Padraig Harrington, 2007), but the entire links presents the sort of challenge to strike fear and awe into a golfer’ s heart. Bunkering is deep and positioned to be penal- just look at the par five 6th( Hogan’ s Alley)- but underneath that cruel veil lies an utterly brilliant and fair golf course. The revered and feared closing stretch will live long in the memory with the famous Barry’ s Burn weaving across holes 17 and 18 on no fewer than five occasions. James Braid updated Old Tom Morris’ s design in the 1920s, and the course has been mostly untouched since then.
Panmure
Panmure lies between Carnoustie and Monifieth, and golf started here in 1899. It is famous for Ben Hogan’ s visit before his 1953 Open victory. Set slightly inland, with scatterings of trees it measures 6,550 yards( back tees) for a par 70. It plays out and back with the wind typically in your face to start. Three of the par threes, however, are set at 90 degrees so prepare for crosswinds. You start slow and gentle as three holes take you out to – and back from – the heart of the course. The holes in between( 4 to 15) promise undulating fairways, low dunes, semi-blind shots, slippery greens and sweet variety … the 6th is the epitome of this: named Hogan, it is one of the best holes in Scotland.
Lundin
Lundin’ s current 18 holes date back to 1909, thanks to the great James Braid( and Old Tom before that). He created an intriguing mix of links holes using a strip of land on the Firth of Forth, divided by a railway line. You play some magical holes first, so expect some blind shots, a burn or two, and fabulous greens. The rise to the 1st green is dramatic, as is the 2nd tee shot, and it demonstrate that you should expect the unexpected. Inland holes follow, playing below, across and atop a bank that runs parallel to both the road and the coastline. The finish embraces more chaotically blissful links holes, culminating with the 18th which fires into a narrow chute, rising to the clubhouse. Upgrades, specifically to bunkering, will conclude in 2027.
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