DESTINATION GOLF SCOTLAND 2026
Moray Old
Moray Old
Expect a crowd as you approach the 18th green at Lossiemouth, for this is one of the best finishing holes in Scotland, and the town’ s main street runs right alongside. It is a fun way to finish on a course that heartily embraces the tradition of Scottish links, next to the beach and the Moray Firth. It was designed by Old Tom Morris, over low-running links land. Subtle but constant undulations abound and the routing flips direction at will, which means the wind threatens from every angle... no easy thing given the narrow gorse-lined fairways. The greens here are small, fast and flat and the course is exceedingly well bunkered. A comprehensive new irrigation system was installed in 2024.
Durness
This northern coast links is a nine hole beauty. It may be the remotest of Scotland’ s mainland courses but it is an exhilarating adventure to get here … and one that continues on the course. The scenery is spell-binding and hitting shots at distant mountain ranges, towering dunes or beautiful bays takes Durness to a different level. But this links has so much more. The condition is magnificent, there are 18 different tees and holes constantly keep you guessing. The shapes of the land add hugely to that as you head up and over a rollercoaster landscape that presents greens in almost unbelievable locations. You finish with a tee shot over low cliff tops and sea to a par three green that seems almost impossible to hit. Reload? It would be rude not too. A perfect approach to fun, welcoming golf.
Reay
The shapes of the land add hugely to that as you head up and over a rollercoaster landscape that presents greens in almost unbelievable locations.
Along the Scottish mainland’ s northern-most coast you will find two very different and entertaining links. Reay, west of Thurso, was founded in 1893 and redesigned by James Braid, in 1933. This exposed links plays over a tilting landscape that flips back and forth on the opening holes and more severely on the closing holes. The back nine definitely boast a climb or two and some blind shots are tossed in for good measure. Given its location so far north, this is about the fun of links golf combined with some wonderful holes and entertaining greens. This is nature’ s links. It may only be a par 69 of 5,800 yards but it starts with a 235 yard par three and finishes with one. Index 1 is another par three of 196 yards to a plateau green. Anything short will perish. The sweeping par five 6th beside the sea is named Braid’ s Choice.
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