World Class Golf Courses On Our Doorstep
These 10 courses are all within a 5 - 40 min transfer from Hillhouse
Royal Troon Golf Club (Open Championship Course)
| Old Course | 6641 Yards | Par 71 |
| Portland | 6289 Yards | Par 71 |
| Royal Troon Golf Club | top | |
Royal Troon is home to one of the best links courses on the west side of Scotland and is steeped in golfing history, notably several dramatic Open Championships since 1923. The club was awarded its Royal Charter in 1978 to celebrate its centenary. Created in combination with the best of links course ingredients and the expertise of Braid, McKenzie and Pennick, the Old course is an exceptionally demanding one and recognised as one of the sternest tests on the Open Championship rota. This course is perhaps most famous for its par 3 8th hole, the Postage Stamp, where veteran Majors champion Gene Sarazen got down in 1 and 2 on subsequent rounds of the 1973 Open Championship.
Turnberry Ailsa (Open Championship Course)
| Ailsa Course | 6440 Yards | Par 69 |
| Turnberry | top | |
Long regarded as one of the finest courses in the world, the Ailsa came to international prominence with the famous duel between Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson over the four days of the 1977 Open. It was then, in brilliant sunny weather, that a capacity crowd was treated to an exhilarating display of golf from two of the best golfers the world has ever known. Scene of some of the most memorable moments in Open history, the Ailsa Championship course is a legend in the world game. Watson, Norman, Price; they've all won The Claret Jug, golf's most coveted trophy here on the Turnberry link.
Glasgow Gailes (Open Championship Qualifying Course)
| Glasgow Gailes | 6535 Yards | Par 72 |
| Glasgow Gailes | top | |
Glasgow Gailes Links is owned and managed by Glasgow Golf Club, the 9th oldest golf club in the world. Glasgow Gailes is a challenging links course - tough and traditionally Scottish - consistently selected by the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews as a final qualifying venue for the Open Championship.
Prestwick Golf Club (Open Championship course)
| Prestwick | 6544 Yards | Par 71 |
| Prestwick Golf Club | top | |
Prestwick is situated on stretch of land unequalled anywhere in the world for prime golfing terrain. Prestwick shares it boundaries with Royal Troon. The golf course was established in 1851 and the first 11 Open Championship's were held there from 1860-1871. The course is steeped in history and is always kept in "tournament grade condition". Its design is an eye opener to many with its many blind shots and unique features. It is an experience not to be missed.
Western Gailes (Open Championship Qualifying course)
| Western Gailes | 6899 Yards | Par 71 |
| Western Gailes | top | |
Western Gailes Golf Club, founded in 1897, is recognised as one of the finest and true links courses in Scotland measuring 6899 yards from the championship tees. The course has played host to the Curtis Cup, PGA Championship, Seniors and prestigious Scottish Amateur Championship. It is also one of the final qualifying courses when The Open is played at Turnberry or Royal Troon. "Without doubt of all the courses played, Western Gailes puts the biggest smile on my guest's faces" - Andrew Vernon, General Manager of Hillhouse.
Dundonald
| Dundonald | 6765 Yards | Par 72 |
| Dundonald | top | |
In its short history, Dundonald Links has quickly become recognised as one of Europe's "must play" new links courses. It has already hosted the Duke of York Young Champions Trophy event, as well as qualifying for the Senior British Open Championship. Designed by Kyle Phillips, one of the game's top architects, it has been recognised as one of the best new courses in the world (Robb Report 2004).
Machrihanish
| Machrihanish | 6225 Yards | Par 70 |
| Machrihanish | top | |
Machrihanish has become known for being host to "the best opening hole in the world" in which the round's opening shot must carry the Atlantic Ocean. Wonderfully kept and equally remote this truly unique course would surely be one of the U.K.'s top 5 courses if it wasn't so inaccessible. It is situated in the Mull of Kintyre a 3 ½ hour drive into the stunning wilderness. At Hillhouse we will organise to charter a power boat or for a more refined trip a yacht to take you across the sea to this course. This cuts the journey time to 1 ½ hours from door to tee. This course is exceptional on its own merit, but combined with its remoteness and a stunningly scenic boat trip through the Western Isles it must be one of the most special golfing experiences anywhere.
Turnberry Kintyre
| Kintyre Course | 6504 Yards | Par 72 |
| Turnberry | top | |
Building on the challenges laid down by the famous old Arran course, the Kintyre is links golf at its exhilarating best. Undulating greens, glorious fairways, magnificent ocean holes, and all with stunning views of Kintyre, Arran, and the famous Turnberry Lighthouse. The view that greets you from the brow of Bain's Hill is just one moment among many you'll want to savour again and again. As the short ascent is made from the 7th green, it is as if a theatrical curtain is opened to reveal a stunning set. The extra elevation multiplies the panorama that stretches in every direction, but the shots, too, are breathtaking.
These range from a delicate pitch in a rocky dell on the 8th to a thrilling second along the shoreline on the 9th. Widely regarded as the Kintyre's signature hole, the 8th, involves a drive from an elevated tee towards the sea and an unforgettable blind second shot to the green set in a gully by the rocks. Unseen from the tee, hidden by a narrow ridge, the green is in a cove that seems to merge with the craggy beach beyond. As for the 9th, an invigorating drive offers the choice between adventure and caution, a par 5 set against the background of the renowned symbols of Turnberry, Ailsa Craig and the Lighthouse.
Irvine Bogside (Open Championship Qualifying Course)
| Irvine Bogside | 6401 Yards | Par 71 |
| Irvine Bogside | top | |
The Irvine Golf Club, Bogside sports a traditional links course established over 100 years ago owing much of it's present day character to the design work of James Braid in 1926. The course provides a challenge to all with its subtle changes in direction and no two holes the same.
Kilmarnock Barrassie (Open Championship Qualifying Course)
| Kilmarnock Barrassie | top | |
Kilmarnock Barassie course is tough, but is typically what Scottish Links golf is about - large undulating greens, deep bunkers and doglegs. The course has generated some excellent publicity in recent years having been host for the British Amateur Championships in June 2001 along with Prestwick Golf Club and played host to the European Youths Championships the previous year. The Open Championship at Royal Troon in 2004 saw Barassie play host to the Junior Open Championship.
Other Scottish Courses
- St. Andrews - The 'Home of Golf'
- Carnoustie
- Cruden Bay Golf Club
- Nairn
- Royal Dornoch
- Gleneagles
- Gullane Golf Club
Scotland is of course the home of golf, and the South West is a golfing paradise. As well as the Open Championship courses of Royal Troon, Prestwick and Turnberry there are five Open Championship Qualifying courses in the vicinity as well.
In addition to the Championship courses here are golf courses to suit all standards and ages and although the list below includes only Scotland's top courses please contact us if you would like information on any of the many other courses in the local area.
Hillhouse has the added benefit of being only 15 minutes drive from Prestwick airport, and 40 minutes from Glasgow, meaning less time travelling and more time on the links!
St. Andrews - The 'Home of Golf' (Open championship courses)
| Old Course | 6609 Yards | Par 71 |
| New Course | 6604 Yards | Par 71 |
| JubileeCourse | 6743 Yards | Par 72 |
| Eden Course | 6195 Yards | Par 70 |
| Strathtyrum Course | 5620 Yards | Par 69 |
| Balgrove Course | 1520 Yards | Par 30 |
| St. Andrews The 'Home of Golf' | top | |
110 miles - 3hours
St. Andrews is of global importance as the Home of Golf and the place where the game has evolved and developed over the last 600 years.
In addition to the world famous Old Course there are 5 other courses which are all open to the public.
Carnoustie (Open championship venue 2007)
| Championship | 6941 Yards | Par 75 |
| Burnside | 6028 Yards | Par 69 |
| Buddon | 5420 Yards | Par 66 |
| Carnoustie | top | |
120 miles - 3hours 15 minutes
Regarded by many including Walter Hagen and Gary Player as one of the best links in the world, Carnoustie, though certainly long, is not a course for the unthinking big-hitter. With judgement of wind and distance critical, every tee shot needs careful placement to set up an approach to the green. Given its quality, it is difficult to comprehend why this links lay virtually undiscovered for so long and why it took until 1931 for it to host its first British Open. Since then, this great links has hosted the Open on six occasions, its array of champions including Armour, Cotton, Hogan, Player, Watson and Lawrie, fittingly bearing testament to the toughness of Carnoustie. In July 2007 Carnoustie will host the Open Championship for the seventh time.
Cruden Bay Golf Club (Championship course)
The demanding and unique course plays alongside the splendid backdrop of beaches and ocean.
| Cruden Bay | 6395 Yards | Par 70 |
| Cruden Bay Golf Club | top | |
207 miles - 5 hours 45 minutes
It is believed that the game of golf has been played in Cruden Bay since 1791 and the existing course, designed by Tom Morris, was opened in 1899. It is an internationally famous course and was ranked at No. 52 in the world by 'Golf Magazine'.
Nairn (Championship course)
| Testhis | 6721 Yards | Par 72 |
| Nairn | top | |
216 miles - 6hrs
Testhis Traditional Scottish Golf Links Course on the shores of the Moray Firth hosted the 37th Walker Cup in 1999. A testing golf course set among a Highland wilderness of whins and heather it was founded in 1887, and is now one of the best courses in Scotland.
Royal Dornoch (Championship course)
| Championship Course | 6514 Yards | Par 70 |
| Struie Course | 6276 Yards | Par 70 |
| Royal Dornoch | top | |
244 miles - 6 hours 45 minutes
One of the first 3 golf courses in Scotland of which there is a written record (in 1616) golf has been played in Dornoch for hundreds of years. The Championship course is rated 5th in the world outside of the USA and is challenging links course in a magnificent setting. The Struie course has its own character and makes a perfect family or high handicap course.
Gleneagles (3 Championship courses)
| King's | 6471 Yards | Par 70 |
| Queen's | 5965 Yards | Par 68 |
| PGA Centenary Course | 6551 Yards | Par 70 |
| Gleneagles | top | |
80 miles - 1 hour 30 minutes
For the dedicated golf enthusiast Gleneagles offers the chance to play on 3 championship courses. The King's and Queen's courses were designed by James Braid and the PGA Centerary Course was designed by Jack Nicklaus and is set to be the venue for the 40th Ryder Cup in 2014. Set amongst the splendor of the Perthshire hills the Gleneagles courses offer unrivalled golfing challenges adjacent to the luxurious 5 star Gleneagles Hotel and Spa facility.
Gullane Golf Club (Championship courses)
| No. 1 Course | 6466 Yards | Par 71 |
| No. 1 Course | 6244 Yards | Par 71 |
| No. 1 Course | 5252 Yards | Par 68 |
| Gullane Golf Club | top | |
100 miles - 2 hours
Differing from most other Scottish links courses in that they are hilly, the 3 Gullane courses are set among the heather, whin and gorse with spectacular panoramic views across the Firth of Forth. Gullane has a long history of golf, with the No. 1 course created in 1884, and the courses have played host to many championships including Open Championship Qualifying and Scottish Professional Championship. The stiff sea breezes, numerous bunkers and well maintained greens will challenge the serious golfer.
Kingsbarns Golf Links
| Kingsbarns | 6652 Yards | Par 72 |
| Kingsbarns Golf Links | top | |
120 miles - 3 hours 5 minutes
Lying 6 miles to the west of St. Andrews is one of Scotland's most recent golf courses, Kingbarns. This most recent of course was built upon the site of 9 hole course which was created over 200 years ago and the course design provides great variety and a stiff golfing challenge balanced by generous greens and wide fairways. Kingsbarns blends together all the advantages of a modern course with the traditional features of an old links course.
Carnegie Links (Championship Course)
| Carnegie Links | 6403 Yards | Par 71 |
| Carnegie Links | top | |
242 miles - 6 hours
Tom Morris built this course on the estate at Skibo Castle the Scottish seat of Andrew Carnegie of Pittsburgh, USA, the great steel magnate and philanthropist who was born in Dunfermline in Fife. The course was totally reconstructed and modernised in 1995 and it has quickly matured into a splendid golfing venue.
Loch Lomond (Scottish Open Championship course)
| Loch Lomond | 7100 Yards | Par 71 |
| Loch Lomond | top | |
48 miles - 1hour 30 minutes
Designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish, the 7,100 yard parkland course is considered to be among the 'Top 100' finest golf courses in the world (ranked in the top 50 by Golf Magazine and 19th by its international panelists when it first opened, as well as voted #1 course in Scotland by the readers of Bunkered.) Streams and marshland areas form natural hazards, while majestic trees, including Scots Pine, Douglas Firs, and ancient oaks add to the grandeur.
Muirfield (Open Championship course)
| Muirfield | 6970 Yards | Par 71 |
| Muirfield | top | |
102 miles - 2 hours 10 minutes
Muirfield is the only course to have hosted the Open (15 times, the most recent in 2002), the Amateur, the Mid Amateur, the Ryder Cup, the Walker Cup and the Curtis Cup. With its thick rough and 151 deep, cavernous bunkers Muirfield is tough and testing course about which Tom Watson said 'there was not a weak hole on the course'.
North Berwick (Open Qualifying Course)
| North Berwick | 6420 Yards | Par 71 |
| North Berwick | top | |
107 miles - 2 hours 15 minutes
One of the oldest courses in Scotland North Berwick's course boast stunning views across the Firth of Forth to the Bass Rock. The beach, the burns and low walls all conspire to give the course a unique character - one which has changed little since the course was designed over 150 years ago.
Elie
| Elie | 6273 Yards | Par 70 |
| Elie | top | |
107 miles - 2 hours 15 minutes
Situated on the edge of the Firth of Forth 10 miles from St. Andrews golf has been played in the village of Elie since the 15th Century. The present course is unique in that it has no par 5's - but do not let this fool you as it is tough a links challenge as can be found anywhere. The starters periscope, removed from the HMS Excaliber, used to check if the course is clear adds to the unique character of the challenging course.
Dalmahoy
| Dalmahoy East | 6389 Yards | Par 71 |
| Dalmahoy West | 5051 Yards | Par 68 |
| Dalmahoy | top | |
242 miles - 6 hours
Designed by James Braid Dalmahoy's East and West courses are representations of everything that is good about Scottish golf. They provide a stern test to all and are as enjoyable as any top championship course you will find. Having played host to the Solheim Cup and the Scottish Seniors Open