SCOTLAND

Lee Trevino famously said of Gleneagles: “If heaven is as good as this, I sure hope they have some tee times left.” It’s not hard to see why he is so enamoured. One of the greatest names in the world of golf, the Gleneagles resort in Perthshire is essentially three golf clubs rolled into one and features a trio of courses (along with a 9-hole ‘Wee Course’) that celebrates the rich history and evolution of design. The Braid-designed King’s Course is an inland links masterpiece, the Queen’s Course is one of the finest heathland golf courses in the UK, while the modern Jack Nicklaus-designed PGA Centenary Course has hosted both the Ryder and Solheim Cups. Golfing heaven indeed.

https://gleneagles.com

While it’s also home to the very enjoyable Burnside Course and the Buddon Links, Carnoustie Golf Links is really all about its beast of a Championship Course – considered among the toughest in the world. One of the few courses in the UK to have hosted eight Open Championships, two Women’s Opens and two Seniors Opens, it’s renowned for its finishing holes – a brutal back nine that’s admired and feared around the golfing world. Adding to the challenge are Carnoustie’s cavernous bunkers, none more so than those that lie in wait on the fairway of the legendary par 5 6th, nicknamed ‘Hogan’s Alley’ after 1953 Open Championship winner Ben Hogan.

https://www.carnoustiegolflinks.com

You don’t have to travel far to get into the swing of things when staying at the Carnoustie Golf Hotel & Spa – the popular retreat sits right on the edge of the Carnoustie Golf Links, home to the celebrated Carnoustie Championship Course. When booking a room (there are 96 to choose from) make sure you pick one of the 10 suites that have incredible views of the championship course, the sea and the local town of Carnoustie. To relax after a round there’s the hotel’s heated indoor pool, sauna and steam room and, if you feel like stretching your legs, Carnoustie Beach, a great spot to watch the sun go down, is a short stroll away.

https://carnoustiecountry.com 

Combining an award-winning links golf course, an impressive five-star country hotel and an exhaustive range of dining options, Trump International, Aberdeenshire has every base covered for you golf trip. Set amongst the dunes on the stunning Aberdeenshire coastline against a North See backdrop the course, designed by renowned golf architect Martin Hawtree, takes players on a rollercoaster ride of rises and valleys, with each hole offering unique challenges. To keep the cold at bay (or to celebrate) nip over to the Clavis Whisky Bar at nearby Trump MacLeod House and try a selection of over 200 Scottish and international malt whiskies.

https://www.trumpgolfscotland.com

Town location, in this lively university and historic city; easy walking to the main square and heaps of restaurants, to suit every taste and budget, in the centre of Mons. This particular hotel has been refurbished to a high standard.

Facilities: Buffet breakfast, Bar, brasserie-style restaurant. Parking.

Our View: Larger than average rooms and reasonably quiet, but within easy walking of town centre for evenings out. Approx 7 minutes to main square.

Golf: RGC du Hainaut and Mont Garni are close by, but many others accessible, within 30 minutes or en-route to and from the city.

At Cabot Highlands, home to Castle Stuart Golf Links, they like to describe the golfing experience as “golf as it once was” and it’s not just lip service. Located on the shoreline of the Moray Firth with the Scottish Highlands as a backdrop, Cabot’s first UK property features a combination of neatly trimmed playing surfaces and rugged vegetation that harks back to golf’s transitional period from 1890 to 1935. Playing Castle Stuart Golf Links with its creased fairways, natural bunkers and sweeping views of the countryside is a real joy and, thanks to an open layout, retrieving wayward shots is a breeze. And things are set to get even better with Cabot Highlands adding a Tom Doak-designed 18-hole course in 2024.

https://cabothighlands.com

The venue for final qualifying for The Open from 2023 until 2026, Dundonald Links’ stature as a cracking links golf course has been growing in leaps and bounds. In addition to the superior Kyle Phillips-designed course, Dundonald’s setting at the heart of Ayrshire’s golf coast means you are spoilt for choice when it comes to eye-popping views. From the clubhouse’s wraparound veranda there are vistas across the Firth of Clyde and the Isle of Arran. With Dundonald Links only 38km south of Glasgow you are also within reach of other top links courses in Ayrshire, with the likes of Royal Troon, Prestwick and Western Gailes about a 15-minute drive away.

https://dundonaldlinks.com/