The home of golf, played the way it should be: the Old Course, Muirfield, Turnberry and the great Highland links, a private driver between them, and one concierge to plan it all.
Photograph: Trump Turnberry Ailsa, Kolaz Golf via Google
A luxury tour of Scotland is the trip most travelling golfers put at the top of the list, and it rewards the group that wants the genuine article: the oldest fairways on earth, played firm and fast in the long northern light, with the best hotels and a driver to carry you between them. It suits buddies groups marking a milestone, couples who pair the golf with the whisky and the glens, and small societies who want the marquee names rather than the cheapest tee sheet. The standard of links across Fife, East Lothian, Ayrshire and the Highlands is unmatched anywhere, and the distances are short enough that a week takes in three regions without feeling rushed.
If your group has one round it must play, make it the Old Course at St Andrews. If you want the connoisseur's card, add Muirfield on a visitor day and make the pilgrimage north to Royal Dornoch. Build the rest around Turnberry on the Ayrshire coast and Kingsbarns just along from St Andrews, and you have the finest week in the game.
The home of golf and the round every traveller wants on the card: the Swilcan Bridge, the Road Hole and six centuries of play over shared fairways and double greens. Tee times come through the daily ballot or an advance release, so plan it first and let an operator secure the time.
The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, a sixteen time Open host and many a purist's favourite links in the world. Its concentric routing means the wind never hits you the same way twice. Visitors play Tuesdays and Thursdays only, so request a time months ahead.
The most dramatic links in Scotland, wrapped around a lighthouse and looking out to the Ailsa Craig and the Firth of Clyde. The cliffside ninth and tenth are among the most photographed holes in the game. A peak morning visitor round is the most expensive tee in Britain, with cheaper afternoon and resident rates.
A pilgrimage north worth every mile, a pure Highland links of raised, tightly bunkered greens that has shaped designers from Donald Ross onward. Routinely ranked among the top handful of courses on earth, and far enough up the coast that it never feels crowded.
A modern links that plays a thousand years old, hung along the North Sea a few miles from St Andrews and a co host of the Alfred Dunhill Links each autumn. Every hole sees the water, and the closing stretch along the shore is among the best new links golf anywhere.
Designers, pars and visitor policies verified June 2026. Green fees are indicative third party figures for the 2026 summer season and change with demand and tee time. Always confirm directly before booking.
Fly into Edinburgh, meet the driver and head out to Gullane or North Berwick. An easy evening nine or the range, then dinner overlooking the Forth.
The connoisseur's round on a Tuesday or Thursday visitor day, lunch in the famous clubhouse, then an afternoon at North Berwick or Gullane No 1 nearby.
Drive across the Forth to Fife and open the St Andrews leg on the cliffs at Kingsbarns. Check into a town hotel within walking distance of the eighteenth.
The round of the trip. Take a caddie, cross the Swilcan Bridge and play the Road Hole, then a long celebratory dinner in St Andrews.
A scenic drive up to Dornoch, with a stop for lunch and a distillery on the way. Evening at leisure in the village.
The Highland masterpiece, ideally played twice in the long daylight. Dinner of fresh langoustine and a Highland malt.
For a longer trip, cross to Turnberry for the Ailsa and a night on the Ayrshire coast before flying from Glasgow. Otherwise return south to Edinburgh.
Drive times: Edinburgh to St Andrews about ninety minutes; St Andrews to Dornoch about three and a half hours; Dornoch to Turnberry is a long day better split with an overnight. A private driver makes the whisky and the scenery part of the trip rather than a chore.
| Style | Per person, 2026 | What it usually includes |
|---|---|---|
| Classic Fife and Lothian | From around £2,500 to £3,800 | 5 to 6 nights 4 to 5 star, 4 rounds including the Old Course, driver |
| Grand tour, three regions | From around £4,000 to £6,500 | 7 nights luxury hotels, 5 marquee rounds, private driver, caddies |
| Bucket list with Turnberry | From around £6,500 upward | 5 star throughout, Old Course, Muirfield, Turnberry, Dornoch, transfers |
Indicative third party operator ranges for the 2026 season, excluding international flights, shown to set expectations only. We are a guide, not an operator, and never quote our own pricing. Always confirm directly before booking.
The Scottish links season runs May to September, with June and July the firmest and driest, and the daylight stretching past 10pm for two round days. Book the marquee courses as early as you can: the Old Course ballot and advance release, Muirfield visitor days and the best Turnberry and Kingsbarns summer times all go many months ahead. Late May and early September offer softer pricing and quieter tee sheets in exchange for a slightly higher chance of weather. The Alfred Dunhill Links week in late September closes St Andrews, Kingsbarns and Carnoustie to visitors, so plan around it.
Tell us the courses you want and roughly when. One concierge costs the whole tour to the head and replies within one working day, with no obligation.
May to September is the prime window, with June and July the firmest and fastest links and daylight past 10pm for two round days. Late May and early September trade a little weather risk for quieter tee sheets and softer pricing.
The Old Course comes through the daily ballot or an advance single round release that opens roughly a year out, best secured early through an operator. Muirfield admits visitors only on Tuesdays and Thursdays and should be requested months ahead.
Indicative 2026 summer fees run around £340 at the Old Course, £395 at Muirfield for 18 holes, £360 at Royal Dornoch and £399 to £486 at Kingsbarns. Turnberry Ailsa runs to £1,000 for a peak morning visitor round. Confirm directly before booking.
Yes. Submit a brief and one concierge costs the whole tour to the head, including hotels, a private driver, caddies and the tee sheet, then routes it to a vetted operator. You book once and just play.
Scottish links openings, Old Course ballot tips and the booking windows worth moving on first. Every other week.