Ardfin

Isle of Jura

We don’t often post a singular golf course on its own trip page, but we don’t often come across a golf course like Ardfin. This is a unique experience in a unique location and can be added on to almost any Scotland or Northern Ireland trip. Like so many other great remote golf courses, including Bandon Dunes and Cabot Links, this is golf’s Field of Dreams: build it and they will come. It is not easy getting there, and nor is it cheap, so you might as well take a helicopter.

What We Love About Ardfin

In 2010, Australian hedge fund manager Greg Coffey bought the Ardfin Estate on the Isle of Jura. Inspired by Kerry Packer, who created Ellerston, the uber-private golf course located 200 miles north of Sydney in Australia’s Hunter Valley. Coffey turned to Ellerston’s architect Bob Harrison to create something similar at Ardfin. A remote exclusive World Top-100 worthy golf course. (BTW, Ellerston is #77 in the world). You can hear Bob discuss the process on “The Thing about Golf” Podcast.

After a few years of private play only, outside play is welcome starting in 2021. While you will pay a pretty penny sterling, we are thankful for golf benefactors like Coffey to create such incredible courses. Always a passion play, rarely a money maker, Ardfin should be on your “Top Courses I Want to Play” list.

As with some of the other great old courses of Scotland, there are quirky obstacles and features like stone walls, ancient artifacts, ruins and walled gardens to navigate. Put this all on the country’s western coastline and soaring mountains and the setting is sublime.

The Ardfin experience is not just about the golf. The accommodations are outstanding, as you’d expect. The 18thC Jura House has ten rooms and is ripe for exclusive use, while Ardfin Quads had 13 rooms including a couple of apartments for those who want to stay longer.

Lastly, we love quirky tidbits, such as the band KLF Burning a Million Quid in the then-abandoned boathouse of the Ardfin estate.

Favourite Courses

• Ardfin: The only course on the Isle of Jura, perhaps the only golf course of its kind in the world.

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What does your trip look like?

Ardfin can be added to most Scotland and Northern Ireland trips. Yet, we love equally remote Machrie, Machrihanish and Mach Dunes. A trip off the beaten path to these gems would be epic.

Ayrshire

Turnberry (Ailsa)

Machrihanish

Prestwick

MacCallum's Oyster Bar

Turnberry

Machrihanish

Prestwick

Scenery, Scotch and Superlative Golf

The scenic southwest coast of Scotland, not far from Glasgow, is a hub of exceptional golf with over 100 courses. Along with Open Championship hosts Turnberry, Royal Troon and Prestwick, the region boasts links courses galore, from Western Gailes to the remote Macrihanish and Machrie, (technically in Argyll, but a nice add on). Be prepared for stunning scenery, a few good glasses of scotch and lots of outstanding golf.

What We Love About Ayrshire

Our favourite trips to this special region look something like this: a round at the historic Prestwick, the birthplace of the Open Championship; a meal at MacCallum’s Oyster Bar; a round at Royal Troon; and a few sleeps at Turnberry with a loop on the famous and newly designed Ailsa course.

To make your trip even more memorable, go to Kintyre, across the Firth of Clyde and not far from the Mull of Kintyre. Getting there takes a little effort—the adventurous take a RIB boat, though a helicopter is also a great way to go—but worth it because you’ll get to play Machrihanish, home of one of the best opening shots in golf, and Mach Dunes.

Oh, and while you’re at Machrihanish stay at Ugadale Cottages and try the Haggis Nachos.

Favourite Courses

• Historic Prestwick: The birthplace of the Open Championship and #100 in the world

• Aisla (aka Turnberry): Ranked #16 in the world, and home of many memorable championships, including Nicklaus and Watson’s Duel in the Sun of ’77

• Royal Troon: This regular on the Open Rota is ranked #47 and features the famous Postage Stamp hole

• Western Gailes: A typical links course with an apt name because the ever-changing westerly winds make for a challenging round

• Dundonald: Almost named Southern Gailes, Kyle Phillips first design effort after his success at Kingsbarns.

• Machrihanish: A perennial world Top 100 (currently #88) and always in conversations about the best opening tee shot in golf

• Mach Dunes: Only 10 years old, but well worth playing (and with great cottages to match)

• Machrie: Located on the island of Islay among more than 14 Scotch distilleries, Machrie is an old classic recently renovated in 2018 and the 47 room luxury hotel shortly after that.

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St Andrews

The Old Course

Kingsbarns

Forgan's

Carnoustie

Jigger Inn

Play the Oldest Golf in the World

To golfers, the peninsula of Fife may be the most famous spit of land in the world. The area boasts 45 highly rated and historic courses, most notably the Old Course at St. Andrews, which has been around for 600 years. But there’s much more to this sacred ground. Carnoustie (playfully referred to as Car-Nasty) and Kingsbarns make most bucket lists, but don’t sleep on classics like Elie and Crail.

What We Love About St. Andrews

Whether you’re a low handicapper or a weekend warrior, the Home of Golf is on your list. And it never disappoints, managing to ooze history while still buzzing with energy. Play nine holes with hickories or tour with a golf club artisan who makes them.

Warm up for your experience of a lifetime on the Old Course by putting the 18 holes on The Himalayas. We love to enjoy a pint at The Jigger Inn and then savour 28-day dry-aged beef down the road at the Steak Barn. For a groups of eight or more, a private bothie at Forgan’s is always fun.

Stay at the grand Old Course Hotel or at one of the many charming B&Bs in town. And, finally, after the round you’ve always wanted to play, celebrate by raising a glass at the most famous 19th hole, The Dunvegan Hotel.

Favourite Courses

• Old Course: The original track

• New Course: The locals’ favourite

• Kingsbarns: The latest masterpiece in Fife is ranked #64 in the world

• Carnoustie: “Car-Nasty” was the host of the 2018 Open

• Elie: Golfers have been playing this quirky links course—just 12 miles from the Old Course—since the 15th Century

• Crail Golfing Society (Balcomie): This short and unique course along the shoreline is the fifth oldest golf club in the world

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The Highlands

Castle Stuart

Links House at Royal Dornoch

The Whisky Trail

Cruden Bay

Dunrobin Castle

Mac & Wild - Falls of Shin

Rugged, Northern Beauty and Lake Monsters

A golf trip to The Highlands lets you play two regions connected by a three-hour drive down the Whisky Trail through Speyside. Part one: we like to base our trips in Dornoch for rounds at Royal Dornoch, Brora and Castle Stuart. Part two: Abdereenshire is home to Royal Aberdeen and the Cruden Bay.

What We Love About The Highlands

After your flight from London to Inverness, the excellent Castle Stuart is just five minutes from the airport. For a great 36-hole day, play amongst the sheep at the simple but compelling Brora. Now you’re only 25 minutes from Dornoch.

Made famous by Lorne Rubenstein’s A Season in Dornoch, this sleepy town features Royal Dornoch, a course that always deserves a second round, and two great hotels, Links House and Royal Golf Hotel. We’re still not sure which is closest to the first tee, we just know they’re the closest hotels to a first hole in Scotland.

After you try falconry at Dunrobin Castle, hit the Whiskey Trail. The three-hour drive may take longer because there’s always someone’s favourite distillery along the way. Now it’s time to play Royal Aberdeen, Trump International and Cruden Bay, which has a blind par 3 at 15 and the tee box at 9 offers one of the best views in golf. They’ll never make another course like it.

Favourite Courses

• Royal Dornoch: this is one of our favourite courses and we insist you play it twice (you can thank us later)

• Brora: an unpretentious links with electric fences to keep roaming sheep from the greens

• Castle Stuart: this relative newcomer ranks #66 and is just five minutes from Inverness airport on the Moray Firth

• Nairn: one of the finest-kept links courses in Scotland

• Royal Aberdeen: the first course to establish itself in the northeast is a former World Top 100 and always a memorable golf experience

• Cruden Bay: number two on the most-fun-to-play list and #63 on best courses in the world list

• Trump: while we wish we could call it something else, we still think you should play it. The owner placed a plaque that reads, “according to many, the greatest golf course anywhere in the world”

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East Lothian

North Berwick

Muirfield

The Old Clubhouse Pub

North Berwick

Gullane

Edinburgh

Whisky, Haggis and Amazing Golf

Brimming with excellent golf, East Lothian features 22 courses, all within 30 minutes of Edinburgh. The region possesses some of the best traditional links courses in the world, most notably Muirfield, the past host of the British Open and consensus World Top 10, as well as a healthy handful of lesser-known gems.

What We Love About the East Lothian

For tradition and fun, two of the region’s 22 courses have always stood out for us. A one-day membership at The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, aka Muirfield, is a unique experience. We love to play 18 holes in the morning, then shower and change into jacket and tie for a generous lunch before playing another 18 as foursomes.

Meanwhile, North Berwick (pronounced “Ber-rick”) is the world’s sixth oldest original layout and one of the most enjoyable courses on the planet. Its many famous holes include the “Pit,” with a green protected by a stone fence.

The hotels match the golf so you can choose from the stately Greywalls, which overlooks Muirfield; Fenton Tower, a fortified 16th Century tower; and the newer Bonnie Badger. Larger groups can rent an outstanding house steps from Muirfield.

For food, we love to stop at the Lobster Shack before a round at Berwick and, at night, we’re always impressed by the excellent Italian food at Osteria.

Favourite Courses

• The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers (aka Muirfield): Ranked #10 in the world, and one of our favourites

• North Berwick: The sixth oldest layout in the world ranks #51 today. We love the “Pit,” the 13th hole.

• Gullane No.1: One of three courses at the club, it’s a former Scottish Open host and frequent Open qualifying course

• Dunbar: A great course for your opening round of a trip, letting you ease into links golf

• Renaissance Golf: This Tom Doak course opened in 2008 and was the 2019 Scottish Open host

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What does your trip look like?

Every Travel Impresarios Golf trip receives a unique website.
To see an example, click here.