AKH Golf – Scottish Golf Photography
How to Plan a Golf Trip to Scotland: Itineraries, Regions and Practical Advice
COURSES · REGIONS · ROUTES · MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES
PLANNING A SCOTLAND GOLF TRIP THAT WORKS AS A COMPLETE JOURNEY
Planning a golf trip to Scotland is not difficult because there are too few courses. The challenge is choosing from so many distinctive regions, historic links and memorable places without turning the trip into a race between tee times.
The strongest itineraries are rarely the ones that include the greatest number of famous names. They balance the rounds that matter most with realistic travel, suitable accommodation and enough time to enjoy Scotland beyond the golf course.
For some groups, that means spending a week around St Andrews and the east coast. Others may prefer a journey through Moray and the Highlands, a traditional links route across Aberdeenshire or a west-coast trip through Ayrshire. There is no single itinerary that will suit every golfer.
This guide provides a starting point for deciding how long to visit, which regions work together and how to shape the golf around the kind of experience your group wants.
HOW MANY DAYS DO YOU NEED FOR A SCOTLAND GOLF TRIP?
Most Scotland golf trips work best when the number of regions reflects the time available.
Three to five days
A shorter break should normally concentrate on one region. St Andrews and Fife, East Lothian, Ayrshire, Aberdeenshire, Moray or the Inverness area can each provide enough variety without requiring the group to change accommodation repeatedly.
Four carefully selected rounds within one part of Scotland will usually feel more complete than four rounds spread across opposite sides of the country.
EXPLORE THE BEST SHORT GOLF TRIPS IN SCOTLAND →
Seven days
A week gives the group the option of exploring one region in greater depth or combining two areas that fit naturally together. Fife and Angus, St Andrews and East Lothian, Moray and the Highlands, or Aberdeenshire and Moray can all create coherent routes.
Trying to cover St Andrews, East Lothian and Royal Dornoch within seven days is possible, but it introduces a substantial transfer and can leave too little time to experience each destination properly.
Ten to fourteen days
A longer trip makes it more practical to include two or three regions, provided travel days are treated as part of the itinerary rather than squeezed between important rounds.
This is enough time to combine famous courses with lesser-known clubs, include rest or sightseeing time and experience how different golf feels across Scotland.
CHOOSE YOUR REGIONS BEFORE CHOOSING EVERY COURSE
Selecting the regions first gives the trip a logical shape. Once the route is clear, individual courses can be added according to availability, budget and the type of golf the group wants to play.
St Andrews and Fife
St Andrews is the natural focus for many first visits. The Old Course carries the greatest recognition, but the wider area includes the other St Andrews Links courses alongside Kingsbarns, Crail, Elie, Lundin Links, Leven Links, Dumbarnie and Ladybank.
Fife suits groups who want history, a strong concentration of courses and the chance to spend time in the town of St Andrews without moving accommodation every day.
Angus and Perthshire
Angus works naturally with Fife and adds Carnoustie, Panmure and Monifieth to an east-coast route. Inland courses in Perthshire can provide a different landscape and style of golf if the group wants a break from consecutive links rounds.
East Lothian
East Lothian offers a concentrated stretch of coastal golf close to Edinburgh. North Berwick, Gullane, Dunbar and other courses across Scotland’s Golf Coast make it possible to build a full trip around one base.
It can be paired with St Andrews, although changing accommodation will usually make the route more comfortable.
Ayrshire and the west coast
Ayrshire brings together championship history, dramatic coastal settings and courses around Troon, Prestwick and Turnberry. It works well as a self-contained destination or as part of a longer west-coast route.
Aberdeenshire
Royal Aberdeen, Cruden Bay and Trump International create a strong headline route, while courses including Fraserburgh and Peterhead can give the trip greater variety and regional character.
Aberdeenshire suits golfers looking for traditional links, dramatic dunes and a destination that can be explored without following the most common first-time itinerary.
Moray
Moray combines historic links at Moray Golf Club with courses including Hopeman, Cullen, Spey Bay, Buckpool and Forres. The region offers good variety within manageable distances and can connect naturally with Speyside, Aberdeenshire or the Highlands.
Whisky, coastline, food and smaller towns also make Moray well suited to golfers who want the trip to include more than tee times alone.
The Scottish Highlands
Royal Dornoch, Cabot Highlands and Nairn are the principal names for many visitors, but Brora, Tain, Golspie and Fortrose & Rosemarkie add considerable depth.
The Highlands suit groups looking for outstanding golf, coastal scenery and a stronger sense of journey. They also reward a less hurried itinerary because travel forms an important part of the experience.
For a fuller comparison, use the dedicated regional guide before deciding which courses to include.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT REGION FOR YOUR SCOTLAND GOLF TRIP →
REALISTIC SEVEN-DAY SCOTLAND GOLF ITINERARIES
These routes are examples rather than fixed packages. The order should be adjusted around tee-time availability, arrival plans and where the group wants to stay.
Option 1: St Andrews and Scotland’s Golf Coast
Days 1–4: St Andrews and Fife
Build the first part of the week around St Andrews, adding one or two other Fife courses rather than trying to play every day within the Links complex.
Day 5: Travel to East Lothian
Use the move as a lighter day, or add golf only if the timing remains comfortable.
Days 6–7: East Lothian
Finish with two rounds along Scotland’s Golf Coast and, if required, an onward journey through Edinburgh.
This route gives a first-time visitor two of Scotland’s most recognisable golf regions without adding a journey to the far north.
Option 2: St Andrews, Carnoustie and the east coast
Days 1–4: St Andrews and Fife
Choose the most important St Andrews round and support it with one or two contrasting courses elsewhere in Fife.
Days 5–7: Angus
Move north towards Carnoustie, Panmure or Monifieth. This keeps the trip within a compact part of the east coast and reduces the need for long transfers.
Option 3: Moray, Nairn and the Highlands
Days 1–3: Moray
Begin with Moray Golf Club and a selection of the region’s coastal or inland courses.
Days 4–5: Nairn and Cabot Highlands
Move towards the Moray Firth and use Nairn or Inverness as a base.
Days 6–7: Royal Dornoch and the northern links
Continue north for Royal Dornoch, with Tain, Brora or Golspie added according to time and availability.
This route provides a clear sense of progression and works particularly well for golfers returning to Scotland who want to explore beyond the usual east-coast destinations.
Option 4: Aberdeenshire and Moray
Days 1–4: Aberdeenshire
Build the opening part of the trip around Royal Aberdeen, Cruden Bay and another course that adds a different experience.
Days 5–7: Moray
Travel west along the north-east coast and finish with Moray Golf Club alongside one or two of the region’s smaller clubs.
This route combines internationally recognised links with courses that give visitors a more local view of golf in the north-east of Scotland.
HOW MANY ROUNDS SHOULD YOU PLAY?
Seven rounds in seven days may look appealing when planning from home, but it does not leave much space for travel, weather, meals or simply enjoying each destination.
For many groups, five principal rounds within a seven-day trip provide a better balance. A sixth round can be added where the distances are short or played as an optional round for those who still want more golf.
Consider the physical demands as well. Scottish links are generally walked, the weather can add to the effort and a caddie may not always be available. A lighter day halfway through the trip can help everyone enjoy the final rounds rather than merely complete them.
The number of rounds should suit the group, not an imagined requirement to fill every day.
SECURE THE MOST IMPORTANT TEE TIMES FIRST
Begin with the courses the group would be most disappointed to miss. Once those tee times are confirmed, build the accommodation, transport and supporting rounds around them.
Visitor availability and booking procedures differ between clubs and can change by season. Always check current information directly with each course rather than relying on an old itinerary or assumed booking window.
It is also worth identifying alternatives. If the first-choice course or time is unavailable, another club within the same region may improve the flow of the trip rather than weaken it.
Avoid booking an important round too close to the group’s arrival in Scotland. Flight disruption, luggage delays and tiredness are poor preparation for a course everyone has travelled a long way to play.
BUILD TRAVEL TIME INTO THE ITINERARY
Journey times can be deceptive, particularly in rural and coastal areas. A route that looks simple on a map may involve smaller roads, town traffic or weather that slows the journey.
Useful principles include:
Stay near the course before an early or particularly important tee time.
Avoid combining a long transfer with 18 holes unless there is generous flexibility.
Consider splitting the accommodation when the trip covers two distinct regions.
Leave time to check in, eat and prepare for the following day.
Treat the drive through the Highlands or along the coast as part of the experience.
A well-paced route feels like a journey through Scotland. A poorly paced one feels like a sequence of deadlines.
SHOULD YOU USE A GOLF TOUR OPERATOR?
Some groups enjoy arranging every detail themselves. Others will benefit from using a specialist golf tour operator, particularly when the trip includes sought-after tee times, several accommodation changes, transport for a larger party or a more complex multi-region route.
A local operator can help coordinate the different parts of the itinerary and offer practical knowledge about which courses and destinations work well together. This can be particularly useful for international visitors who are unfamiliar with driving times and regional geography.
Scottish Links Golf Tours is one example of a specialist operator creating tailored golf travel across Scotland, with a strong connection to Moray and the Highlands.
DISCOVER BESPOKE GOLF TRAVEL WITH SCOTTISH LINKS GOLF TOURS →
CADDIES, CLUB HIRE AND OTHER PRACTICAL DETAILS
A local caddie can add far more than yardages. They can help with wind, club selection, green reading and the ground game while also sharing knowledge that gives the round greater personality.
Caddies are especially valuable on an important first visit or for a solo golfer who would welcome local company around the course. Availability is not guaranteed, however, so requests should be made through the club as early as possible.
Groups requiring rental clubs, trolleys, buggies or practice facilities should also confirm these directly. What is available at a resort course may not be available in the same form at a smaller traditional club.
Before travelling, check each course’s current guidance on caddies, payment, gratuities, dress, handicap requirements and visitor check-in.
PREPARE FOR SCOTTISH WEATHER
Scottish weather can change several times during one round. Good preparation allows the group to enjoy that variety rather than letting it dominate the day.
Pack reliable waterproofs, layers that can be added or removed, more than one pair of golf shoes and a suitable hat. Spare gloves, socks and towels can make a considerable difference during consecutive days of golf.
Wind is part of links golf and often contributes to the character of the round. The aim is not to wait for perfect conditions, but to arrive equipped for the conditions Scotland may provide.
Groups should also understand the cancellation and rescheduling terms attached to their tee times, accommodation, transport and any other booked services.
LEAVE ROOM FOR SCOTLAND BEYOND THE GOLF
The golf may be the reason for the journey, but the places between the courses often become an important part of the memory.
Allowing time for St Andrews, coastal towns, local restaurants, whisky distilleries, historic sites and Highland scenery gives the trip more depth. These experiences do not need to occupy every non-golfing hour. Even one slower afternoon or evening can help the group connect with the destination rather than only its scorecards.
This is particularly important on a multi-region trip. Each part of Scotland should feel different, and the accommodation, food, landscape and local businesses all contribute to that change in character.
CAPTURING YOUR SCOTLAND GOLF TRIP
A Scotland golf trip often includes rounds that friends have discussed and anticipated for years. Professional photography provides a way to preserve those experiences properly while allowing everyone in the group to remain part of the story.
Coverage can focus on one principal round, such as the Old Course or Royal Dornoch, or follow selected stages of a longer itinerary. The final photographs can include action, group portraits, course landscapes, caddie interactions and the quieter moments that take place between shots.
The strongest golf trip galleries do more than prove where the group played. They show who shared the journey, how the courses changed from one region to another and what the experience felt like from the first tee to the final day.
READY TO PLAN A GOLF TRIP TO SCOTLAND?
Start with the rounds that matter most, choose regions that work together and leave enough space to enjoy the journey. If you would like part of the trip professionally photographed, tell me where you are playing, when you are travelling and which days are most important to your group.
AKH Golf can arrange photography around one highlight round or selected stages of a wider Scotland itinerary.