The lighthouse at TurnberryPar 3 7th Dundonald Links 6th at Western Gailes

Going on a golf tour to Scotland always has that feel of making a pilgrimage. The country has so many great golf courses, all steeped in the history of the game, that it’s hard to decide where to go and play. No matter what part of Scotland you go, you’ll almost certainly feel the need to go back. That’s why I see golf in Scotland as a journey more than a destination, and each time you go back is like picking up your stamp on a pilgrimage route like Spain’s Camino de Santiago.

This journey sees me take in the southwest of Scotland, and there are certainly many more courses to play than the ones named in this review. But this trip is a tale of seven courses in seven days, taking in old and new. The omens are all good especially when I spot the female pilot on the flight from Glasgow to Campbeltown wearing a Footjoy glove as we come into land. No ordinary gloves those Footjoys!


Dunaverty Golf Club

Machrihanish

Machrihanish Dunes

Turnberry

Dundonald Links

Western Gailes

Earl of Mar Course at Mar Hall Resort

So there you go. Seven great courses, all with their different feel, history and idiosyncrasies, courses designed by Old Tom Morris himself to modern-day designers like Kyle Phillips and green keepers who have a right to be mentioned along with those names. You may never complete your pilgrim’s journey – there are so many courses to play in Scotland – but one thing is for sure, you will certainly enjoy treading its well-worn path and swap stories of birdies and bogeys and hopefully many par, with other disciples along the way. Enjoy.