| Five Scottish Golf Gems—Let's | | | | will get an extra hundred feet or two of roll, |
| Appreciate them Together! | | | | courtesy of gravity. Enjoy the moment while it |
| | | | | lasts, as it's the only gift this spunky layout gives |
| It's no secret that Scotland literally wallows in golf | | | | and you are about to discover that good looks |
| (wholesale golf), boasting almost 600 golf courses | | | | can be deceiving, as can modest yardage. This |
| in all. Considering it's taken the Scots more than | | | | handsome shorty has teeth that bite, but |
| six centuries to build this enviable collection - a | | | | fortunately, it's all accompanied by a distinct sense |
| 500-year head start on the rest of the world - it | | | | of humor -- an exhilarating and thoroughly |
| should be no surprise to learn that Scottish golf is | | | | enjoyable round is going to be yours. |
| not only plentiful, but also top of the line when it | | | | |
| comes to quality. Nowhere is the excellence of | | | | Edinburgh is proud to have The Honourable |
| Scotland's golf as evident as in her glorious links | | | | Company of Edinburgh Golfers and their fabled |
| courses, those windswept, seaside courses we all | | | | British Open venue, Muirfield, located a brief 30 |
| find so appealing, each and everyone deserving of | | | | minutes drive from the city center. But the city is |
| star status. | | | | equally proud of the wealth of other excellent |
| | | | | links courses in the same neighborhood, where |
| The only problem with so many could-be or | | | | Craigielaw Golf Club shines as an outstanding |
| would-be stars crowding the stage, only a few | | | | example. |
| gain the audience's attention and many very | | | | |
| worthy contenders for fame are lost in the | | | | Despite it's comparative youth, Craigielaw is a |
| crowd, spending their days in relative obscurity. | | | | stunning layout, exuding the many varied qualities |
| Relegated to the ranks of the so-called, "Hidden | | | | of a pure Scottish links. A course barely 10-years |
| Gems". Scotland is flooded with such layouts, too | | | | old, isn't supposed to impress the most died in the |
| many of which, receive precious little attention | | | | wool, links traditionalists, but that's precisely what |
| from visitors - if only they knew what they were | | | | Craigielaw has done. |
| missing. | | | | |
| | | | | Filled with imagination and variety, the great |
| The term, "Hidden Gems" is a misnomer, although | | | | English designer, Donald Steel, has created a piece |
| practically all are indeed gems, none are hidden | | | | of golf artistry that simply wows all who play it. |
| and many of the very best, especially the links | | | | An exhilarating assembly of 18 holes, each with a |
| layouts, are located close to their more celebrated | | | | challenge quite different to the previous and |
| neighbors. It's a fact of life that wherever you | | | | every one a joy to play. Steel's respect and |
| find one good links, there will assuredly be others | | | | sensitivity for links golf comes shining through in |
| close by and Scotland's most important five links | | | | grand style. He has worked with Mother Nature |
| clusters each contains its share of outstanding | | | | and not against her. There have been no massive |
| links layouts that have somehow managed to | | | | transformations of the landscape, only a very |
| escape the spotlight. Don't let that deter you | | | | carefully thought out routing of the holes, which |
| from playing as many as you are able, these are | | | | shows off the "made for links" terrain to its best |
| courses with the warmest of welcomes and they | | | | golfing advantage. |
| unfailingly provide the most genuine Scottish golf | | | | |
| experience. | | | | The end result is a very tough links layout, more |
| | | | | than enough to test the scratch golfer from the |
| Ask any seasoned golf travelers who knows their | | | | back tees, but with a selection of three different |
| way around Scotland for a list of their own | | | | tee-positions, a course that can also be enjoyed |
| favorites and you will have as many different | | | | by the mid to high handicap player. Craigielaw is a |
| answers as the number of people you ask. But | | | | special treat and a links that belongs on the must |
| you need to start somewhere and the following is | | | | play list of every visitor to this golf-rich corner of |
| my own list of five -- one for each links cluster. | | | | Scotland. |
| Each certainly qualifies as an excellent links layout, | | | | |
| but they also have competition from others in | | | | Aberdeen is Scotland's third largest city and |
| their own cluster, so regard this listing as very | | | | famous as the gateway to a bevy of ancient |
| personal and unapologetically, subjective. | | | | castles, the beginning of real whisky country and |
| | | | | the heart of a select collection of wonderful links |
| The Southwest's Ayrshire coast is spoiled for | | | | courses. Royal Aberdeen, Murcar and Cruden Bay |
| choices, but one course stands out as being very | | | | are the most familiar names, but they are only |
| special and perhaps deserves to be ranked along | | | | the beginning of Aberdeen's golf story. |
| side Turnberry and Royal Troon. Western Gailes - | | | | |
| ranked number 13 in Scotland, few would | | | | Take a brief, 45-minute drive along the coast, |
| disagree, this 110 year-old is a classic Scottish links | | | | north of the city and you will find a totally |
| of the very first order. | | | | unspoiled, good old fashioned links layout, as rough |
| | | | | and ready as it was on the day it was born well |
| Squeezed in between the sea and a railway track, | | | | over 200 years ago -- If you are looking for a |
| with barely enough room for two fairways, the | | | | genuine slice of real Scottish golf history, this is it.. |
| clubhouse sits in the middle, with two 9-hole loops | | | | |
| shooting out in opposite directions. Totally | | | | Parish records show that golf has been played on |
| exposed to the infernally cantankerous sea winds, | | | | nearby Fraserburgh Links since 1613 although it |
| this is a test of links golf ability that is tougher | | | | took another 158 years before Fraserburgh Golf |
| than many of those trophy courses, with an | | | | Club was officially founded. This is where the |
| examination that never lets up. There are only | | | | Moray Firth and the North Sea converge, creating |
| three par-3 holes, each deceivingly tricky, where | | | | a unique microclimate where Mother Nature |
| par will be an accomplishment and surprisingly, a | | | | becomes even more cantankerous than usual. Be |
| total of thirteen par-4 holes, ranging from 309 to | | | | prepared for a bumpy ride around Fraserburgh's |
| 450 yards. | | | | substantial sand dunes and an experience |
| | | | | reminiscent of how golf must have been more |
| The challenge is only compounded by the finely | | | | than a century ago. Wildly undulating fairways, |
| contoured greens, all immaculately maintained and | | | | sand hills, unpredictable winds, wonderful views |
| most ingeniously located, set into the folds of the | | | | and some truly spectacular holes makes |
| surrounding sand dunes. Needless to say, pot | | | | Fraserburgh a stern test from start to finish. |
| bunkers are in plentiful supply and adding only | | | | |
| more spice to this already hot dish, meandering | | | | Today's feisty championship course, a James |
| burns pop-up strategically and immediately in front | | | | Braid redesign of the original layout, is one of the |
| of four of the greens. | | | | most natural links courses you will ever find. It's |
| | | | | well worth the extra few miles of driving to |
| Jam-packed with variety and ever-changing, | | | | experience such authenticity, where you are likely |
| demanding tests, this is a real golfer's course, with | | | | to be the only overseas visitor. Just be prepared |
| an irresistible personality that virtually guarantees | | | | for an exceptionally warm welcome and one of |
| it will become a firm favorite of any who give | | | | the most stimulating rounds of your trip. |
| Western Gailes the chance. Miss playing this | | | | |
| beauty and your visit to the Southwest will be | | | | The Scottish Highlands have an almost magical, |
| incomplete. | | | | entirely unique appeal to visitors, whether golf is in |
| | | | | the visitors equation or not, but for the golfers, |
| St. Andrews is surrounded by excellent courses, | | | | alongside the trophy courses, is an amazing array |
| both famous names and little knowns, but Crail's | | | | of less familiar names, practically all gems. Play |
| Balcomie Links is one of those precious gems that | | | | any one of them and you can't go wrong, but for |
| deserves some extra attention. Combining a | | | | a special treat, choose the 1890, Old Tom Morris |
| unique blend of good looks, spectacular views and | | | | design at Tain, located almost midway between |
| a testy links challenge, a rollicking round is assured, | | | | Dornoch and Nairn. |
| with a generous helping of pure, unadulterated fun | | | | |
| thrown in for good measure. | | | | Today, Tain sports a full 18-holes, including 10 that |
| | | | | have survived the 119 years since Old Tom |
| Founded in 1786, the Crail Golfing Society is the | | | | Morris first laid them out. Not surprisingly, among |
| 7th oldest golf club in existence and the club's | | | | "Tom's 10" are the best holes on a course filled |
| Balcomie Links, a masterful design from the | | | | with challenge from start to finish; they stand as |
| legendary 19th century architect, the great, Old | | | | a tribute to the artistry and abilities of one of |
| Tom Morris. It's an impressive pedigree which | | | | golf's greatest design talents ever. Immaculately |
| builds the expectations of most visitors and this is | | | | maintained with greens as good as presented by |
| a layout that will not disappoint. | | | | any Scottish layout, this combination of links and |
| | | | | heathland boasts an idyllic setting. The course |
| Standing on the first tee, towering some 150 feet | | | | skirts the shoreline of the Dornoch Firth, with |
| above the distant green, with the entire layout at | | | | some dramatic views to a mountain backdrop, |
| your feet, the view is fantastic. It clearly shows | | | | evoking a feeling of total solitude, even reverence. |
| that the North Sea will be a factor to be | | | | |
| contended with from start to finish and the hilly | | | | Tain may lack the majesty of Royal Dornoch, but |
| terrain, very unusual in a links, creates a distinct | | | | that takes not one iota from the pure joy it will |
| feeling that this is no ordinary links. By the time | | | | bring to any serious golfer. This is a piece of golf |
| you reach the final hole, your suspicions will have | | | | history like few others, laid out by the all-time |
| been confirmed and proved -- Crail Balcomie is | | | | master of classic course design and to end your |
| quite extraordinary. | | | | round with a respectable score requires strategy, |
| | | | | clear thinking and the ability to constantly adjust |
| Savor the pleasure of the first hole and that initial | | | | to the ever-changing problems presented. |
| downhill drive, which no matter how poorly struck, | | | | |