How I Planned My First Scottish Golf Trip

Welcome back to LinksLand, your guide to planning your next Scottish golf trip. Here our hope is to build a community of golfers that love links golf. We’re the informed friend who knows the best spots, hidden gems, and stories behind Scotland’s most iconic courses. We’re on the ground and in the know. We are truly passionate and knowledgeable about helping as many golfers experience Scotland.

The next month will see some of the leading golf courses open their 2026 tee time booking (a future newsletter subject) so stay tuned.

Like many, I spotted John’s tweets last summer as he travelled around Scotland with his wife on their bucket list golf trip that included rounds at Royal Troon and the Old Course, St. Andrews.

John’s love for great links golf was palpable but it was his willingness to share with others which I loved. As he plans his next trip this summer, we sit down for Q&A. I hope you enjoy and find John’s experience useful in planning your next Scottish golf trip.

What would you say to anyone considering booking a golf trip to Scotland?

GO FOR IT! There's no wrong way to do a golf trip to Scotland if you are intentional about what you want to do and how you want to tackle it. EVERY aspect can be planned on your own with a minimal amount of dedicated planning effort. 

What parts of the trip planning process do you think requires detail/focus?

So, planning a golf trip to Scotland on your own really comes down to two time windows: 

1. Actions to take 8-12 months in advance of the trip. These require a bit more conscious thought. The rest of the trip will fall into place according to these steps.

   - Book your major golf tee times (tier 1 golf courses)

   - Book your airfare

   - Book your hotel

2. Actions to take leisurely in the months leading up to the trip include:

   - Book your rental car or transportation

   - Book any special dining reservations

   - Book any non-major golf tee times (tier 2 and tier 3 courses)

One thing you can try to learn from this year versus your first trip? 

The biggest thing I learned from last year to this year is that while Tier 1 courses (think: any course that is currently or has recently been on the Open Rota) are wonderful - a golf trip to Scotland doesn't have to focus entirely on them for you to have a "Scottish golf" experience. There are COUNTLESS golf courses that are $150 USD or under that are absolutely PHENOMENAL golf experiences. Many of Scotland's best golf courses are actually hidden gems that can be enjoyed for under $50 USD! 

One misconception about Scottish links golf trips?

Hands down, no question about it, the biggest misconception or misunderstanding about Scottish golf trips is that you HAVE to use an organised tour operator. That is NOT the case. You can absolutely book the trip of a lifetime entirely on your own! 

Now, let me be clear: I'm not downplaying tour operators or their importance. There are situations/circumstances where they absolutely make sense to use. But for any golf trip of 8 or fewer people, you could book a trip on your own and save THOUSANDS of dollars. All by taking just a little bit of time to plan a few key things yourself.

Pricing?

There are so many factors that go into budgeting a trip (i.e. length of trip, number of Tier 1 rounds, type of hotel room, etc.)... The budgeting should really be thought of in 5 buckets as shown below. IMPORTANT NOTE: The order of the categories below is the order in which you should be making reservations when booking a trip. 

1. Golf

2. Airfare

3. Hotels

4. Rental car/transportation

5. Meals

For a group of 2-8 people, factoring in all categories below EXCEPT airfare, a modest trip of 5-7 days with golf on most days should average between $500-$1,000 per person per day. Now, that's a wide range, I know... But things like individual hotel rooms versus splitting hotel rooms with a friend can make a BIG difference in cost. If someone plans (4-5) Tier 1 rounds as compared to booking one (1) Tier 1 round and (3-4) Tier 2 or Tier 3 rounds, that can make a BIG difference in the cost. 

Self drive / transit times?

Driving around Scotland is relatively easy. Yes, as Americans, it is a bit awkward driving on the opposite side of the road versus what we're used to... but making that adjustment is not difficult if you are thoughtful and concentrate just as you would if you were to drive in any major US city.

I strongly recommend that people traveling to Scotland for a golf trip focus on no more than two golf "regions" for a trip of 7-8 days or fewer. You will have a BLAST without feeling like you are always on the move.

Notable experiences?

The best experiences during our trip last summer were the moments not planned:

- Exploring around the town of St. Andrews. The links are great but to walk around town, explore the cemetery around the St. Andrews Cathedral ruins, stop by a cafe or dessert shop... Those moments are outstanding. 

- I have a theory about traveling: When in a major tourist area (let's say a big city like Edinburgh), go 2-4 blocks away from the "touristy area" to experience the local culture without it being a "forced" tourist culture... For example: Want to experience a true Scottish pub? Go a few blocks away from the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. Don't go to pubs that are ON the Royal Mile. 

- In Edinburgh in particular, my wife and I walked over and played a round at Bruntsfield Links. Golf has been played at Bruntsfield for hundreds of years and is now a public park with a pitch and putt 36-hole course that is free for the public. It is such a raw and fun golf experience. Bring a wedge and a putter and go have fun. Oh, and stop by The Golf Tavern afterwards for a pint.

- In St. Andrews, make time to go visit the World Golf Museum. If you want to see, experience, and touch authentic golf history, that is the place to go. It is directly across the street from the iconic R&A clubhouse. 

- Lastly, the most notable experience on our trip last year is what prompted this year's follow-up trip to happen so quickly: The island of Arran. Going off the west coast of Scotland to experience the small coastal islands like Arran was SO. MUCH. FUN. Such genuine Scottish hospitality, so many outstanding golf courses (i.e. Shiskine, Corrie, etc.), outstanding food... Want to really know JUST how good it was on Arran?...We spent 2 nights and 1 day on Arran last year... This year, we are spending 5 nights and 6 days on the island!

Advice for those planning this year…?

For those with trips already planned for this year, here are three general things to do to ensure you have the best trip possible:

1. FOOD: Find 2-3 special restaurants to have nice dinners at. Scotland has some AMAZING food. BE sure you don't just focus on golf and don't dive into some good food menus while you're there!

2. PEACE OF MIND: If you rent a car, in advance of your trip, be sure to check the benefits of any credit cards you have... Certain credit cards nowadays include PRIMARY rental car insurance if you use that card to pay for the rental. That can give you a lot of peace of mind that if anything happens, you will have complete coverage. 

3. UNIQUE EXPERIENCES: Do some internet research in advance of your trip and find at least ONE thing to do that is not golf-related. Go visit the home of Scottish poet Robert Burns. Or go for a tour of the Edinburgh Castle. Or go visit the battlefield of Culloden. Scotland does golf well... but there is SO MUCH MORE to the country than just golf. Be sure to take in the whole culture!

Thanks again to John Morton, an avid golfer from the US who has been playing for more than 30 years. He is a well-known collector of golf memorabilia and is founder of Auld Grey Toun Golf Books & Collectibles. Be sure to follow him on Twitter.