Hotels
The best golf hotels in Scotland
Seaside links, country houses by the lochs and hotels beside the first tee. Our pick of Scotland's golf hotels, from East Lothian to Islay.
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In short: golf hotels in Scotland
Scotland's best golf hotels sit beside the classic links. Look to The Marine North Berwick and Greywalls in East Lothian, the Old Course Hotel at St Andrews and Marine Troon in the west. Cameron House on Loch Lomond suits golf with a holiday, while Royal Dornoch and The Machrie reward a longer journey.
Our first choice: The Marine North Berwick, above one of the oldest courses in the world. Check availability and prices
The wind comes in off the sea, the ball sits down on the firm turf and a low stone wall waits behind the green. Golf has been played like this in Scotland for centuries, and the courses are still where they always were.
Scotland has more than 500 golf courses, but it is the coastal links that people travel for. We have picked the hotels beside them, grouped by region.
How to choose a Scottish golf hotel
The east coast: East Lothian and Fife pack the most classic courses close together, with Edinburgh nearby.
The west coast: Ayrshire has the Open venues and a short hop from Glasgow Prestwick.
The Highlands and islands: longer journeys, but courses and scenery you will not forget.
The east coast: East Lothian and Fife
East of Edinburgh and north in Fife lie the oldest links in the world, packed close together along the sea.
The Marine North Berwick: above the West Links
The Marine stands above the West Links at North Berwick, with the Firth of Forth and the Bass Rock outside the windows. The course is one of the oldest in the world, and several holes run along the beach.
Edinburgh is about half an hour by train, so you can stay by the sea and still have the city within reach. Ideal for golfers working through the classic links of East Lothian.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Marine North Berwick
Greywalls
The gardens at Greywalls at dusk, a stone's throw from Muirfield.
Greywalls: the Lutyens house beside Muirfield
Greywalls is a country house designed by Edwin Lutyens, with gardens long associated with Gertrude Jekyll. It sits right beside Muirfield, one of the most famous courses on the Open rota.
There are few rooms, open fires in the lounges and the kind of quiet that suits a day in the wind. For anyone who wants history and the East Lothian links on the doorstep.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Greywalls
Old Course Hotel
The Old Course Hotel stands beside the Old Course at St Andrews.
Old Course Hotel: at the Home of Golf
The Old Course Hotel sits at the heart of golf history, beside the Old Course at St Andrews, with a spa and views over the links and the sea. It is the natural base for a trip that has to include the sport's most famous address.
From here, the other St Andrews courses and the rest of Fife are close at hand. For anyone who wants to tick off St Andrews in style.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Old Course Hotel
Carnoustie Golf Hotel
Carnoustie Golf Hotel seen from the links.
Carnoustie Golf Hotel: one of the toughest tests
Carnoustie Golf Hotel stands behind the final green at Carnoustie, a course many consider the hardest on the Open rota. You can play it the day you check in.
There is a spa and a pool, which you will need after a round here. For golfers who want to measure themselves against one of the greats.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Carnoustie Golf Hotel
The west coast and Loch Lomond
The west coast has Royal Troon, an Open venue, and the lochs just north of Glasgow.
Marine Troon
Marine Troon stands right beside the links on the west coast.
Marine Troon: views over Royal Troon
Marine Troon stands beside Royal Troon on the west coast, host of The Open in 2024, with the Firth of Clyde and the Isle of Arran on the horizon. From the hotel you look across the links to the sea.
Glasgow Prestwick Airport is close by, and several of the Ayrshire links are a short drive away. A good base for a golf week on the west coast.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Marine Troon
Cameron House
The Carrick course runs along Loch Lomond at Cameron House.
Cameron House: golf on the shores of Loch Lomond
Cameron House sits on the banks of Loch Lomond, just over half an hour from Glasgow, with The Carrick course running along the water. Many holes look across the loch to the hills beyond.
It is a big hotel, with a spa, several restaurants and boat trips on the loch. A good choice for couples and families combining golf with a weekend on the edge of the Highlands.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Cameron House
The Highlands and islands
Further north and west the journeys get longer, but so do the golfers' wish lists.
Royal Golf Hotel
From the lounge at the Royal Golf Hotel you look straight out over the course at Dornoch.
Royal Golf Hotel: beside Royal Dornoch
The Royal Golf Hotel stands right beside Royal Dornoch, one of Scotland's most celebrated courses, far north in the Highlands. Beyond lie the Dornoch Firth and long, empty beaches.
It is a long way north, but many golfers say the course alone is worth the trip. For anyone combining golf with a Highland road trip.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Royal Golf Hotel
The Machrie
The Machrie under a full moon on Islay.
The Machrie: links and whisky on Islay
The Machrie is on Islay, the island famous for smoky whisky, with a links course laid out between the dunes and the beach. You arrive by plane from Glasgow or by ferry.
Between rounds you can visit the distilleries around the island. For golfers who want something out of the ordinary and like to end the day with a dram.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Machrie
When to go
May to September brings long light days, and in June you can play late into the evening.
Book tee times early at the famous courses, especially in summer.
Choose a flexible rate, because the weather changes and plans often follow.
Good to know
Many of the best-known courses ask for a handicap certificate and set aside times for visitors. Gleneagles in Perthshire is a famous golf resort but cannot be booked through us.
Heading to The Open at St Andrews in July 2027? We have a dedicated guide. See hotels for The Open.
Our first choice in Scotland
The Marine North Berwick
The Marine is the golf hotel we would pick first in Scotland. It stands above the West Links at North Berwick, with the sea and the Bass Rock just beyond, and the first tee is a short walk away. Muirfield, Gullane and the rest of the East Lothian courses are close by, and the train to Edinburgh takes about half an hour. That makes it as good for a serious golf week as for a trip that leaves room for the city.
Golf in Scotland: your questions answered
Where should I stay for a golf trip to Scotland?
Stay in East Lothian or Fife to play plenty of classic links, at The Marine North Berwick or the Old Course Hotel for example. The west coast and Marine Troon suit anyone flying into Glasgow Prestwick. To combine golf with a holiday, Cameron House on Loch Lomond is a good choice.
When is the best time to play golf in Scotland?
May to September is best, with long light days and firmer courses. In June and July you can play late into the evening. Spring and autumn are quieter and often cheaper, but windier and wetter. Winter golf is possible on many links, though the days are short.
Can visitors play the Old Course and other famous links?
Yes. Most of Scotland's famous courses welcome visitors, though many ask for a handicap certificate and have set visitor times. The Old Course runs a daily ballot alongside advance bookings. Book tee times early at the most popular courses and check each club's rules.
Do I need a car for a golf trip to Scotland?
In most cases a hire car gives you the most freedom, especially if you plan to play in several regions. In East Lothian you can manage by train from Edinburgh to North Berwick. Remember that Scotland drives on the left, and check your clubs will fit in the boot.
Which are the most famous golf courses in Scotland?
The Old Course at St Andrews is the most famous, alongside the Open venues of Carnoustie, Muirfield, Royal Troon and Turnberry. Royal Dornoch in the Highlands and North Berwick in East Lothian rank highly with many golfers. Islay offers an unusual links at The Machrie.