July 4 – Crail Balcomie

Stunning coastal views and hugely enjoyable golf make Balcomie Links one of Scotland’s most finely polished, golfing gems.This classic links course was laid out by Old Tom Morris, the master himself. Old Tom designed the course to take maximum advantage of its exhilarating seaside location. Shots over rocky bays, long par threes with greens perched on top of vertical cliffs, shots to greens seemingly engulfed by gorse, curving par fours round sandy strands – all daring the golfer to cut off too much.Shots are made from cliff tops to greens and fairways invitingly laid out below.The layout both enchants and delights, but also demands and punishes. Balcomie tests all the skills in a golfer’s armory – as well as his nerve. Length seekers who believe Balcomie will be a soft touch, do so at their peril.

July 5 – Carnoustie Golf Links

The natural seaside links at Carnoustie are widely considered to be one of the world’s most difficult golf courses. Carnoustie is not particularly scenic, but Golf has been played here since 1527.Some 330 years later Old Tom Morris laid out an 18-hole track, upgraded by James Braid in 1926.Carnoustie has incredibly formidable bunkers.The 15th, 16th and 17th holes are often called golf’s very best closing holes.

TIP: Bring your “A” game and pray that the weather is kind.

July 6 – Old Course or Castle Course St. Andrews

The latest addition to the St Andrews Links portfolio, the Castle delivers a different view, different terrain and an entirely different test. This undulating roller-coaster of a course delivers great fun and tremendous variety.  The terrain has been sculpted to create a natural looking course with rolling fairways and severely undulating greens. Hugging the rugged coastline, the course offers stunning views out to sea and down to the historic St. Andrews town.  The wind is even more influential here due to the courses elevation.  Shot direction and strength will be key to any round here.

IMPORTANT NOTE: For today our Expanding Horizons representative will place Old Course ballots with the Royal and Ancient Golf Club for all players on this tour. If our ballot is successful, a green fee cost of GBP295 pounds per player will be collected in Scotland (2024 prices may change). A fuller explanation of the Old Course St. Andrews ballot process is found on the Itinerary page

July 7 – Kingsbarns Links

From nearly every hole at Kingsbarns the North Sea is visible.The meandering Cambo, the course’s signature Scottish burn (or stream), is lovely.The terrain here is perfect for golf, boasting rippling fairways, humps and hollows.The course design provides great variety, presenting a stiff golfing challenge balanced by generous greens and wide fairways. Kingsbarns blends all the advantages of a modern course with the traditional features of an old Scottish links track. The 12th and 15th holes are particularly memorable. with greens hard by the crashing surf that will have you reaching for your camera. Kingsbarns’ 18th hole is one of the most demanding closers in the British Isles, long and difficult.

July 9 – Kings Course – Gleneagles

The Kings Course at Gleneagles was the site of the first informal Ryder Cup, played in 1921.Legendary course architect and five-time Open winner James Braid was the victor that day.This is the perfect mountain setting in Scotland, with sweeping views of the Ochil Hills and peaks of Ben Vorlich and the Trossacks.The Kings Course has hosted the Dunhill Trophy, Curtis Cup, the Johnnie Walker Championship, Scottish Open, the Scottish PGA and the WPGA European Championship.Selecting the right club for each approach shot is the secret on the King’s. It is certainly one of the most beautiful and exhilarating places to play golf in the world, with springy moorland turf underfoot.

July 10 – PGA Centenary Course – Gleneagles

Jack Nicklaus described the PGA Centenary course as the “finest parcel of land in the world I’ve been given to work with”. Since the Golden Bear completed his design in 1993, the course has hosted the Ryder Cup 2014 and Solheim Cup 2019.This masterpiece of a course offers a stern challenge in a fabulous setting. This is the longest course in Scotland, measuring 7,300 yards from the back tees. The signature 9th hole is a classic risk and reward par-five that with an elevated tee.Players must drive between two high hillocks and a trio of clever bunkers. The green is only reachable in two for the longest of hitters but laying-up itself also poses a test, offering golfers two options – aim short of the elongated greenside pond leaving a longer third or hit into a generous area of fairway left whilst making sure another trio of bunkers are avoided.This is a great test of golf, and a fitting way to end our week in Scotland.