Course: Gullane Golf Club, Gullane

With the mighty Muirfield, Kilspindie, Dunbar and North Berwick vying for attention in the same space, it is a big wonder the Gullane Golf Club manages to keep its own. Put it down to the club’s colorful history or its fairly tough layout, there are few people who can stop praising this 6,466 yards par 71 links course. Crafted mostly by Mother Nature and a probably, absent architect, golf at Gullane has been played since 1650. A superb example of linksland golf, The Gullane Golf Club started in 1859 and hosts the final qualifying match for the British Open when it is held at Muirfield. This distinction is bestowed upon Gullane for its exquisite turf, a great collection of tough holes and its captivating scenic beauty. Carved out of the southern shores of the Firth of Forth in East Lothian, Gullane offers distracting views of the Lammermuir Hills and the Firth. The layout at Gullane is devoid of trees or water hazards but is still very challenging. Its hardiness comes from the gorse-filled terrain; swift, smarting winds; tight fairways, strategically placed bunkers and well protected, fast greens. The 7th hole on top of the Gullane Hill is widely regarded as its signature hole and has been described by Bernard Darwin as “one of the best views in golf”. The front nine at Gullane is an uphill task, literally, starting from the initial hole called the ‘First’. ‘Windygate’ comes next, right before the ‘Racecourse’ till you reach the celebrated 7th on top of the hill. The back nine requires even more precision as it runs downhill all the way to the finishing hole. The No.1 Course at Gullane is by all standards a great round of golf and must be experienced at least once.

Course: Gleneagles Kings – Auchterarder

The King’s Course at the Gleneagles Hotel is a charming golf course set in the mountainous terrain of Auchterarder. How this delightful course came about to be there is an interesting story. The Gleneagles Hotel was built by Donald Matheson, the manager of the Caledonian Railway Company who wanted to construct a luxury hotel that well to do railway travelers couldn’t resist. The three courses at Gleneagles were meant to be an added attraction, but today the place is more famous for its golf than the hotel. The King’s Course was designed by the five times Open Champion, James Braid and opened for play in 1919. With the Ochil Hills, the Ben Vorlich and The Trossachs forming the principal backdrops, Gleneagles is one of the best moorland tracks in Scotland. The course offers a fantastic set of holes that are carved effortlessly out of the available terrain and are spread over 6,790 yards. Playing for a par of 71, The King’s Course tests the shot-making skills of even a highly adept golfer. The fairways are sharply undulating and the greens change elevation every now and then at Gleneagles. Bunkers abound, fiercely protecting most holes and unless you can pick out the best club for every shot, a decent scorecard looks unlikely at this moorland course. One must especially beware of the tough, par 4, 466-yard 4th hole and keeping one’s wits together on the 7th featuring a tough dogleg to the left would pay handsomely. If the front nine is no party, the finishing holes 17th and 18th will make you work even harder. If you can concentrate more on the game than on the accompanying scenery, you will be rewarded well and can go back richer by a tremendous experience.

Course: Cruden Bay Golf Club, Cruden Bay

Scotland is home to some of the best golf courses in the world and Cruden Bay Golf Club lying just 23 miles north of the city of Aberdeen is a prime example. Carved out of a land owned by the Great North of Scotland Railway Company, the track at Cruden Bay was designed by Old Tom Morris in 1899 at the behest of the owners. The layout held its first professional tournament soon after opening and saw golf masters like James Braid, Ben Sayers and the eventual winner Harry Vardon participating in it.

With such credentials and patronage, it was only a matter of time before Cruden Bay would be regarded as one of the most popular courses in all of Scotland. Today it finds a sizeable fan following and is especially sought after for its challenging holes 4th, featured by The 500 World’s Greatest Golf Holes to the 7th. The back nine on this traditional links course measuring 6,395 yards par 70, is just as exciting as the front nine and one shouldn’t expect a pleasant walk back home.

The course’s rugged terrain is peppered with undulating fairways and beautifully maintained greens making surprise appearances. The layout winds its way around gigantic dunes that add a fair level of difficulty to a round of golf at Cruden Bay. Several seaside holes, starting from the elevated fourth tee offer a panoramic view of the North Sea and the pristine white beach.

As expected of a linksland course, the layout demands a sizeable fraction of blind shots and is a pleasure to play. While some changes have been inevitable, Cruden Bay has retained its natural charm and is attractive to golfers looking for a pleasurable round of golf.