Course: St. Andrews Golf Course (Jubilee) - St. Andrews

While there is no denying the fact that the Old Course at St. Andrews is the track all golf pilgrims want to pay their regards to, the nearby Jubilee Course at St. Andrews holds its own with aplomb. Out of all the five courses at the club, the Jubilee Course is regarded as being the toughest and certainly not hidden under the shadow of its more prominent precursor.

The Jubilee course started out life as a 12-hole track, opening for play on Queen Victorias Diamond Jubilee in 1897 and hence getting its name - Jubilee. Originally designed by John Angus, the Jubilee Course boasted of proper 18-holes by 1905. The layout was radically altered by Willie Auchterlonie in 1946 and finally raised to championship standards by Donald Steel in 1988.

Carved out of a narrow sliver of land between the Sea and The Old Course, the Jubilee Course has hosted major events like Scottish Amateur Strokeplay Championship during the 1990s. Its layout spread over 6,742 yards plays for a par of 72 and proves a worthy adversary to even the most skilled player. Set in the traditional out and back layout, the front nine is significantly different and shorter in length than the back nine. However, there is no dearth of interesting holes here and the 3rd, 4th and 6th pose a tough challenge. Well kept greens are protected by heavy bunkering and a wayward shot is sure to get a rap on the knuckles.

The homeward bound nine are placed on rolling but tight fairways that could easily lead your ball into an out of bounds patch in several places. There is variety in holes that demand accuracy in some places and brutal long shots in others. The accompanying scenic view of the St. Andrews Bay from the raised tees is fascinating and the layout is beautiful with a strong personality making it a pleasurable experience.

If youre going to Scotland, you drink beer; you visit the castles and hunt for the Nessie and you play a round at the Royal Troons Old Course. That is, unless you want to commit sacrilege! A true test of a golfers skills, The Old Course at the Royal Troon is considered one of the toughest courses in the world.

Ranked as one of the best links golf courses in the world, Royal Troon was designed by Willie Fernie and George Straith in 1878. Fernie created a layout that owns the toughest back nine on the Open Championship circuit, which the club has hosted a total of seven times, the most recent being in 2004.

There is a whiff of history rising from every hole on this 7,150 yards layout. The course that has seen golf greats like Arnold Palmer, Bobby Locke and Tom Weiskopf triumph on its grounds challenges a player to his limits. Designed to let none get away easy; The Old Course offers relatively easy opening holes to an adept player. However, the narrow fairways require accurate tee shots and a refined touch is needed on the small greens.

Heavy, trick bunkering makes for a good game on the front nine but the real trouble starts on the famous back nine. Intense northwesterly winds and a rap on the knuckle for wayward shots are the main highlights and the most demanding holes are the 7th to the 13th.

Relief comes in the form of breathtaking views of the Ailsa Craig and imposing mountains on the Isle of Arran adding to the beauty of the game. Ultimately, The Royal Troon is a satisfying experience for the discerning golfer who wants to keep his skill level scaled upwards.

That the Royal Dornoch Club is mesmerizing is a foregone conclusion but only the hardiest and the most dogged golfer finds that out for himself. Why such qualities are needed? It takes about five hours and a lot of perseverance to reach the town of Dornoch from Glasgow itself! Still, golfers pursue this Highland golfing jewel, consistently in the top world 20 because it is an experience of a lifetime. Topping every golfers wish list, the Royal Dornochs Championship Course at 6,732 yards affords a moment of pure exultation. You know you are playing one of Old Tom Morris best creations and a track that has seen greats like Vardon, Locke, Crenshaw and Norman and that makes the journey worthwhile.

Golf has been played at the Royal Dornoch since 1616, much before the addition of the Royal via a decree from King Edward VII in 1906. Old Tom Morris designed the first nine in 1886 and another nine in 1904. Although the Royal Dornoch has never hosted the British Open, owing to its remote location, the fact adds to its uniqueness than be a comment on its quality.

Golf is a mind game; its you against the elements and the Royal Dornoch rewards the strategist fair and square. Carved out of stunning Scottish landscape, The Royal Dornoch looks innocent in its apparently straightforward layout and its surrounding flowering gorse. A pristine beach divides the links from the Dornoch Firth and adds to the beauty. However, let it not trick you for the sea wind can wreak havoc at its own will and the layout is a tough test of skills. Large, undulating greens and changing elevations on every hole, the most famous being the 4th, 6th and the 14th , make Donald Ross home ground a tough challenge for a skilled player.

Course: Royal Aberdeen Golf Course (Balgownie) “ Aberdeen

The Royal Aberdeen Golf Club, originally known as The Society of Golfers at Aberdeen is one of the most remarkable courses in Scotland. For one its current layout has emerged from the successive deliberations of six architects over the years originally designed by Robert & Archie Simpson, the course saw changes made by Tom Simpson, James Braid, J. H. Taylor and finally by Donald Steel. Secondly, it is the 6th oldest golf club in the world having been founded in 1780.

The game was initially played on a small strip of land between the rivers Don and the Dee. When its popularity exceeded the available space, the club, instituted in 1815, moved the course to its present location in Balgownie in 1886. Royal Aberdeen is a true links course measuring 6,850 yards par 70 and fashioned in the traditional out and back links style.

Regarded by many as possessing the finest front nine in golf, Royal Aberdeen is inseparable from the shoreline where massive sand dunes play prima donnas. The first tee is placed right near the club house from where one would have to hit hard on a fairway that stretches straight to the sea. The rest of the first nine snakes through the sand hills and valleys with the magnificent North Sea making it hard for a player to concentrate.

If the first nine holes are a true test of a golfers skills, the back nine are probably tougher. This truth is brought home especially, on the closing hole which is a wicked par 4, measuring more than 400 yards.
While the first and the last holes are the most celebrated at Royal Aberdeen, the course offers a fine selection of par 4s, par 3s and par 5. Well kept greens change in elevation often and the well-thought bunkering makes for a challenging game at the Royal Aberdeen.

Course: Prestwick Golf Club “ Prestwick

The Prestwick Golf Club was founded in 1851as a 12-hole course with Old Tom Morris as the keeper of the green. If this did not augur greater things for the course, then the British Open Championship was born at Prestwick in 1860 and raised lovingly for 13 years till it passed on to St. Andrews in 1873.

Located on the renowned golfing landscape of the Ayrshire Coast, Prestwick hosted the Championship 24 times, except for in 1871, when there no trophy to play for! The Claret Jug was purchased for a princely sum of £30 and the next championship was promptly won by Young Tom Morris who was on a winning spree.

The course was expanded by 6 holes in 1883 and the new 18-hole track has remained unaltered since then. At least seven of the original greens are still intact and are often hidden in hollows leading to blind shots or sitting on elevated grounds. The greens are fast and firm and required a skilled hand to negotiate through.

The Pow Burn makes several appearances as a water hazard on a unique set of interesting holes protected by heather and gorse. Add some wicked Scots style bunkers to the scenery and you have the recipe for a blemished scorecard. The layout is a sinuous series of holes winding in and out of rugged sand hills and undulating fairways and it is no easy walk in the garden here.

While the initial hole called the Railway is considered one of the most ferocious holes in golf, you also need to protect your game at the 3rd called the Cardinal Bunker and the blind par three 5th called the Himalayas featuring a gigantic sand dune. The rest of the 6,544 yards layout features equally unique holes each demanding a different strategy and plan. Ultimately, this classic links course is an experience unparalleled by any of its relatives and needs to be played to live and tell.