Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Scotland's (and the world's) oldest course is at Musselburgh and its oldest club is the
Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers at Muirfield, founded in 1744. The Royal and
Ancient of St Andrews, which became the game's governing body, was founded in 1754.
Golf as we know it today really evolved in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Le-
gendary figures such as James Braid and Old Tom Morris designed courses all around the
country; the latter was a founding figure of the Open Championship and won it four times.
What are Links?
Most of Scotland's courses are known as links. These seaside courses where modern golf
was born present unique challenges with their undulating fairways, rough, vertical
bunkers and enormous greens that can look like the Scottish Highlands in miniature.
There's one sound you won't hear in links golf - that demoralising thud as your otherwise
perfect drive meets a tree hazard. They're usually treeless, with gorse, heather and ma-
chair making up the vegetation. But that's not to say that these typical, historic, seaside
courses are easy. Far from it.
These largely unplanned courses lie on sandy uncultivable ground between the fields
and the sea and follow the contours of the land. They are at the mercy of the weather: on a
sunny day you can post flattering scores, but a healthy sea breeze means that your ap-
proach into that green had better be well planned. It pays to listen to locals.
CATRIONA MATTHEW, SCOTTISH PROFESSIONAL GOLFER,
WINNER OF THE 2009 WOMEN'S BRITISH OPEN
What is your favourite course in Scotland? And why?
St Andrews is my favourite. The course gets better
every time you play it. It is easy to appreciate how naturally it fits into the land with bunkers that are positioned
perfectly and the history associated with the course makes it a thrill to play for every level of golfer.
What's different about golf in Scotland compared with other countries?
Golf in Scotland is all about playing
courses that fit into the natural landscape, that are designed to be played in all types of weather conditions. The
welcome is always second to none and virtually every course in the country is accessible to visitors.
What's the most scenic course in Scotland?
I believe the most scenic course in Scotland is North Berwick West
Links. It also happens to be my home course and the views in my opinion are even better than Pebble Beach in
California.
Where would you recommend playing for a high handicapper who wants to experience Scottish golf
without posting 130?
An ideal course for a high handicapper is Gullane number 3. It is a great little course with
par around 65. The views are as good as the main course (Gullane number 1) and it is still challenging.
