St. Andrews - Kingsbarn - 7126 yards
The Kingsbarns Golf Links site has long been known for its intimate connection with the sea.

The fact that its golf origins date back to 1793 is testimony to the attributes of the site which foster ideal conditions for links turf to flourish amid interesting natural terrain. This unique part of East Fife has sandy soils, undulating ridges and hollows, Cambo burn running into the sea, all set immediately against the rugged coastline of the North Sea.

Used for the Dunhill Links Trophy in 2001 and 2002, together with Carnoustie and St.Andrews Old, the course is to be used again in 2003 for the same tournament

Carnoustie & North East - Carnoustie - 6941 yds
Welcome to Carnoustie Country
St Andrews has history, Prestwick has character, Muirfield is classy, Dornoch has charm, Turnberry is pretty and Carnoustie is 'A great big shaggy monster'.

The description, we add, is not ours but we know that it has been said as a compliment. Mountaineers want to scale the highest peaks and golfers the world over want to play Carnoustie simply because it is the ultimate golfing challenge. Hagan said it and Hogan proved it.

The golf links is the mightiest of courses which rewards good play and punishes poor play severely. What makes Carnoustie great is it's vastness and length, that can be stretched to over 7400 yards, and the scale and severity of it's hazards. Famous for 'Hogan's Alley', the 'Spectacle' bunkers and the 'Barry' burn which runs through the course. Tom Watson was a winner here in 1975 and Scotland's own Paul Lawrie lifted 'The Claret Jug' in 1999.

St. Andrews - The Old Course - 6933 yards
The home of golf. Golf was being played here 100 years before Columbus sailed to America and two centuries before Shakespeare wrote Hamlet and Macbeth. Historically, spiritually and architecturally every golf course in the world owes something - if not it's very existence - to the Old Course at St Andrews. step onto the first tee and the aura is overwhelming. The world's greatest golfers have trodden the hallowed ground of the Old Lady of St Andrews. The rippling fairways can both frustrate and perplex whilst the sheer scale of the renowned double greens, some more than an acre in size, occasionally demoralize.

The Old Course doesn't resemble any other links. Experience all the famous aspects of the course such as The Swilken Burn; Granny Clarks Wynd; The Cavernous Beardies, Kitchen, Benty and Grave Bunkers. The Coffins, a series of pot bunkers lurk in the center of the thirteenth fairway. Navigate The Elysian Fields, a narrow strip of fairway on the 14th between The Beardies and the enormous Hell Bunker. Then of course comes the 17th Road Hole, arguably the most well known hole in golf and some have said, the toughest. Send your drive over the old tram sheds of The Old Course Hotel then attempt to negotiate the Road Hole bunker in front of the green. Many famous players have tried and failed.

The players and winners who have graced this course are too numerous to mention but ancient and timeless though she may be the Old Lady knows how to pick her champions. A must for all golfers. If you wish to play The Old Course it is a rule of The St Andrews Links Committee that you must play at least one of the other courses.

Turnberry & West - Royal Troon - 7097yds
Created in combination with the best of links course ingredients and the expertise of Braid, McKenzie and Pennick, the Old course is an exceptionally demanding one and recognised as one of the sternest tests on the Open Championship rota. This course is perhaps most famous for its par 3 8th hole, the Postage Stamp, where veteran Majors champion Gene Sarazen got down in 1 and 2 on subsequent rounds of the 1973 Open Championship - a dramatic display of golf watched by millions on TV.

The course is undulating in the classic links fashion but danger lurkes in the guise of wind, rough and bunkers. This is a course which demands courage and a test of the mental aspects of golf. Course record of 64 is held by Greg Norman from the 1989 Open

Turnberry & West - Turnberry
For countless thousands of players the world over, Turnberry is simply the finest golfing destination of all.

The scene of some of the most remarkable moments in Open history, the legendary Ailsa is complemented by the dynamic challenges of the new Kintyre championship course.

With the famous hotel on your left, the magnificent Ailsa Craig away to your right and a whole new set of challenges ahead, there are few feelings in world golf to match those experienced at the first tee of the legendary Ailsa or highly acclaimed Kintyre course.

The Highlands - Royal Dornoch - 6514 yds
It has a reputation for being a Mecca for golfers over the centuries created in 1877 by Old Tom Morris.

Many people believe the par-3s to be the finest set in Britain. That may be too much praise, although certainly the 6th, set hard against a wall of gorse, is superb.
Most of the holes run over undulating terrain and the 3rd, 5th and 17th are played off highly elevated tees with cracking views, but it is less quirky than a links with this much tradition might be, although there are plenty of lumps and bumps and tricky greens.

It is tough, especially when the wind picks up, good fun, and it is a course that many rave over. Given a fair day, it is an experience to savour and one to add to your scrapbook.