Scotland, June and July 2025 | EMC Golf
From the Highlands to East Lothian
In late June and early July 2025, EMC Golf led a 10 day, 7 round trip to several of the Spain’s most storied golf regions and courses. The journey moved deliberately from the Highlands through Aberdeenshire and Fife before finishing along the East Lothian coast, combining championship links golf with realistic travel distances and time to experience each location. Scotland remains the benchmark for links golf. This return trip reinforced not only the quality of the courses, but also how important pacing, geography, and accommodation choices are to building a great golf journey.
Arrival and the Highlands
After overnight flights from western Canada via the southern United States, we arrived in Scotland, collected the rental car, and departed Edinburgh for a three hour drive north to Nairn in the Scottish Highlands. The transition from city to coastline and open landscape was immediate and set the tone for the trip.
Nairn Golf Club proved to be an ideal opening round. Traditional, honest links golf with subtle contours and firm conditions that reward good positioning over power, it sets expectations properly and works exceptionally well early in a trip. The course also features one of the best halfway houses you will find anywhere, and the friendly membership went out of their way to welcome us, including a private look through the club’s historic archives, a reminder of the depth and continuity that define Scottish golf.
We stayed in town at The Aurora Hotel and Italian Restaurant, which offered clean, comfortable rooms, consistently good food, and warm, attentive service. To push through the remaining jet lag, we capped off the evening with a few late night drinks at Jackos Bar & Diner, a lively local spot that rounded out a strong first day. With golf played, travel complete, and the Highlands properly introduced, day one was officially in the books.
Royal Dornoch
The following morning, we left Nairn and made the short drive north to Dornoch, a stretch of road that offers some of the most relaxed and scenic driving in the Highlands. The pace immediately slows on arrival, and it becomes clear why Dornoch is so often described as a place that rewards patience.
Royal Dornoch continues to justify its reputation as one of the world’s great links courses. Set along the Dornoch Firth, the course is demanding without being overwhelming, with natural undulations and green complexes that require precision, creativity, and thoughtful shot making. Conditions were firm and true, and playing later in the afternoon allowed the course to open up and reveal its full character. It is a course that benefits from restraint, both in play and in scheduling, and one that should never be rushed.
We stayed at the Dornoch Castle Hotel, located just steps from the first tee. The historic setting, comfortable accommodations, and relaxed atmosphere make it an ideal base for golfers. The hotel’s whisky bar, with one of the most extensive selections in the country, provided a fitting place to unwind after the round and reflect on a day spent on one of the game’s truly special courses.
Cruden Bay and the North East
From Dornoch, the journey turned south toward Aberdeenshire and the coast near Cruden Bay. The drive is longer, but it is varied and scenic, moving from Highland landscape to open farmland before reaching the North Sea. The sense of arrival at Cruden Bay feels remote, even though it is not, and that separation adds to the experience.
Cruden Bay Golf Club is dramatic, distinctive, and unlike any other links course in Scotland. The opening holes climb and twist through towering dunes, creating a routing that is both visually striking and strategically engaging. The back nine settles into a more traditional rhythm, but the course never loses its character. Shot making is rewarded, creativity is required, and the setting is unforgettable. It is a course that leaves a lasting impression and remains one of the most memorable stops on the trip.
We stayed at the Kilmarnock Arms Hotel, a historic property with strong ties to the area’s golfing heritage. Comfortable rooms, attentive service, and a relaxed pub atmosphere made it an excellent base for exploring the region. Staying nearby keeps the experience grounded and avoids unnecessary travel, which is especially important after a round as engaging as Cruden Bay.
St Andrews and Fife
From Cruden Bay, the route continued south into Fife and St Andrews, a transition that brings a noticeable shift in energy and scale. The landscape opens up, the golfing density increases, and the sense of history becomes more concentrated. Few places in the world carry the same weight in the game.
The Castle Course provided a modern counterpoint to the traditional links found throughout the region. Elevated tees, bold sightlines, and dramatic coastal views define the experience. The course plays very differently depending on wind and conditions, encouraging decisive shot making and rewarding commitment. It is a strong complement to the classic links courses nearby and an excellent way to experience a different side of St Andrews Links.
The Old Course requires little introduction, yet it continues to surprise even the most experienced golfers. Playing it mid journey rather than as the sole focal point allowed it to be experienced in context, as part of a broader Scottish links story. The shared fairways, subtle routing, and understated greens reinforce why the course remains timeless rather than intimidating. It is a place where strategy, restraint, and awareness matter more than power, and where the game feels deeply connected to its origins.
During our stay, it was convocation week at the University of St Andrews, which made accommodations in town particularly tight. As a result, we stayed just outside town at The Inn at Lathones, a practical and comfortable base that still offers easy access to St Andrews without staying in the centre. The quieter setting provided a more relaxed start and end to each day, a meaningful advantage in a region as busy as Fife during peak season.
East Lothian and North Berwick
From St Andrews, we headed south to East Lothian, one of the most concentrated and consistently strong links golf regions in the world. The drive takes just over two hours and delivers you straight into a stretch of coastline where great golf, walkable towns, and relaxed pacing come together naturally.
We based ourselves at The Mallard Hotel, a well located and comfortable property that works extremely well for golfers. Its central position allows easy access to multiple courses while keeping evenings simple and walkable. One of the highlights was dinner at the Old Clubhouse Pub, located just steps from the hotel. A classic, welcoming spot with good food and a lively local atmosphere, it was an ideal place to unwind after a travel day and set the tone for the final stretch of the trip.
Our first round in the region was at Dunbar Golf Club. Rugged and exposed in the best way, Dunbar sits directly along the coastline and delivers a raw links experience that feels distinctly Scottish. The opening holes play out along the water, demanding focus and solid ball striking. It is an excellent introduction to East Lothian and rewards golfers who respect the conditions rather than fight them.
North Berwick followed and provided a perfect balance of history, charm, and creativity. The course is endlessly engaging, with classic features, clever green complexes, and a routing that never feels repetitive. It is challenging without being severe and manages to be both fun and demanding at the same time. Few courses leave players smiling as often as North Berwick.
The final round at Kilspindie was a fitting way to close the Scotland journey. Shorter, strategic, and full of character, Kilspindie is a reminder that great golf does not need length to be memorable. Shot placement, wind awareness, and thoughtful decision making matter far more than power. It is the kind of course that stays with you long after the round ends.
Final Thoughts
This itinerary involved more travel between regions than we would typically recommend. It was designed for a repeat group who had already experienced Scotland and were specifically seeking new courses and different parts of the country. That context shaped both the routing and the pace of the trip.
This Scotland journey reinforced several core principles of great golf travel. Routing matters. Shorter drives and a logical progression between regions meaningfully improve the overall experience. Blending marquee courses with quieter regional gems creates balance and keeps the trip from feeling one dimensional. Most importantly, allowing time to enjoy where you are, not just where you are playing, is essential.
Scotland remains unmatched for links golf, but the real value lies in thoughtful planning. When the flow is right, the experience feels immersive rather than exhausting, and the journey becomes as memorable as the golf itself.