Golf in Scotland
Scotland is the home of golf, so it is the ambition of every serious golfer to go to Scotland and experience golf there. Golf courses in Scotland were not necessarily designed by golf architects. Some of them have taken centuries to evolve and that is why, despite technological advances, the Old Course at St Andrews is still a true test of championship golf. Ask Tiger Woods or John Daly, the last two golfers to be victorious at the British Open playing the Old Course. Neither of them would trade in their trophies or wish they had won somewhere else! But there are many other courses to play in Scotland --not only links courses, where golf was born, but the Royal and Ancient Game is also played on Scotland's glens and through her forests. The wide flat fairways, extensive bunkering, and large greens of American style golf are not the style of Scotland's courses. Inland courses have many of the characteristics of links courses with knolls, hummocks, hollows and burns all part of the character of the course. (Yes, you may have to learn some new terminology when you golf in Scotland!)
Generally, Low Season is November to April, Medium Season is May, September, October, and High Season is June-August.
Top Golf Courses, Scotland
Where to Stay, Scotland
Average Temperature: Edinburgh
| Temp | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| °C | 3.1 | 3.3 | 5.2 | 7.1 | 9.9 | 12.8 | 14.5 | 14.3 | 12.3 | 9.6 | 5.8 | 4.1 |
| °F | 37.6 | 37.9 | 44.8 | 46.6 | 49.8 | 55.0 | 58.1 | 57.7 | 54.1 | 49.3 | 42.4 | 39.4 |
Average Rainfall: Edinburgh
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| mm | 55.1 | 41.2 | 47.2 | 39.1 | 50.2 | 49.7 | 64.0 | 69.4 | 62.7 | 62.0 | 63.0 | 60.8 |
| inches | 2.2 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 2.7 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 2.4 |
Average Temperature: Glasgow
| Temp | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| °C | 3.5 | 3.8 | 5.0 | 7.3 | 10.3 | 13.3 | 14.6 | 14.2 | 12.0 | 98.9 | 5.6 | 4.1 |
| °F | 38.3 | 38.8 | 41.0 | 45.1 | 50.5 | 55.9 | 58.3 | 57.6 | 53.6 | 48.0 | 42.1 | 39.4 |
Average Rainfall: Glasgow
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| mm | 111.1 | 78.7 | 71.0 | 60.2 | 65.7 | 73.0 | 94.7 | 108.0 | 103.7 | 115.7 | 106.2 | 116.7 |
| inches | 4.4 | 3.1 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 3.7 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 4.6 |
General Information
Handicaps: Most golf courses reserve the right to ask players for handicap certificates. In most cases, the handicap limits are 28 for men and 36 for ladies. Bring your handicap certificate. You may be asked to show it, and some golf courses may refuse to let you play without it and may not refund your green fee voucher.
Tee-times: By booking your golf through Course Master Golf Holidays, you get guaranteed tee-times.
Vouchers: Ensure that you take your golf voucher to the golf club as evidence that you have pre-booked and pre-paid for your tee time. Be at the course on time, at least one-half hour before your tee time. If you miss your tee time, the golf course may consider your voucher invalid, though most will try to get you another tee time, if available.
Rain: Pack rain gear in your golf bag. If you leave the course because of rain, in most cases, you will forfeit your green fee, unless the course has been closed due to dangerous weather conditions. If you want to rearrange your golf due to rain or other bad weather conditions, some golf courses may be willing to accommodate you, subject to available tee times.
Spikes: Most golf courses in Scotland still allow metal spikes.
Dress code: Most golf courses insist on sports shirts with collars for men and women, tailored shorts or trousers, socks and golf shoes. T-shirts, football or running shorts, and denim jeans are not accepted.
Remember the rules of etiquette, and here are a few reminders:
- Allow the players immediately behind to play through, if you are holding them up.
- Repair your pitch mark and one other.
- Replace divots and rake or smooth bunkers.
- Do not leave your trolley, clubs or buggy in front of the green while you are putting.
- A round of 18 holes should
not last more than four and a half hours.