The top 3 golf courses in Scotland
What are the top 3 golf courses in Scotland? Compiling the 2023 Scotland Rankings, the NCG Top 100 panelists have their say on this incredibly divisive issue…
The top 3 golf courses in Scotland
Jim Banting
1 turning berry (Ailsa)
2 Carnoustie
3 King Dornoch
The new holes at Turnberry add to an already unforgettable golfing experience. Carnoustie is tough but fair. Dornoch is an old master. Don’t miss Panmure with its amazing presentation and a real test for golfers of all levels.
George Oldham
1 turning berry (Ailsa)
2 Western Gailes
3 Gleneagles (King)
The Ailsa was always the prettiest. Now, after Ebert, it’s easily the best in Britain. The location and layout of Western Gailes is close to perfect. The King’s is the best of the inland courses.
Sam Cooper
1 Royal Dornoch
2 St Andrews (old)
3 Muirfield
Muirfield may be the most consistent of these three, but the highs that Dornoch offers thrill me every time I open it.
Phil Bedford
1 St Andrews (old)
2 king barn
3 Machrihan
The Old Course for history and atmosphere, Kingsbarns is a modern classic and Machrihanish is pure and secluded.
Michael Atkinson
1 Gullane (#1)
2 King Dornoch
3 The Machrie
Three great links courses in very different parts of Scotland. Each historic, full of character and with the most beautiful backdrops. Standing on the 7th tee of Gullane No 1 and looking across the water all the way back to Edinburgh’s Royal Mile on a clear summer’s evening. breathtaking.
Ed Battye
1 St Andrews (old)
2 Ascetic
3 Turnberry (Ailsa)
Although my highlight was a magical summer evening playing Elie’s links, all three contain a wealth of unique, world-class holes that will have you constantly asking different questions throughout the round.
Peter Rudd
1 St Andrews (old)
2 king barn
3 Muirfield
The Old Course has simply evolved over the centuries and has an atmosphere that is unique in the world of golf. Kingsbarns is the best modern connection and Muirfield is architecturally sublime.
Craig Morrison
1 Royal Dornoch
2 Machrihanish Dunes
3 Comrie
Dornoch is great and subtle and magnetic. Machrihanish Dunes is exciting, raw, wild and 10 years later bigger than I remembered. Comrie is none of that. But it’s just perfect.
Neil Gray
1 hole Lomond
2 king barn
3 St Andrews (old)
My highlight was seeing how much Turnberry has improved since my first visit. It has gone from one of the most disappointing – contrary to expectations – to a must see. As for my top 3, Loch Lomond is a good memory for me as I’ve acted as their PR agency, Kingsbarns is just a stunning course and the Old Course is always an amazing experience.
Josh Poysden
1 St Andrews (old)
2North Berwick
3 Turnberry (Ailsa)
My top 2 contains so many shots to look forward to before the round and think about for many months afterwards. All three are in beautiful settings. My highlight of the year was four days on the Isle of Arran playing Shiskine repeatedly over the Platinum Jubilee weekend.
Steve Caroll
1North Berwick
2 St Andrews (old)
3 Western Gailes
North Berwick is a Disneyland for golfers with iconic holes and sensational views. You have to include the old, even if I would of course tend towards the new. And Western Gailes is brutally tough and even more so in the wind but what a setting.
Sean Arble
1 Gullane #3
2North Berwick
3 bays
These courses embody the fun and creative golf that Scotland has to offer. Experiencing Gullane’s three golf courses was an additional eye opener to the convincing greens of No.3 and the club’s warm hospitality.
Gregory Webber
1 Carnoustie
2 Gleneagles (King)
3 St Andrews (old)
It’s amazing to see the incredible strength at depth and how the courses have stood the test of time. Carnoustie is my favorite venue of the Open. The tranquility and beauty of Gleneagles is something to behold. St Andrews because it is St Andrews.
Niall Flanagan
1 hole Lomond
2 St Andrews (old)
3 Eli
Loch Lomond is one of the best parkland courses in the world and is overlooked by links and heathland courses and Elie is great fun. Playing the Old Course straight after the Open with its hard fairways, tight grass and riveted bunkers in immaculate condition was just a joy.
Dan Murphy
1 Muirfeld
2 Turnberry (Ailsa)
3 Carnoustie
Muirfield is a clear #1 for me. This is a golf course distilled to its essence. The secret sauce, I think, is the greens and fairways that look flat but do just enough to sculpt angles, flight and all. Added to this are the constant changes of direction. There’s a theme here with Carnoustie at number 3 – it reflects my admiration for courses that aren’t necessarily exciting at first glance, but get better with every play.
Mike Robertson
1 St Andrews (old)
2 King Dornoch
3 Western Gailes
The Old Course exudes class and is unforgettable. Royal Dornoch for the location and uniqueness of the holes – a golf course that offers as much fun as you could ask for. Western Gailes is stunning – holes 6 and 7 are as good as golf gets.
