Golf Trip to Scotland: St Andrews, Carnoustie & Beyond

There is no golf destination in the world quite like Scotland. The game was born here in the 15th century on the linksland of Fife, and the courses that line this coastline — St Andrews, Carnoustie, Royal Troon, Turnberry, Kingsbarns — carry a weight of history that cannot be replicated anywhere else on earth. After planning Scotland golf trips for dozens of Chicago-area golfers and groups, here is everything you need to know to do it right.

St Andrews Old Course — The Home of Golf

Tee times on the Old Course are allocated through a daily ballot for individual visitors and through a booking system for groups. Getting a guaranteed group tee time requires advance planning and, often, a package that includes it. Going through a specialist is the most reliable way to secure your group's round. Walking the 18th fairway toward the Swilcan Bridge is something no golfer who has done it ever forgets — it is one of sport's most quietly powerful experiences.

Carnoustie — The Toughest Test

Carnoustie is the hardest of the Open Championship rota courses. The final three holes — including the closing par 4 with the Barry Burn crossing twice in front of the green — are among the most demanding finishing holes in championship golf. Groups of single-digit handicaps find this course a genuine highlight of any Scotland trip. The course does not flatter poor ball-strikers, but for golfers who can handle difficulty, no other course on the rota delivers quite the same sense of hard-won accomplishment.

Royal Troon & Turnberry

Royal Troon hosted the 2016 Open Championship. The short par-3 Postage Stamp (8th hole) is one of the most famous holes in world golf — deceptively simple in appearance, diabolically difficult in execution. Turnberry — where Nicklaus and Watson played the Duel in the Sun in 1977 — combines a spectacular coastal setting with the luxurious Ailsa Hotel. Both are world-class experiences worth building a dedicated travel day around.

Kingsbarns — Modern Links, Timeless Character

Kingsbarns is a modern links course built in 2000 but designed with an authenticity that makes it feel timeless. Perched above the sea in Fife within sight of St Andrews, it is consistently ranked among the top public-access courses in the world. The routing takes full advantage of the clifftop terrain, delivering sea views from nearly every hole and a wind exposure that demands proper links golf shot selection.

Practical Planning for Chicago Groups

Edinburgh (EDI) and Glasgow (GLA) are the two main arrival airports for Scottish golf. Most of our groups fly into Edinburgh (closer to St Andrews and Carnoustie) and depart from Glasgow (closer to Troon and Turnberry) to avoid backtracking. May through September is the ideal travel window. For peak-season tee times at St Andrews and Carnoustie, start the planning process 10–12 months in advance.

Let Us Plan Your Scotland Golf Trip

Sun & Fun Travels has placed Chicago golfers on the great links courses of Scotland for years. We manage tee time bookings, accommodation selection, ground transportation, and all logistical coordination. Call Pete at 815-409-2705 or visit our Golf Trips page. Scotland is waiting.