| Scotland plays host a large number of golf courses, | | | | afterwards, your wallet in order to slake your thirst |
| several of which are so renowned that they form | | | | at the 19th hole. |
| part of the golf course rotation for the British Open | | | | Carnoustie is situated in the Angus region of |
| championship; one of the game’s four major | | | | Scotland, and represents a tough test for even the |
| championships. | | | | best golfer. It last held the Open in 2007, which was |
| From its inception in 1860 the British Open was | | | | won by Ireland’s Padraig Harrington. Like all |
| organised by and played at Prestwick Golf Club in | | | | courses on the Open list, Carnoustie is a links golf |
| Ayrshire, Scotland but from 1872 the tournament | | | | course, and is very difficult when the wind blows! |
| was played according to a rotating course schedule. | | | | For St. Andrews, book a golf break in Fife. The Old |
| Initially, the schedule featured three courses – | | | | Course is known as the ‘home of golf’ and |
| Prestwick, St. Andrews and Musselburgh which were | | | | is perhaps the most famous golf course in the world |
| all situated in Scotland. However, in 1893, two | | | | and hosts the Open every fifth year and is due to |
| additional golf courses were added to the list – | | | | return in 2010. Beware of the infamous |
| both in England. These courses were Royal St. | | | | ‘Roadhole bunker’! |
| George’s and Royal Liverpool Golf Club, also | | | | For Royal Troon and Turnberry Ailsa, look for a golf |
| known as Hoylake. Both these courses feature on | | | | break in Ayrshire. The Ayrshire coast has many other |
| the current rotation along with St. Andrews, although | | | | golf courses besides and Turnberry Ailsa will be the |
| Prestwick and Musselburgh are no longer part of the | | | | scene of the 2009 British Open. Some of the most |
| schedule. | | | | memorable Open finales have been played on |
| Since 1893, other golf courses have been added to | | | | Ayrshire’s Open venues, including the 1977 |
| the rotation while others have been dropped. In all | | | | ‘Duel in the Sun’ at Turnberry, where Tom |
| there are nine golf courses which make up the | | | | Watson and Jack Nicklaus went head-to-head for the |
| current list of venues; 5 in Scotland and 4 in England. | | | | championship. |
| In Scotland, the courses which form the Open | | | | Murfield is situated in the town of Gullane, to the |
| rotation are the Old Course, St. Andrews; Carnoustie | | | | east of Edinburgh and is one of the oldest golf |
| Golf Links; Muirfield; Turnberry Ailsa and Royal Troon. | | | | courses in the UK. Muirfield is considered to be the |
| Golfers looking to tackle these and other courses in | | | | fairest test of all the Open venues, although it is far |
| their immediate area can do so by booking a Scottish | | | | from being an easy course to play. Two circuits of |
| golf break which offers the chance for handicap | | | | nine holes rotate in opposite directions with the back |
| golfers to walk in the footsteps of some of the | | | | nine looping inside the front nine, meaning no two |
| games most illustrious players, such as Jack Nicklaus, | | | | consecutive holes are played in the same wind |
| Tom Watson, Ben Hogan, James Braid, Sandy Lyle | | | | direction. Golfers looking to take on Muirfield’s |
| and Tiger Woods. | | | | challenge should Explore Edinburgh golf breaks and in |
| Each of the golf courses on the Scottish rotation are | | | | particular the East Lothian region for a Muirfield golf |
| easily accessible from Scotland’s major airports | | | | tour, but be aware that the club only allows a certain |
| and golf breaks in Scotland normally include travel | | | | number of visitors during the week so if Muirfield is |
| costs, accommodation and green fees for the course | | | | on your list of courses to play, it’s always best |
| so all you need once you arrive is your golf clubs and | | | | to check beforehand that you will have the chance. |