Big Laddie

Arrival Day 1

Fly into Edinburgh Airport and transfer to St Andrew’s. Check into the Old Course Hotel and then relax with some drinks in The Jigger Inn. Dine in splendour at The Road Hole Restaurant and get ready for tomorrow.

Play Kingsbarns Day 2

Situated just 6 miles from St Andrews Kingsbarns is an important addition to the ancient links courses in this area. One of the delights of the course is that you can see the North Sea from virtually every part of the course. Created by the vision of Kyle Philips in the late 20^th century earthmovers rumbled and shifted hundreds and thousands of tonnes of earth to create the landscape you see today, uncovering The Cambo burn as part of the work.

Kingsbarns jointly hosts The Alfred Dunhill Cup every year and has also hosted The Women’s British Open in the past few years.

Play Carnoustie Day 3

Designed in 1850 by Alan Robertson with minor changes by Mackenzie and Ebert in 2017, Carnoustie is a world-renowned links golf course. A host to The Open on seven occasions, most recently the 2018 Championship.

A very challenging links course, who can forget Jean Van de Velde’s Open demise on the 18^th hole in the Barry Burn!

Not the most scenic of courses (you rarely get glimpses of the sea), it nevertheless tests every shot in the bag on more than one occasion.

Play Old Course St. Andrews Day 4

The oldest and most iconic golf course in the world. The home of golf.

The Swilken Bridge and Hell Bunker are recognised across the globe, yet the greatest feature of the Old Course is that despite its grand status it remains a public golf course, open to all.

Play Turnberry (Ailsa Course) Day 5

Named after the third Marquess of Ailsa, who owned the land on which it was built, this par-71, 6, 7489-yard Championship course is one of golf’s storied places. Home to four Open Championships, Ailsa has shaped some of the most remarkable moments in the tournament’s history. Set alongside the glorious Ayrshire coastline, with Arran and Ailsa Craig as a stunning backdrop, it is one of the finest golfing destinations in the world. The relatively recent acquisition by Trump has seen some additional work to the course layout completed to universal acclaim.

Play Royal Troon Day 6

Troon was founded in 1878 after a meeting in the pub by a few golf enthusiasts.  Designed originally by George Strath, James Braid later modified and extended the layout.

Troon first hosted The Open in 1923 with the most recent being in 2016 when Henrik Stenson was named Champion Golfer. Troon was bestowed Royal status in 1978 (the last course to be granted such status) and is a traditional 9 out and 9 back course. So make your score on the outward nine as the inward nine is severe; often playing into the prevailing wind.

Play Western Gailes Day 7

Four Glaswegians fed up playing on muddy parkland founded the club in 1897.

More or less a nine out and nine back in, Western is a real golfing test. Gently undulating fairways are occasionally interrupted by the three meandering burns that dissect this thin strip of land. The greens are cleverly located in naturally folded ground and are fast, firm and subtly contoured. The course has been used as a final qualifier when the Open has been held at either Troon or Turnberry.

Play North Berwick West Links Day 8

The West Links in North Berwick is a one off. With nine holes out and nine holes back in and with a short par 4 18th hole that finishes in the town, it has a similar layout to the Old Course. It’s also the 3rd oldest course in the world still playing over its original fairways. The views out over the Firth of Forth are magnificent and when you come to the par 3 15th hole (Redan) you will be playing the most copied hole in golf. No wonder it is one of the most loved (and popular) golf courses in Scotland.

Play Muirfield Day 9

Muirfield is the home of The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers (HCEG) – the world’s oldest golf club (being formed in 1744). It was the first course designed with concentric rings of nine holes (the outward nine running clockwise around the edge of the course and the inward nine running anti-clockwise inside the outward nine). This layout ensures the wind hits you from all directions! Host to 15 Opens and most recently won in 2013 by Phil Mickleson. It has also played host to the 1973 Ryder Cup won by The USA.