Planning a golf trip to Scotland
The practical side of a Scottish golf trip: what to do about your clubs, how to get around, and how long it really takes to get from the airport to the first tee.
1. Your golf clubs: fly, ship or hire?
Flying with your clubs. Most airlines charge for golf bags, and they can arrive late or damaged. A hard travel case helps, and check your airline’s sporting-equipment rules before you book.
Shipping them ahead. Club-shipping services collect from home and deliver to your hotel. It’s convenient, but you’ll need to send them several days early and pay each way.
Hiring in Scotland. A matched set delivered to your hotel means you travel light and there’s nothing to lose in transit. See our club hire prices.
2. Getting around: drive or be driven?
Scotland drives on the left, and many of the best links are reached on narrow coastal roads. After an overnight flight, that’s a lot to take on. A hire car also means someone in the group has to stay off the whisky at the 19th hole.
A private driver removes all of that, and for a group of four the cost per person is often closer to a hire car than people expect. See our hosted golf days.
3. How far are the courses from the airports?
Approximate journey times by road. Allow longer at peak times.
| From | To | About |
|---|---|---|
| Glasgow Airport | Royal Troon, Prestwick | 45 minutes |
| Glasgow Airport | Loch Lomond | 30 minutes |
| Glasgow Airport | Turnberry | 1 hour 15 minutes |
| Glasgow Airport | Gleneagles | 1 hour |
| Glasgow Airport | St Andrews | 2 hours |
| Glasgow Airport | Carnoustie | 2 hours |
| Edinburgh Airport | St Andrews | 1 hour |
| Edinburgh Airport | North Berwick, Gullane | 45 minutes |
4. Where to base yourself
Ayrshire is the easiest first trip: Royal Troon, Prestwick, Western Gailes and Dundonald are all within minutes of each other and under an hour from Glasgow Airport, with Turnberry further south.
St Andrews and Fife is the Home of Golf, with the Old Course, Kingsbarns and Crail. Many groups split a week between the west and east coasts.
East Lothian has a string of links along the Firth of Forth, close to Edinburgh. The Highlands reward a longer trip, with Royal Dornoch, Nairn and Brora.
5. When to go
The main season runs from May to September, with long daylight hours in June and July. Spring and autumn are quieter and often better value, but pack waterproofs whenever you come. Scottish weather can change hole by hole.
Questions
Should I bring my golf clubs to Scotland or hire them?
If you want to travel light and avoid airline fees and damage risk, hiring a set delivered to your hotel is usually easiest. If you’re very attached to your own clubs, bring them in a hard case.
Is it hard to drive to golf courses in Scotland?
Scotland drives on the left and many links are reached on narrow country roads. Many visiting groups prefer a private driver so everyone can relax.
How far is St Andrews from Glasgow Airport?
About two hours by road. From Edinburgh Airport it is about an hour.
What is the best time of year for a golf trip to Scotland?
May to September is the main season, with the longest days in June and July. Spring and autumn are quieter and often better value.
Plan your journey
Tell us your dates, courses and group size. We reply within one working day with a clear quotation.