how many golf course in scotland

by Jacinthe Schroeder DVM 10 min read

550 golf courses

What are the most famous golf courses in Scotland?

To many golfers, the Old Course at St Andrews, an ancient links course dating to before 1574, is considered to be a site of pilgrimage. There are many other famous golf courses in Scotland, including Carnoustie, Gleneagles, Muirfield, Balcomie and Royal Troon.

How many golf courses are there in the UK?

There are now more than 550 golf courses throughout the country, with at least 21 courses in Edinburgh alone. The 18th hole at Carnoustie, Angus, Scotland. When James VI succeeded to the thrones of England and Ireland in 1603 (see Union of the Crowns) a large number of his Scottish courtiers followed him to London.

How many courses are there in Scotland?

Scotland has 587 courses. The highest concentrations are around Glasgow (94 courses) and Edinburgh (67 courses), since these two cities and their environs account for the bulk of the population. But the other districts still average about 40 courses each. Even the distant northern islands have 14 options.

What is the governing body for golf in Scotland?

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, known as the R&A, is the world governing body for the game (except in the United States and Mexico). The Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association was founded in 1904 and the Scottish Golf Union (SGU) in 1920.

How many 18 hole golf courses are there in Scotland?

Due to the status of St Andrews as the 'home of golf', other courses followed suit and the 18 hole course became the standard which has remained to the present day. There are now more than 550 golf courses throughout the country, with at least 21 courses in Edinburgh alone.

How many golf courses are there in Scotland 2021?

550 golf coursesHow many golf courses are there in Scotland? There are 550 golf courses in Scotland.

How many golf courses are there in Scotland alone?

5. Today there are over 450 golf courses in Scotland (of which over two-thirds are 18-hole). The provision of 18-hole courses per head of population (1:12,900) is higher than any other part of the UK and most of the world.

How many golf courses are there in Scotland per capita?

Scotland has one golf hole for every 568 people which is approximately one 18-hole golf course for every 10,000 inhabitants. It is believed that half of Scotsmen own golf clubs and about 10% of the women, which means one course per 3,000 potential golfers.

What is the largest golf course in Scotland?

Dukes CourseDukes Course Played from the tips, this is the longest golf course in Scotland and will out even the most talented players to the test.

How many royal golf courses are there in Scotland?

The 64 clubs, in alphabetical order, are: Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, founded in 1745, granted Royal patronage by William IV in 1834. Royal Aberdeen, founded in 1780, granted Royal patronage in by Edward VII in 1903 (although Leopold had given patronage in 1872 without the “Royal” title being applied).

Why does Scotland have so many golf courses?

Scotland is the Birthplace of Golf The modern game of golf was born in Scotland, and the first 18 hole course and the rules were both formed in the country. It is widely believed that St Andrews is where the first reference of golf was found, and this dates back all the way to 1552.

Is Scotland the birthplace of golf?

Golf originated from a game played on the eastern coast of Scotland, in an area close to the royal capital of Edinburgh. In those early days players would attempt to hit a pebble over sand dunes and around tracks using a bent stick or club.

How many 9 hole golf courses are there in Scotland?

Of Scotland's 547 courses, 29% are 9 hole courses.

Which country has the most golf courses?

Europe has a total of 8,940 courses with 151 currently under development. That's just over half the amount in the USA which is home to a whopping 16,752, 43% of the world's supply. In second place in Europe is Germany, with a total below half of that in England, at 1,050 golf courses.

Which county has the most golf courses?

Florida. The part of the state that has the most golf courses is in Palm Beach County which is in the southeast part of Florida. The county actually has the most golf courses out of any county in the entire United States!

What country has largest number of golf courses?

England is far and away the number one golfing country in Europe; home to 2,270 golf courses, more than every country in the world barring USA, Japan and Canada. England has a total of 31,620 golf holes, and the study also revealed that 25% of courses in GB and Ireland are 9 holers.

How many holes are there in the old golf course?

The Old Course originally consisted of twenty-two holes, eleven out and eleven back. On completing a hole, the player teed up his ball within two club lengths of the previous hole, using a handful of sand...

Which country is the home of golf?

Scotland the home of golf. As Turnberry is to Ayrshire and Gleneagles is to Perthshire, Castle Stuart has been conceived...

What is the toughest golf course in the world?

Carnoustie Golf Links. Carnoustie is considered by many to be the toughest of all the Open links courses. Walter Hagen described it as ' A great big shaggy monster' going on to praise it as the greatest golf course in the British... The Old Course originally consisted of twenty-two holes, eleven out and eleven back.

When was Kingsbarns Golf Links opened?

Kingsbarns Golf Links was opened in 1999 to such acclaim that some experts think it may well be on the Open rosta within ten years. It is a true links course with views of the sea from almost every hole....

When was Prestwick Golf Club founded?

Prestwick Golf Club was founded in 1851 by a group of members who met at the Red Lion Inn, Prestwick. A Colonel Fairlie of Coodham brought Old Tom Morris to Prestwick from St.Andrews to be Keeper of the... Discover More.

When was the King's Course opened?

The King's Course, opened in 1919, is a masterpiece of design which has tested the aristocracy of golf, both professional...

Is Scotland the home of golf?

Scotland the home of golf. As Turnberry is to Ayrshire and Gleneagles is to Perthshire, Castle Stuart has been conceived to be for the Highlands - a beacon reaching out to golfers throughout the world.

How many golf courses are there in Scotland?

One thing is certain — the game of golf as we know it was born in Scotland". Scotland has 587 courses. The highest concentrations are around Glasgow (94 courses) and Edinburgh (67 courses), since these two cities and their environs account for the bulk of the population.

What is the oldest golf course in Scotland?

To many golfers, the Old Course at St Andrews, an ancient links course dating to before 1574, is considered to be a site of pilgrimage. There are many other famous golf courses in Scotland, including Carnoustie, Gleneagles, Muirfield, Kingsbarns, Turnberry and Royal Troon.

What is the spelling of golf in the 1470 Act?

The 1470 Act, in the reign of James III, again uses the spelling golf, but the 1491 Act, in the reign of James IV, spells it gouff'. code: gla promoted to code: gd. ; and variants such as gowf. code: gla promoted to code: gd.

What is the R&A golf club?

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, known as the R&A, was the world governing body for the game (except in the United States and Mexico). The R&A, a separate organisation from the club, was created in 2004 as the governing body.

Why is golf important in Scotland?

Golf is a vital part of Scotland’s economy and vitally important to our nation’s psyche.

Where does the word "golf" come from?

The Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue gives the etymology of the word golf or gouf (with many alternative spellings) as probably from the Dutch kolf (see Kolven, a Dutch indoor ballgame); although the dictionary also records the noun golf (with alternative spellings golfe or golph) as deriving from Middle English golf or goulf or Old French golfe, meaning "a deep pool or hollow; an abyss"; a cognate of modern English gulf.

When was golfball first used?

Golfball: first recorded as a term in 1545 (although also referred to in the 1503-1504 Treasury account) - "Three dossoun and thre goif bawis". Drive: first recorded in 1583 - " Ane golf staff to driffe the ball vithe all".

How many golf courses are there in Scotland?

There are 614 golf courses in Scotland, according to the R&A's 2019 Golf Around the World release. Of the UK/Ireland nations, England is top with 2,270 courses, Ireland is third behind Scotland with 494 and Wales is fourth with 186 courses.

Why is Scotland the home of golf?

The first definitive record of golf comes from Scotland – a 1457 statute of Scottish King, James II that specifically forbade the playing of “golfe.” Scotland is home to the world's oldest golf club, which is 'The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers', formed in 1744. The HCEG currently plays out of Muirfield in East Lothian.

How many par 5s are there in the golf course at the Swilcan Bridge?

Seven double greens, only two short holes and only two par-5s; the Road Hole and the Swilcan Bridge give this course more history than any other.

What is the most famous golf course in the world?

St Andrews (Old) The most famous course in the world – simply a must play for every golfer. Seven double greens, only two short holes and only two par-5s; the Road Hole and the Swilcan Bridge give this course more history than any other.

How many yards is the 13th to 15th hole?

The 13th to 15th is one of the most famous stretches in golf with the final hole of the three, a 192 -yard par-3 being one of the most copied in the world.

How many yards is the Trump International Golf Links?

The 205-yard par-3 at the Trump International Golf Links. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)

What is the front nine of the golf course?

The course largely runs in two loops, the front nine is clockwise around the outside with the back nine sitting in the centre . It means varying wind is a huge factor. This complete golfing test never fails to deliver.

How many golf courses are there in Scotland?

The finest courses in the world. There are over 550 golf courses in Scotland today. Along a short stretch of coastline running from Largs to Ayr there is an endless procession of fairways including some of the finest links courses in the world: Turnberry, Royal Troon, Kilmarnock Barassie, Old Prestwick, Bogside, Glasgow and Western Gailes, ...

What are some interesting facts about golf in Scotland?

Top 10 facts about golf in Scotland. 1. The birthplace of golf. The first record of golf in Scotland dates back to the 15th century. In 1457 , golf was banned by parliament as it was seen as a distraction from military training. The ban was repealed in 1502 and King James IV made the first documented purchase of golf clubs in the same year.

Where is Old Tom's golf course?

Old Tom's work can be seen at Carnoustie, Nairn and Old Dornoch in Scotland, as well as Lahinch, Co. Clare in Ireland and Royal County Down in Northern Ireland. 4. "The finest parcel of land". The PGA Centenary Course, created by Jack Nicklaus, is considered a modern classic.

Who is the most successful golfer in the Ryder Cup?

The most successful Ryder Cup player. Scottish golfers have historically been well represented in The Ryder Cup. George Duncan of Aberdeenshire featured in the first three Ryder Cups, captaining Great Britain to its first victory in 1929.

Who was the first golf course architect?

Pioneer in course architecture. One of the first great exponents of golf course was Thomas Mitchell 'Old Tom' Morris, Sr. of St Andrew's (not to be confused with son and fellow golfer, Young Tom Morris).

Who said when the Open is in Scotland, there's really something special about it?

If you ask any golfer to point you to the home of golf, all will point in one direction. Jack Nicklaus is quoted as saying "When the Open is in Scotland, there's really something special about it."

How many golf courses are there in Perthshire?

Around forty golf clubs and societies come under the auspices of Perth & Kinross County Golf Union and many of these clubs operate from little 9-hole courses tucked away in the glens of the Perthshire hills.

How many golf courses are there at St Andrews in Scotland?

There are six golf courses in St Andrews alone – seven if you count The Castle Course, just outside.

How big is St Andrews golf course?

St Andrews Links takes up almost 300 hectares and The Castle Course almost 90 hectares. More than 230,000 rounds of golf are played on the seven courses each year with around 45,000 being played on the Old Course alone.

How much does it cost to play at St Andrews?

Depending on the exchange rate, the 2018 green fee to play the Old Course is 180 pounds, which is about $250.

What is the oldest golf course in the world?

St Andrews Old Course The Old Course is the oldest golf course in the world. The first documented rounds of golf here date back to 1552 and since then the course has become the most famous golf course in the world and an absolute must for any golf fan.

Is the British Open always at St Andrews?

The Open Championship has always been held on a coastal links golf course in Scotland, England or Northern Ireland. The hosting pattern has been: 1860–1870: Prestwick Golf Club the sole host. Future venues.

Where is the PGA Championship held?

The PGA Championship - one of four major annual tournaments - is being held at Kiawah Island, in South Carolina in May 2021.

How many golf courses does Donald Trump own?

Trump, a keen player and follower of golf, owns no fewer than 17 golf courses across the world, including ones in Aberdeen and Turnberry. His Aberdeen course, designed by Martin Hawtree, possesses views of towering dunes, vast valleys and the jagged coastline of the North Sea.

Why was the PGA removed from Bedminster?

The move from Bedminster does not mark the first time the PGA has moved an event away from a course owned by Trump. The Trump National in Los Angeles was stripped of the 2015 Grand Slam of Golf due to controversial remarks about Mexican immigrants made by Trump.

How many Open Championships has Turnberry hosted?

While Turnberry has been home to four memorable Open Championships, including 1977’s Nicklaus vs. Watson ‘Duel in the Sun’, and its ocean holes are set next to an iconic lighthouse.

Where does Donald Trump play golf?

His organisation, Trump Golf, owns a vast collection of golf courses across the world from right here in Scotland, to Ireland, America and Dubai.

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Overview

Golf course evolution

Golf courses have not always consisted of eighteen holes. The St Andrews Links occupy a narrow strip of land along the sea-shore). As early as the 15th century, golfers at St Andrews established a trench through the undulating terrain, playing to holes whose locations were dictated by topography. The course that emerged featured eleven holes, laid out end to end from the clubhouse to the far end of …

Etymology

The word golf was first recorded in the 15th century, appearing twice in an Act of the Scots Parliament of 6 March 1457, in the reign of James II. The Act, which ordered the holding of wappenschaws (English: musterings) four times a year for the purpose of archery practice, stated that "the fut bal ande the golf" (football and golf) were to be "vtterly criyt done" (condemned; lit. "cried down") and "noc…

Origins

The exact origins of the sport of golf are unclear. The most widely accepted theory is that the modern game of golf originated in Scotland in the High Middle Ages. The first golf courses and clubs were established in the country. The first written rules originated in Scotland, as did the establishment of the 18 hole course. The first tournament structures developed and competitions were hel…

Spreading the game outwith Scotland

When James VI succeeded to the thrones of England and Ireland in 1603 (see Union of the Crowns) a large number of his Scottish courtiers followed him to London. The King resided at Greenwich Palace, and there is documentary evidence that some of these Scottish noblemen played golf on Blackheath, on the hill behind the palace. Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, the king's eldest son, was playing golf in 1606. The Royal Blackheath Golf Club traces its origins from these Scottish n…

Players

Several Scots golfers are members of the World Golf Hall of Fame. Players marked * are also members of the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame:
• Willie Anderson* (1879–1910)
• Tommy Armour* (1894–1968)
• James Braid* (1870–1950)

See also

• Sport in Scotland
• Scottish Golf Union
• British Golf Museum
• Timeline of golf history (1353-1850)
• Timeline of golf history (1851-1945)

Further reading

• 2010, 18 Greatest Scottish Golf Holes, 18 Greatest
• Browning, Robert, 1955, A History of Golf, A & C Black, London
• Campbell, Malcolm, 2001, The Scottish Golf Book, Lomond Books
• Clark, Robert, 1875 and 1893, Golf: A Royal and Ancient Game, EP Publishing