Shiskine

This is one of our favourite hidden gems, a 12-hole wonder on the west coast of Arran. There are few places in the world where the starter hands you a sheet of A4 paper with instructions on how to survive the round! 

You have to be prepared for the number of blind shots you’ll be playing today while simultaneously keeping an eye out for the number of stop go markers, oh and don’t be expecting many shots to be played with both feet planted equally on the ground, the fairways require some dexterity. The Top 100 courses website refers to Shiskine as “golfing ground of such purity, owing only the barest influences to the hand of man, that to play here is to enjoy a unique sporting experience.” Oh and to top it all, the locals claim that the cave at the far end of the course was a hiding point for Rob Roy McGregor a famous Jacobite and occasional sheep rustler.

Machrie

Some folks head to the Island of Islay for their wonderful peaty malt whiskies and while we wouldn’t argue with that for a reason to visit the island, we have our eyes on two local hidden gems, the Islay golf club and Machrie golf links. There has been a course on the island since 1890 and at one time it was considered the longest and most difficult course to score on, it is a little more hospitable these days, but it is still a real test of links golf.  The newer course at the Machrie hotel is a stunning addition to our hidden gems with some of the most impressive sand dunes you will ever see and a host of tough blind shots that are rewarded with incredible views.

Maccihanish

For many of you Mull of Kintyre may rekindle memories of a Paul McCartney song will a full-on pipe band from the 70’s and as we take you towards that particular inspiration for the former Beatle, we visit Machrihanish, a truly mystical place in the world of golf. When he came to advise on some alterations to the course Old Tom Morris said, “providence assuredly saw this part of the country as a special earthly Paradise designed by the Almighty for playing golf.” Our trip here will be something of a pilgrimage, from your opening drive across the water you will play golf in an almost ethereal environment, where you feel part of something larger and unexplainable, or of course you could still be suffering from the inhalation of the local air which due to the distillation of the local whiskies is said to be around 30% proof…

Dunbar

We move across the country from the west to the east coast and to Dunbar, our next hidden gem. East Lothian is like Disneyland for golfers and Dunbar could be overlooked by its slightly better-known cousins in the area, but we wouldn’t recommend it. Golf goes back a long way in this part of the world and it’s said that in 1640 the local minister disgraced himself by being caught on the links on the sabbath, a heinous crime to some of our stauncher brethren. This course is often used as Open qualifier when the championship is being played at nearby Muirfield. We’ll see if we can get you a tee time on a Sunday…..

Gullane

At Gullane we are truly spoiled for choice as over the years it has evolved from the original seven holes layout in 1840 to three fabulous courses that are there now. Gullane’s No.1 course will be our next hidden gem. There has been golf played on the links here since 1650 when the local trades people would play a challenge match, at the time they shared the land with racehorse owners who would train their steeds up Gullane Hill, a problem that was only sorted after recourse to the law. Luckily many of the golfers had an interest in the law. 

The Hill has such an impact on the local landscape, when you eventually get your ball to the top of it you are rewarded with stunning views down to Dunbar on one side and the Kingdom of Fife across the Forth Estuary, where you will also be able to see the world famous road and rail bridges.