There’s something highly satisfying about throwing your clubs in the boot of a car and forging off on a golfing road trip. You go at your own steam, you pick your own route, you listen to your own tunes, stop when you want and where you want.
Owing to the sheer number, and density of golf courses on our Isles, the UK and Ireland offers some great opportunities to enjoy a road trip that takes in great and famous golf courses.
Over the years, I’ve been lucky enough to play in most areas of these islands and have had some highly memorable trips. Particular mention should go to an honesty box pilgrimage I took up the west coast of Scotland about 10 years ago now, and to a beautiful couple of days driving out to the stunning courses at Rosapenna in the north of Ireland.
But those two don’t quite make my top five. I’ve gone for areas where the scenery plays a role and the quality and abundance of the courses stands out. You probably wouldn’t play every course mentioned on each of these trips but you could pick and choose!
North East Scotland and The Highlands
(Image credit: Nairn Golf Club)
The North Coast 500 has received a huge amount of coverage in recent years as one of the iconic road trips, with scenery to match almost anywhere in the world.
It is certainly one of the most incredible road circuits I’ve ever been on, albeit I did it on a bicycle rather than in a sports car and many of the single-track roads on the route are really not suitable for heavy traffic or wider vehicles.
The best golf courses on the circuit are also confined to the south eastern corner of the loop.
I think a far better road trip is to start in Aberdeen where you can play the fabulous Royal Aberdeen – a course with a front nine delivering a truly exceptional run of links holes. There’s also Murcar, next door which, again, has a highly memorable run of holes along the beach side.
Further north there are spectacular dunes at Trump International Scotland and stunning views at Cruden Bay.
(Image credit: Kevin Murray)
On up the A90 past fine courses at Peterhead and Fraserburgh then west towards the tremendous Old and New Courses at Moray Golf Club in Lossiemouth where fighter jets from the Air Force base provide a fascinating distraction.
Further west there’s The Nairn Golf…
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