St. Andrews & Aberdeen Golf Vacation: Old & New Course, Kingsbarns & More

Scotland is known for its lush fields and rugged highlands. The North Sea shimmers dark blue and crashes against imposing cliffs. Arrive in the northern city of Aberdeen, where your private transfer is waiting at the airport. The city contains a silvery quality emanating from granite buildings from the nearby Rubislaw Quarry. The quarry is 465 feet deep and is the largest quarry on the European continent. The salty and crisp aroma of the North Sea blows in from the coastline. The contemporary lifestyle is lavish and fast-paced winding around historic streets and antique buildings.

Marischal College was constructed in the 16th century and contains an impressive façade along Broad St. The Gothic style rises perpendicular to the street and is reinforced by the neo-gothic façade, adorned with towering steeples. The city generates a pleasant, energetic atmosphere emanating from its rich history and modern wealth. Fishing trawlers return from a day’s excursion and dock in the harbor. Their masts sway in the sea’s gentle wake. Gothic towers encircle cobblestone plazas and nearby castles have defended the coastline for generations. You settle into the city eager to see the sprawling greenery of the fairway ahead.

Morning mist swirls in from the coast and adds a northern ambiance to the early hours. The aromatics of freshly brewed tea emanates from breakfast. Your accommodation offers you plenty of comforts before your round of golf. Mature woods grow across the 11 acres of the lush Scottish landscape. You make your way to the Royal Aberdeen golf course, running along the shore of the North Sea. The course was established in the 18th century and remains the sixth oldest golf course in the world. When you step out to the tee you the morning light layers the horizon. The morning mist leaves a coating of dew on the fairway.

The first hole sits against the North Sea. The pin flaps in the cool breeze. The scent of fresh grass mixes with the coastal air. The coastline rises into small cliffs where the water brushes against the craggy landscape. The coarse undulates between a fairway bordered by a canyon of sand dunes and what was once fertile farmland. The ecosystem ensures that no two holes are the same. Swing your club and listen to the resounding ping it makes when it hits the ball. The first-hole tee is in front of the clubhouse windows. The hole stretches 410 yards ahead and gets closer with every swing.

Morning at your hotel brings a combination of antique furniture and contemporary comfort. The Victorian edifice sits against the wooded backdrop. After breakfast, you make your way to Trump International Golf Links. A gilded, traditional clock marks the entrance. Golden fields encompass the roadway leading to the clubhouse. The course was constructed in 2012 but maintains classic elements of golf and décor. The hotel is situated on a historic estate. Lion statues adorn the fountain, spritzing water in the foreground of the elegant structure. The façade emanates the grace and beauty of the course. The clubhouse is simple but filled with comfort. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer a remarkable view of the course beyond the glass; leather chairs allow golfers and non-golfers to embrace their plush surroundings.

The grounds are trim and manicured. The scent of lush grass and vivacious trees rises around the grounds. The familiar ping of clubs contacting golf balls echoes across the driving range. The range spans across a verdant plain and bordered by a small mound. The golf course weaves around coastal, shaggy dunes. The sea breeze constantly causes motion. The dunes provide a fabulous view of the North Sea’s cobalt water. A small estuary trickles alongside the course and into the sea. The waves lull along the rocky beach. Playing at Trump International Golf Links Scotland offers beauty and relaxation in its seclusion.

The mornings are cool in Scotland and offer a nice temperature to venture out onto the course. The aroma of creamy, buttery porridge drifts through the hotel accompanied by freshly squeezed orange juice and buttered toast. Your private transfer meets you at the hotel and escorts you away from the silvery walls of Aberdeen. You venture southbound and arrive in Carnoustie. The town was founded in the 8th century and sits along a shallow bay. Windsurfers share the waters with fishing boats.

The Championship Course at Carnoustie was originally opened in 1850 and has hosted the British Open a total of seven times. It will once again host the Open Championship in July of 2018. The course is respected for its firm and challenging finishes. Hole number 17 is a 461-yard long par 4. The day is spirited, filled with the cool breeze sweeping in from the coast. The trees rustle and the fairways’ borders undulate from emerald grass to golden hay. When you step out onto the course you are greeted by the first hole, a par 4 stretching 410 yards. The fairway is wide and slopes to the right. You swing the club and immediately feel like a champion.

Wake up in the luxuries of a luxury hotel situated on 520 acres of breathtaking landscape. The morning is accentuated with the aromas of a full Scottish breakfast. Steam rises from your cup of tea and accompanies the large plate of delectable food. Today you venture to Kingsbarns Golf Links, a course that dates back to 1793. The course covers a total of 7,125 yards and borders the North Sea. Lush grass runs over a coastal dune. The fairway is nice and wide, covering the undulating landscape. Greens sit atop plateaus and look to the distant calm sea.

When you rotate during your swing the scenery changes from the tee to the nearby coast, and on to the pin flapping on the green. The club restaurant is a relaxing and lavish space with views of the fairway and sea. Leather chairs are situated near a fireplace where you can hear the logs crackle. Step onto the course and come to the third hole. The course is known to be challenging but playable, creating fun opportunities throughout your play. The third hole is a par 5 reaching 487 yards long. The immensity of the course is in its grandeur and elegance, combining challenging prospects to encourage your sense of spirited play.

Morning light spreads across the hotel’s expansive landscape and brightens the array of present colors. The gilded grass rushes to the pebbled beach. The towers of St. Andrews rise in the near distance. The old cathedral adds weight to the skyline. The cathedral was constructed in the 13th century and pillaged in the 16th century during the Reformation. The powerful stone base and conical roofs mark the remaining outline of the cathedral. After breakfast, you make your way to the New Course of St. Andrews, opened just before the turn of the 20th century. The course is known for its challenging layout.

The clubhouse is made of stone and raised against the course’s sloping curves. The aroma of manicured grass is relaxing, a constant reminder of the game yet to be played. Sand traps hide in the rolling knolls around the course. When you find one it looks more like a large rabbit hole than a golf hazard. Sporadic stone buildings add to the majesty of the city. Rugged gorse bushes line narrow fairways and add to the course’s acclaim. The par-five third hole extends to 511 yards. The fairway slightly curves and narrows the right before reaching the green. The pin beckons you closer with every swing. The wisp of wind carries the ball farther down the fairway.

Along the coast of the North Sea, you can hear the waves crash against the rocky beach. The shaggy dunes sway in the breeze and you arrive at the most notable golf course in the world, the Old Course of St. Andrews, known as the “Birthplace of Golf.” The fairways are extra wide and the double greens carry the ball farther than expected. Numerous bunkers rise out of blind corners and trap your ball in place. When you step onto the fairway you feel the influence of golf legends. The course holds over 600 years of history, bordering the seaside and antique stone buildings standing on the far side of the green.

You savor every swing of your club and watch the ball move through the green expanse. A lone pin flutters on the green of Hole Eight, 227 yards away. You aim for the flag and listen to the perfect pitch of your club connecting with the ball. The serene moment on almost mythical golf course gives you a chance to take in your surroundings. When you make your way to your second shot you can feel the cold breeze on your cheeks, listen to the waves, and understand remember that golf is more than just a game, especially on the Old Course at St. Andrews.

The eclectic aroma of a full Scottish breakfast permeates the lobby. A fried egg sits atop sizzling bacon and sausage links. The herbaceous aroma of brewing tea rises from the steaming cup. Your private transfer is waiting for you at your hotel after breakfast. The greenery continues to encompass St. Andrews. You see the cobalt water edging the eastern border. Hills ramble on the western horizon. The clink of your club against the ball plays on a loop in your head. The perfect pitch is the soundtrack to a pristine golf vacation. Your transfer escorts you to Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, where you arrive at the airport for your journey home.

For additional travel planning ideas, visit the vacations to Europe page.