The thing I miss most about golf is Scotland. While I was lucky enough to find myself at The Machrie, on the Isle of Islay, back in late February (how long ago does that seem now?) it remains my sole trip, and round, in Scotland in 2020.
Given it’s now nearly June – and it’s not like I have anything in the diary – that makes me deeply unhappy. To put that into perspective, I managed to visit Scotland eight times in 2018.
So if and when I get chance, I’ll be heading up the M6 (via the cafe at Scotch Corner on the A66, naturally).
My preferred targets are an eclectic bunch, those I have yet to play despite my best efforts when compiling our Scotland list in NCG’s Top 100 rankings and also one course that is not yet open (although it should be).
Please don’t confuse this list with one of the five courses I most want to play in Scotland this year. I’ve tried not to be that obvious – I can’t imagine you’d be especially enlightened by me dribbling on about the Old Course and Muirfield.
Just take it as read that I believe one of the highest forms of human activity yet to be discovered involves tackling any of Scotland’s Open venues.
- Related: Scotland’s Top 100 Golf Courses
Right then, Let’s get cracking.
The Scottish golf courses I most want to play in 2020: Askernish
It’s not easy for me to write these words: I have been to South Uist, in the Outer Hebrides. I have been on the property at Askernish. I have even seen three or four of the holes. I have not, dear reader, played any of them. I know. It’s mad. In my defence, I was on my honeymoon. My (non-golfing) wife had already accepted my absence for a few hours earlier in the holiday while I scurried round Barra. It was all I could do in the circumstances, plus we had a ferry to catch, to have a wander around the property of this rediscovered Old Tom Morris original. And so I am determined to return – and play at least three times to make up for it.
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Add to this trip: Any of the many wonderful courses on Hebridean islands – see below for more options.
- Related: Top 100 Fun Golf Courses in GB&I
- Related: Best Golf Courses in the Highlands
Head to the next page where we venture a little further south…
The Scottish golf courses I most want to play in 2020: Ardfin
It still isn’t entirely clear exactly where Ardfin is going to position itself between being quite simply the back garden to end all back gardens and some sort of Hebridean equivalent to Skibo Castle.
It’s on the tiny island of Jura, which is just to the north of Islay. It’s an island with a population of just a couple of hundred people, most famous for its whisky and George Orwell coming here to write 1984.
The golf course is owned by Australian financier Greg Coffey, who commissioned his countryman Bob Harrison to design it back in 2011. There’s also luxury accommodation on site with the lucky residents enjoying the golf course to themselves.
Harrison has by all accounts done an exceptional job so all I need to do now is wangle myself an invite.
- Related: Best Golf Courses in Ayrshire
Head to the next page – we’re returning to the mainland…
The Scottish golf courses I most want to play in 2020: Royal Troon (Portland)
This is another curious omission. Actually, more of an asterisk than an omission. I have played the Portland course at Troon once before, as a child. But that was, ahem, a few years ago and I couldn’t really tell you much about it. I have since then been fortunate enough to play its neighbouring sibling, the Championship course, on several occasions, as well as watch the Open there twice.
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What I do know is that it’s an Alister MacKenzie design and it come highly recommended by Troon member and BBC commentator Andrew Cotter. So that’s good enough for me.
- Related: Top 100 Golf Courses in GB&I
- Related: Top 100 Golf Courses in Ireland
- Related: Best Golf Courses in Northern Ireland
Head to the next page to inject a bit of fun into our trip…
The Scottish golf courses I most want to play in 2020: Reay
There is a theme developing – namely of courses that I have visited but not played. Next up is Reay, which finds itself on Scotland’s north coast. Simply head to Thurso and turn left. It’s a bitter pill to swallow when you drive all the way to Reay and then can barely manage to get out of your car, let alone go and play golf. Such were the scenes on my arrival back in September 2018.
What you can’t see in these pictures is that wind speeds were 50mph, gusting to 80mph that day.
However, I will return. On the kind of day it is in the main picture, with a bit of luck.
- Related: Top 100 Golf Courses in Scotland
- Related: Best Golf Courses in East Lothian
A course so new it isn’t even open yet is next…
The Scottish golf courses I most want to play in 2020: Dumbarnie
My final choice is a brand-new golf course that hasn’t technically opened yet. It should have done, but then coronavirus happened. Dumbarnie Links, in Fife, is between Leven and Elie, just down the road from St Andrews. It’s the work of Clive Clark, who becomes the second BBC commentator to be name-checked in this piece, although it is a while since he last described any action to us.
As you can see, it looks fantastic and certainly enjoys an enviable location.
Some journalists, including my colleague Steve Carroll, have already enjoyed a sneak preview, which makes it all the more galling that I have not yet been able to see the course for myself. I promise to put that right before the year is out.
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- Related: Top 100 Golf Courses in England
- Related: Best Golf Courses in Fife
So there’s my list of the Scottish courses I most want to play this year. Now I want to hear about the courses you’ve never played but always wanted to. Let me know in the comments below or send me a tweet.
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