Golf was first developed in Scotland more than 600 years ago. The earliest versions of the game took shape along the eastern coast near Edinburgh, where players whacked pebbles over sand dunes with curved sticks — proving that even in the 15th century, people were willing to spend an afternoon getting frustrated in the wind.
Today, Scotland is home to more than 550 golf courses, and St Andrews alone generates around $400 million a year in visitor spending tied to the game. Many of the most celebrated sit within easy reach of one another, especially along East Lothian’s “Golf Coast” — a 30-mile stretch from Musselburgh to Dunbar that holds the highest concentration of championship links in the world. Here, Muirfield, Gullane, and North Berwick share the shoreline with newer courses like Archerfield Links and The Renaissance Club, current host of the Scottish Open.
And as Scotland is just a wee country, you can base yourself in one place and play multiple top courses with short (and scenic) drives between them. That said, choosing the right base can make as much difference to your trip as securing a prime tee time — whether that’s a penthouse overlooking the Old Course at St Andrews, a townhouse in a lively seaside town, or a cliff-side retreat with its own putting green. These Airbnbs put you close to the country’s most celebrated courses while adding memorable touches once you’re off the fairway.
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Location: St Andrews, Fife — about 90 minutes from Edinburgh by car.
The Old Course at St Andrews, played since at least 1552, is one of the world’s oldest and most storied golf courses. This public links, managed by the St Andrews Links Trust, runs along the North Sea and has hosted The Open Championship more than 30 times. On calm days it’s considered one of the most forgiving championship layouts — short and flat, with expansive fairways and greens — yet its pot bunkers, gorse, and subtle slopes hold challenges that locals say the “Old Lady” only reveals over many rounds. Most visitors secure a tee time through the daily ballot held 48 hours in advance, while guaranteed spots come only via “Stay & Play” packages from authorized tour operators; singles can also line up at dawn for walk-up availability. First-time players are encouraged to take a caddie, whose knowledge of the course and local winds can make a huge difference to your experience.
Just a few minutes’ walk from the 18th green, this two-bedroom apartment ($705 per night) is in the top ten percent of Airbnbs worldwide for ratings, reviews, and reliability. The Victorian listed building sits on the site of a 15th-century friary and has been reimagined with a state-of-the-art kitchen beneath a large overhead skylight, a landscaped garden with a private hot tub, and its own putting green so you can practice before or after your round. Both bedrooms have super-king beds (or twins on request) and smart TVs, with a golf storage room that can handle four full sets.
Or for sea views, this fully refurbished penthouse apartment ($1,238 per night) is five minutes from the course. Its combined kitchen, dining, and living space frames sweeping vistas over West Sands beach, and the three bedrooms each come with their own bathroom. Past guests have included some of the world’s top-ranked golfers, and the main living area offers a front-row seat to the waves between rounds.
Location: Dornoch, Highlands — about 4.5 hours north of Edinburgh or Inverness Airport is just an hour away.
Set on a narrow strip of linksland in the Scottish Highlands, Royal Dornoch’s Championship Course is consistently ranked among the best in the world. Golf has been played here for more than four centuries, and its layout flows naturally along the Dornoch Firth — the outward nine runs high beneath gorse-covered dunes and the inward holes sweep closer to the beach. Plateau greens, shaved run-offs, and constant wind demand creativity on every shot. Philadelphia golf historian James Finegan captured the setting perfectly, describing “a strong sensation of heading toward land’s end…on this journey over ancient landscape where so little is owed to the hand of man.” Its remote location has kept it from hosting The Open, but the course’s pure links character has drawn praise from Tom Watson, Ben Crenshaw, and countless others.
Ten minutes on foot from the first tee, this four-bedroom stone house in the center of Dornoch ($943 per night) dates to the 1820s and has been restored with modern touches while keeping its traditional character. A quartz-topped kitchen with a breakfast bar leads to a dining area, snug with a log-burning stove, and a separate lounge. Two bedrooms are ensuite, and there’s a dedicated storage area for clubs and trolleys. The rear terrace overlooks a neatly kept garden, and a short stroll takes you to Dornoch Beach.
Set on a quiet street yet within walking distance of the clubhouse, this renovated cottage ($797 per night) has four double bedrooms, each with its own ensuite. Two have super-king beds that can convert to singles, making it a practical choice for golf groups. Guests praise its location for quick access to Dornoch’s shops, restaurants, and pubs, and it’s less than a 10-minute walk to the course.
Location: South Ayrshire, about two hours from Glasgow.
Perched above the Firth of Clyde with views across to the uninhabited island of Ailsa Craig, the Ailsa Course at Turnberry is as well-known for its setting as it is for its history. The course first opened in 1901 and has hosted four Open Championships, including the famous 1977 “Duel in the Sun,” when Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus battled in blazing conditions to one of the sport’s most memorable finishes. A recent renovation by architect Martin Ebert reimagined key holes, most notably the par-3 9th, which now plays over the shoreline toward the Turnberry Lighthouse.
You can stay onsite at Trump’s five-star Turnberry resort, making it easy to pair morning tee times with evenings by the sea, but it’s not cheap.
Or, if you’re happy to make the 25-minute drive, this two-bedroom cottage ($345 per night) sits on six acres with panoramic views over the Firth of Clyde to the Isle of Arran. It has a wood-fired hot tub in the garden, a pool table in the living area, and ensuite bathrooms for both bedrooms. You’ll want a car on this stretch of coast — not just for the run to Turnberry, but for day trips to Culzean Castle, local beaches, and the string of other golf courses within a few miles.
Location: Gullane, East Lothian — 40 minutes from Edinburgh.
Founded in 1744, The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers is one of the oldest golf clubs in the world, and its home course at Muirfield has hosted The Open 16 times. The unusual layout features two concentric loops of nine holes, so no two consecutive holes play in the same direction, creating constant shifts in approach and club choice. Muirfield is renowned for its precision-focused design, immaculate conditioning, and long-standing traditions. Visitors are welcome on select days, but tee times are limited and often booked far in advance.
A five-minute drive from Muirfield, this Victorian apartment in Gullane ($292 per night) is in the center of the village, a minute from The Bonnie Badger — a restaurant and pub run by Michelin-starred British TV chef Tom Kitchin. Built in 1895 and newly renovated, it has a king-bed master, a second bedroom with adult-sized bunk beds, a bright rain-shower bathroom, and a living room stocked with books and board games.
Or, for a rural setting, this loft on the Archerfield Estate ($348 per night) is a 10-minute drive from the course and next to both Archerfield Links and Yellowcraig Beach. The first-floor space has high ceilings, two bedrooms, and a private garden with a gas BBQ, with easy access to the stretch of coast between Gullane and North Berwick.
Opened in 2000, Kingsbarns has the feel of a century-old links thanks to its natural routing along the North Sea. It co-hosts the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and hosted the Women’s British Open in 2017. The modern clubhouse, sea views on every hole, and approachable-yet-demanding design make it a favorite for golfers pairing it with a St Andrews trip. Tee times are available to the public, but summer slots go quickly.
Less than a 10-minute walk from Kingsbarns Golf Links, this two-bedroom cottage ($303 per night) was once a “smiddy” — the Scots word for a blacksmith’s workshop. The converted byre has a king bedroom, a twin room, and gardens at both the front and back. Kingsbarns Beach, the Inn at Kingsbarns, and Cambo House are all within walking distance, with St Andrews just 10 minutes away by car for additional championship play.
For a couple or solo traveler, this one-bedroom lodge ($362 per night) near Crail comes with a Scandinavian wood-fired hot tub and Smeg-equipped kitchen. It’s set beside walking and cycling paths that link to the Fife Coastal Path, with Kingsbarns Golf Links 10 minutes away by car and St Andrews just a bit farther.
Location: Carnoustie, Angus — about 75 minutes from Edinburgh.
Golf has been played at Carnoustie since the early 1500s, but the Championship Course — shaped by Old Tom Morris and later refined by James Braid — has become one of the most demanding tests in the game. An eight-time Open Championship host, it’s best known for the 1999 event, when Jean van de Velde’s collapse on the 18th and Paul Lawrie’s playoff win cemented its “Carnasty” nickname. The closing stretch, with the Barry Burn snaking across key holes and deep revetted bunkers guarding narrow fairways, punishes any lapse in concentration. Despite its fearsome reputation, thousands of golfers each year come to measure themselves against a course that demands precise ball-striking, sound decision-making, and patience from first tee to last putt.
A 20-minute drive from the Championship Course, this two-bedroom cliffside retreat in Auchmithie ($472 per night) offers sweeping views of the North Sea from multiple terraces, including one with a hot tub. The village pub, the But ’n’ Ben, is a five-star spot for local seafood, and the Arbroath Cliff Path begins just outside your door. Inside, there’s a super-king bedroom overlooking the water and a second double, with plenty of indoor and outdoor spaces to unwind after your round.
Ten minutes from the course, this three-bedroom countryside cottage ($301 per night) blends Scottish rural charm with airy, Hamptons-inspired interiors. Set on a quiet lane with a south-facing garden, it has an octagonal living room with wraparound windows and a spacious kitchen for home cooking. Carnoustie’s pubs and restaurants are nearby, and Dundee’s V&A museum, the Angus Glens, and miles of sandy coastline make for easy day trips between tee times.
Location: North Berwick, East Lothian — 45 minutes from Edinburgh.
Dating back to 1832, the West Links at North Berwick is one of the oldest continuously played courses in the world and a pioneer in seaside golf. Its layout runs along the Firth of Forth, weaving natural contours and centuries-old features into the round. Signature holes include “The Pit,” where an approach must carry a stone wall to reach the green, and the original “Redan,” a sloping par-3 design that has been copied on courses across the globe. The course is walkable straight from the center of town, so it’s easy to finish your round and be in a pub or on the coastal path within minutes.
A short drive from the West Links, this five-bedroom Georgian coach house ($994 per night) sits on a working estate surrounded by farmland, with footpaths leading through fields and along the coast. It sleeps up to 10, with the fifth bedroom across a courtyard from the main house, and is within easy reach of North Berwick’s harbor, high street, and beaches.
Right on the sand, this beachfront apartment ($437 per night) faces North Berwick’s central shore and the Bass Rock. Two large bedrooms — one overlooking the water, the other convertible to twins — are joined by a small children’s room. The living room and kitchen share the same sea-facing windows, and the town’s restaurants, shops, and harbor are all a short walk away.
