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By David Brice
Golf International, Inc.

Any trip back to the Home of Golf is a special event and the opportunity to play some of the most famous courses in the world, an experience every golfer can only relish. But Scotland is a country with more than 550 golf courses and those that have gained international fame are only a small fraction of the total.

Royal Dornoch is reason enough to visit The Highlands, but don't overlook the nearby gems

Among the layouts escaping the international spotlight are many, equally worthy of hosting a major championship tournament from the standpoint of quality and challenge, but they never will. Some of these overlooked gems, often with an impressive pedigree and history, simply lack the length demanded by today's big hitting tournament players.

Others possess neither the facilities nor the infrastructure necessary to host a modern day major event and the accompanying needs of media and crowds of spectators.

Brora is a unique, Old Tom Morris design

For the true gems, what may be lacking in fame is typically more than made up for with personality, character and history. The visitor including one or two on their trip will be well rewarded with more of the real Scottish golf experience than those who overlook them.

Anyone who has taken more than a few golf trips to Scotland, graduating beyond playing only the big name, trophy courses, has their own list of favorite, hidden gems, but are they really hidden?

Tain's 3rd is vintage Old Tom Morris

Probably not, it's difficult to remain hidden in a country as small as Scotland, but don't think for a single moment these layouts are anything less than real gems.

Admittedly, some are located far away from the well-trodden path typically taken by visitors, but most are not, sitting surprisingly close to their more famous cousins. Including a few of these lesser-known layouts does not mean a travel inconvenience.

Ben Hogan developed as special affection for Panmure

No matter where in Scotland your golf trip takes you, there are always gems with unfamiliar names nearby and including a few will only enrich the entire trip and your Scottish golf experience.

Picking which of these gems to include in your trip can be tricky and although they all have qualities, inevitably, some are better than others. Use the following list as a guideline to some of the very best.

Montrose is the world's 5th oldest golf course

The visitor venturing up into the Scottish Highlands normally gets no further north than Royal Dornoch, a splendid links, ranked among the top dozen links in the world and one that must be played. Drive a further 15 minutes up the coastline to the small village of Brora and discover a little known jewel at Brora Golf Club.

The original layout comes from Old Tom Morris with later improvements made by James Braid; this is traditional links golf at its best. Sheep are still used to graze the fairways, so the greens are protected by electric fences, presenting something of an oddity, but Brora provides a special golfing experience to be long remembered, with a welcoming clubhouse to match.

Crail's Balcomie Links is 15 minutes from St. Andrews

Another treat in these parts is Tain Golf Club, located midway between the championship courses of Dornoch and Nairn. Dating from 1899, Tain is considered by many to be Old Tom Morris' best design in the Highlands and the neighboring Glenmorangie whisky distillery, just adds to the reasons why Tain shouldn't be overlooked.

Since being brought back onto The British Open circuit in 1999 and hosting The Open for the 7th time this year, Carnoustie has earned the permanent affection of golfers from around the globe.

Lundin Links presents a wonderful test of abilities

Unfortunately, most will make their round on Carnoustie, just a day trip up from St. Andrews. For those who linger in the area for a while, there is a bevy of gems that call out to be played.

Monifieth Golf Links is just a few miles away from Carnoustie and a regular British Open qualifying course with an impressive history dating from 1850 with James Braid again taking credit for much of the current layout.

North Berwick's Glen Course

Even closer is Panmure, the course used by Ben Hogan to learn the intricacies of Scottish links golf, before his successful bid for the 1953 Open Championship at Carnoustie. If Panmure Golf Club was located anywhere else, this classic links would be on the must play list of every visitor.

Drive 15 minutes east of Carnoustie and discover another treasure, Montrose Golf Club, the fifth oldest course in the world, where golf has been played since the 16th Century.

Kilspindie was allegedly played by Mary Queen of Scots

As unforgiving a links as will be found, today's championship course is largely attributed to Tom Morris and Willie Park Jr., two golfers who dominated the first dozen or so British Opens. Their design work at Montrose exploits the abundance of almost inspirational sand dunes and shouldn't be missed.

Stay in St. Andrews and an entirely new choice of gems is added to the menu. The Crail Golfing Society, founded in 1786, is located just 10 miles outside of town and Crail's Balcomie Links offers yet another opportunity to play a piece of golf's history that I guarantee will be more than rewarding.

Drive a few miles further around the coast and more links treats call out for the attention of visitors, Lundin Links, Elie and Leven Links being among the most notable.

Western Gailes is a shining star among Ayrshire's links

If you are fortunate enough to have been able to secure a visitor time on prestigious Muirfield, you will again be surrounded by a multitude of unfamiliar names, worthy of attention. North Berwick's West Links should be automatically a part of your itinerary, but experience the wonders of the neighboring East Links as well. Better known as The Glen, this delightful seaside layout is a delightful design from the great Mackenzie Ross.

But this tiny county, sitting just a brief 30 minutes from the heart of Edinburgh, contains a treasure trove of little known golfing treats -- Kilspindie, Luffness New, Musselburgh, Longniddry and the trio of links at Gullane, are but a sampling of historic links, demanding the attention of visitors.

Scotland's west coast is equally well endowed with hidden gems, all overshadowed by their bigger named neighbors of Royal Troon, Prestwick and Turnberry.

West Kilbride is a gem worth seeking out

Western Gailes is the shining star in Ayrshire's galaxy of links wonders and ranked among the top 40 courses in the entire British Isles, perhaps the most deserving of more visitor attention in this part of Scotland.

West Kilbride Golf Club is only 20 minutes away from Troon and another gem worth seeking out. A traditional links from Tom Morris and James Braid over a century ago, West Kilbride is as serious a test for any golfer as is likely to be found and perhaps typifies the essence of hidden gems.

And the list goes on -- Dundonald, Kilmarnock Barassie and Prestwick St. Nicholas, the west coast has a wealth of excellent golf, extending far beyond the few established names

Make no mistake, these are not secondary courses, but very worthy challenges that have somehow or other, escaped the attention focused on a limited number of the courses in Scotland. It is perhaps the price that must be paid for having such an abundance of truly excellent golf.

For details on how you can include a few hidden gems in your trip, click here or contact Golf International at 800-833-1389.

© 2007 David Brice / Golf International Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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