Castle Stuart Golf Links - hole 8
The par-3 eighth hole at Castle Stuart Golf Links accepts running shots to a massive green.
Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Turnberry - Ailsa golf course
The coastal holes of Trump Turnberry Resort's Ailsa course near the lighthouse will look dramatically different in 2016.
Matt Ginella/Golf Advisor
Trump International Golf Links Scotland
Opening in 2012, Trump International Golf Links Scotland is set on striking dunesland north of Aberdeen.
Courtesy of Trump International Golf Links
North Berwick Golf Club - hole 13
Hopping the wall to reach the 13th green takes precision at North Berwick Golf Club in East Lothian, Scotland.
Jason Scott Deegan/GolfPass
Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club
Machrihanish Dunes opened in 2008 near the 19th-century, Old Tom Morris-designed Machrihanish Golf Club.
Courtesy of Machrihanish Dunes G.C.
Dunbar Golf Club - 11th green
The 11th green at Dunbar Golf Club sits in glorious setting.
Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Royal Dornoch Golf Club - Championship Course - 17th
Scenery is a big part of the charm of the Championship Course at Royal Dornoch Golf Club.
Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Cruden Bay Golf Club - 14th
It's a blind approach to the sunken 14th green at Cruden Bay Golf Club in Scotland.
Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Machrihanish Golf Club - hole 6
The dunes create a blind shot on the sixth hole at Machrihanish Golf Club in Scotland.
Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Kingsbarns Golf Links
There are gorgeous views almost everywhere at Kingsbarns Golf Links.
Courtesy of Kingsbarns Golf LInks
10 Images
The most beautiful links in Scotland aren't always the most revered championship courses.
The most popular choices in Scotland's Open Championship rotation -- the Old Course at St. Andrews, the Old Course at Royal Troon, Carnoustie Golf Links and Muirfield -- didn't make my original Golf Advisor story on the 10 most scenic links in Scotland (here.
The 'supermodels' of Scottish links -- dare I call them that? -- were easy picks: The Ailsa Course at Trump Turnberry Resort, the Championship Links at Royal Dornoch Golf Club, Kingsbarns Golf Links, Castle Stuart Golf Links, Trump International Golf Links Scotland and Cruden Bay Golf Club.
Selecting the West Links at North Berwick, Dunbar Golf Club, Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club and Machrihanish Golf Club above Brora Golf Club and other contenders was tougher.
The truth is almost every links has at least one postcard moment.
The differentiator is that these 10 links deliver more of them. Savor these scenic shots.
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The par-3 eighth hole at Castle Stuart Golf Links accepts running shots to a massive green. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
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The coastal holes of Trump Turnberry Resort's Ailsa course near the lighthouse will look dramatically different in 2016. Matt Ginella/Golf Advisor
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Opening in 2012, Trump International Golf Links Scotland is set on striking dunesland north of Aberdeen. Courtesy of Trump International Golf Links
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Hopping the wall to reach the 13th green takes precision at North Berwick Golf Club in East Lothian, Scotland. Jason Scott Deegan/GolfPass
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Machrihanish Dunes opened in 2008 near the 19th-century, Old Tom Morris-designed Machrihanish Golf Club. Courtesy of Machrihanish Dunes G.C.
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The 11th green at Dunbar Golf Club sits in glorious setting. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
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Scenery is a big part of the charm of the Championship Course at Royal Dornoch Golf Club. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
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It's a blind approach to the sunken 14th green at Cruden Bay Golf Club in Scotland. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
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The dunes create a blind shot on the sixth hole at Machrihanish Golf Club in Scotland. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
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There are gorgeous views almost everywhere at Kingsbarns Golf Links. Courtesy of Kingsbarns Golf LInks
Jason Scott Deegan has reviewed and photographed more than 1,000 courses and written about golf destinations in 20 countries for some of the industry's biggest publications. His work has been honored by the Golf Writer's Association of America and the Michigan Press Association. Follow him on Instagram at @jasondeegangolfpass and Twitter at @WorldGolfer.
Related Links
This may be hard to believe, but not every great Scottish links is a seaside stunner. That means you, St. Andrews. While beauty is certainly in the eye of the beholder, Jason Scott Deegan offers up what he thinks are the 10 most scenic Scottish links golf courses that tend to mesmerize visitors more than others.
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Seven Scottish links have hosted The Open since its inception in 1860. The experience of playing every one of these fascinating links has defining characteristics and even a drawback or two. Jason Scott Deegan has more.
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Many great Scottish links will never host the Open, but that doesn't make them any less of a golf course. Here are a dozen of the best.
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The Old Course is open to the public on most days, and it costs about the same as a round at any PGA Tour venue open to the public. Here's how to get a tee time.
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