Bucket List Golf Tour of Scotland

Chance to Relax at your 5 Star Castle
Transport:Mercedes V-Class (or similar) with Private Chauffeur
Accommodation: Glenapp Castle, Ballantrae (2 Nights)

Upon your arrival at Glasgow airport (or Edinburgh), you will be met by a Private Chauffeur Scotland representative who will transfer you to Glenapp Castle in Ballantrae. A truly hidden place, you will spend your first 2 nights in Scotland here; a place to be inspired and where you will feel right at home.

This award-winning, five star castle provides an intimate level of service with genuine attention to detail. It has great beauty in its period furnishings and interiors as well as breath-taking gardens, forest, and seascapes surrounding the castle.

You will use this day to relax and recuperate from your travels. There are plenty of activities on offer at Glenapp Castle, including sports such as archery, clay pigeon shooting, golf, and tennis, beautiful gardens to explore, and a premium spa where you can relax and treat yourself.

On your first evening you will dine within the castle. Choose from 3 or 6 delicious courses, not forgetting their mouth-watering canapés and petit fours, you are set for an evening of decadent dining.

Turnberry Ailsa
Transport: Mercedes V-Class (or similar) with Private Chauffeur
Accommodation: Glenapp Castle, Ballantrae
Golf Course: Turnberry, Ailsa

Once you’ve had a relaxing breakfast, you will be taken to Trump Turnberry to play Turnberry Ailsa.  Having hosted four Open Championships, the Ailsa course is perceived to be one of the most scenic golf courses in the world. Here you will be able to enjoy a challenging round of golf that also provides you with remarkable views over the Isle of Arran, Kintyre, and Mull. Marking the birthplace of Scottish legend Robert the Bruce, Bruce’s Castle is the signature hole. Soak in the scenery, embrace the history, and enjoy your round of golf in one of the finest resorts in the world.

After your round you will make a quick stop at the picturesque ruin of Dunure Castle. Although the castle has been a ruin for over three hundred years, Dunure Castle is one of the most picturesque ruins in all of Scotland and it was once the main fortress for the Kennedy family. If you’re an Outlander fan, you may recognise Dunure Castle as it was used several times during the filming of the popular TV Series.

In the evening you will return to Glenapp Castle where tonight you will dine in the Azalea Glasshouse and Bothy Restaurant. This intimate spot enjoys views out over Azalea Pond and surrounding gardens, making it the ideal place to enjoy some more magnificent food.

Gleneagles PGA (Ryder Cup) Course
Accommodation: Gleneagles Hotel, Auchterarder (2 Nights)
Golf Course: PGA Centenary Course

Today you are in for a very special treat. You will head to Gleneagles where you will firstly have a light lunch in the Auchterarder 70 Restaurant. Here you can enjoy an exclusive Auchterarder 70 beer, brewed mere miles from the hotel. The menu includes a range of special sandwiches, such as highland wagyu hot dog, the A70 burger, and smoked haddock rarebit, as well as numerous delicious sharing platters.

However, after lunch is when the real excitement begins as you make your way to your mid-afternoon tee off on the Gleneagles PGA course, a memorable occasion for any golf fan. With incredible views over the Ochil hills, this course offers a picturesque yet challenging round in which you will have to bring you’re A game.

After your round you will dine at the double Michelin Star Andrew Fairlie Restaurant. The restaurant is the only one in Scotland to hold the prestigious accolade of a double Michelin Star. The restaurant combines Scottish and French cooking, using the finest local produce. We highly recommend trying the “smoked lobster” which is infused with whisky barrel chips for over 5 hours.

Your accommodation for the night will be in the Gleneagles Hotel, known the world over for its style, luxury, and endless Scottish charm. Each room is individually inspired by the beautiful landscape that surrounds the hotel, and each provides a cosy place to relax and recharge for the evening before another fun-filled day tomorrow.

The King’s Course
Accommodation: Gleneagles Hotel, Auchterarder
Golf Course: The King’s Course

This morning you will enjoy a round of golf on one of the world’s most iconic courses, the King’s Course at Gleneagles. First opened in 1919, this course has challenged golfers from all over the world to try their hand at holes such as Heich o’Fash, a tricky par 4 which promises trouble if not taken seriously, and Deil’s Creel, a par 3 with a green surrounded by pesky bunkers. No matter how you play though, you are bound to enjoy the experience of taking on this majestic course.

From there you will have lunch in The Dormy, a restaurant enjoying views over both the King’s and Queen’s courses. You can look out over the King’s course and discuss your favourite holes and stories from the morning’s round. Specialising in comfort food and grill classics, you can try their stone baked pizza, beef burger, Scottish salmon fillet, or a range of curries.

You will then have some time to relax and unwind before heading to your dinner reservation at The Strathearn, the Gleneagles’ fine dining restaurant which is absolutely sure to blow you away with how pretty and impressive the décor is. Executive chef Simon Attridge, 2019 hotel chef of the year, leads a team who go the extra mile to ensure you are served with utterly gorgeous dishes that will live long in the memory. Highlights include Beluga caviar, oak smoked salmon, and Dover sole.

Old Course/Castle Course
Accommodation: The Old Course Hotel (3 Nights)
Golf Course: St Andrews Links, The Old Course (Ballot Only)/Castle Course
Transport: Mercedes V-Class (or similar) with Private Chauffeur

On the morning of day five you will be taken to St Andrews, the home of golf. People travel from all over the world for good reason as the courses here are simply world class. Everywhere you go in St Andrew’s you will bump into many people who have played a round that day and will have stories to share about how good a time they had.

You will be entered into a Ballot in order to obtain tee times for The Old Course. To enter the ballot, you must supply us with your: home golf clubs and handicaps (Maximum of 24 for men and 36 for ladies). A minimum of two and a maximum of four golfers can enter the Old Course Ballot. The deadline for entering the ballot is 2:00pm and the results are usually available by 4:00pm. In the event that you are unsuccessful we will arrange for you to play The Castle Course, St Andrews.

Your accommodation for the next three nights is The Old Course Hotel which commands one of the most iconic views in the golfing world and sits adjacent to the revered Royal & Ancient Golf Club. Steeped in history, the Old Course Hotel combines both classical and modern design that is enlivened by old black and white golfing photographs. Its breath-taking view over the Old Course persuades many guests to enjoy a cold beverage and soak in the scenery as golfers slowly leave the course and horses canter along the beach. Be prepared to be mesmerised.

In the evening you will have dinner reservations at The Road Hole restaurant where you may sample smoked pigeon, Loch Awe seatrout, and poached duck egg in exquisite surroundings and enjoying unrivalled views.

Kingsbarns
Accommodation: The Old Course Hotel
Golf Course: Kingsbarns Golf Course
Transport: Mercedes V-Class (or similar) with Private Chauffeur

After filling up on a hearty Scottish breakfast you will be taken to play a round at Kingsbarns Golf Course. This picture-perfect links course runs along a couple of miles of dramatic coastline so be prepared for the elements to play a role in your round. And if it’s a windy day, be sure to pack an extra layer or two to keep you warm.

Having played another thoroughly enjoyable round of golf you will then have the chance to explore the wonderful town of St Andrew’s. This bustling seaside hub of golf is the perfect place to stroll around, soaking up the history and atmosphere of one of Scotland’s prettiest places. There are plenty of shops, cafes, and restaurants for you to pop into on the main stretch, Market Street. You can also enjoy a pleasant stroll along West Sands Beach.

With a round of golf and exploring St Andrew’s under your belt, you will be ready for a delicious meal at the Jigger Inn, “the most famous 19^th hole in golf”. Here you will find staff who take great pride in providing a welcome as warm as their open fires, food to die for, and the highly exclusive Jigger Ale.

Carnoustie
Accommodation: The Old Course Hotel
Golf Course: Carnoustie Championship Golf Course
Transport: Mercedes V-Class (or similar) with Private Chauffeur

After breakfast you will be escorted by your Private Chauffeur Scotland driver to Carnoustie Golf Links, where you will play in what is regarded as one of the UK’s most challenging golf courses. Eight Open Championships have been played here, with a number of dramatic moments occurring over this historic links. Arguably the most notorious incident was Jean Van De Velde’s calamity on the last day of the 1999 Open Championship. Despite having a convincing lead in the tournament, he squandered his advantage by getting a triple bogey, which ultimately lost him the Open. Even for the most skilful of golfer, Carnoustie is a difficult course where streams, bunkers, and punishing rough will test every swing of the club.

In the evening you will dine at Forgan’s, a restaurant with a quite marvellous dining space. High ceilings with windows provide lots of natural light, while the décor provides an up-market but laidback feel. The staff at Forgan’s are truly special and will ensure you are properly looked after. If you are so luck to be there on a Sunday, their Sunday roast specials are certainly not to be missed.

Cairngorms National Park, Pitlochry, House of Bruar, Dalwhinnie Distillery, Inverness
Accommodation: Ness Walk Hotel, Inverness (3 Nights)
Transport: Mercedes V-Class (or similar) with Private Chauffeur

On day 8 you will travel to the majestic Scottish Highlands. Your first stop along the way will be the town of Pitlochry, famous for its stunning scenery, charming high street, and intriguing history. This is the perfect place to grab a coffee and watch the world go by as tourists and locals alike enjoy the unique atmosphere of Pitlochry.

Next, you will visit The House of Bruar where you could enjoy a spot of lunch and do some shopping. This upmarket shopping centre has a huge range of tweed clothing and outdoor wear, as well as many items for your home or perhaps a gift for friends and family.

From there you will be treated to a tour of Dalwhinnie Distillery, which first started producing whisky in 1897. While the remote and wild location, with particularly harsh winters, may provide its challenges, it also means that it is the only distillery which uses water from Lochan na Doire-uaine (loch of the green thicket) providing Dalwhinnie with a truly distinctive sweet and smoky flavour.

From there you will be driven to Inverness and your accommodation for the next three nights, the Ness Walk Hotel, which sits right on the banks of the River Ness and enjoys an oasis of calm in Inverness, an otherwise busy city, as it is surrounded by a huge canopy of trees. Here, beautiful period features combine with sleek modern features to deliver an ambiance that oozes sophistication.

You will dine in the luxurious Torrish Restaurant this evening, where you will be warmly welcomed and have the chance to try some Isle of Lewis mussels, Orkney hand-dived scallops, Speyside lamb, as well as many other delicious dishes. There is also a vegan à la carte menu, so there will be something for everyone.

Castle Stuart
Accommodation: Ness Walk Hotel, Inverness
Golf Course: Castle Stuart Golf Links
Transport: Mercedes V-Class (or similar) with Private Chauffeur

Today you will be heading to play a round at the remarkable Castle Stuart golf course in Dalcross, Inverness. This links course also hugs some of Scotland’s rugged yet beautiful coastline and will provide just the right balance between challenging and thoroughly enjoyable golf. While you will be focussing on your game, you won’t be able to help taking a few moments here and there to cast your eye out over the Moray Firth, taking in sights such as Kessock Bridge and Chanonry Lighthouse in the distance.

In the evening you will have dinner reservations at The Castle Tavern Pub in Inverness. This charming pub is bursting with character and has an expansive food and drink menu to ensure you are fully satisfied. If you are a whisky lover keep an eye out for the Malt of the Month, highlighting some of the best whisky Scotland has to offer. And as your belly begins to rumble after your aperitif, a menu including firecracker prawns, chicken lollipops, fresh Scottish mussels, and, of course, haggis, neeps, and tatties, will be sure to fill you up again.

After you’ve had your fill, you will return to the luxury of the Ness Walk Hotel.

Royal Dornoch
Accommodation: Ness Walk Hotel, Inverness
Golf Course: Royal Dornoch
Transport: Mercedes V-Class (or similar) with Private Chauffeur

On your last day of golfing, you are in for a special treat as your driver will escort you to none other than Royal Dornoch to play the Championship Course, a dream come true for any golf enthusiast. This par 70 epitomises the best of links courses, with many dunes, ridges, and hillocks providing challenges, or opportunities if you play them well. Back in 1886 the original 9-hole course was extended to 18 by Tom Morris who also introduced what many say this course is famous for, its plateau greens with their inverted saucer shape.

You will then visit Chanonry Point (Gaelic: Gob na Cananaich) on the Black Isle. Widely acclaimed as the best place in the United Kingdom to see bottlenose dolphins from the land. Also, keep an eye out for seals, porpoises, and otters. The lighthouse you will see at the tip of Chanonry Point is still active and was first lit back in 1846.

This evening you will dine at The Mustard Seed. A firm favourite in Inverness, The Mustard Seed offers top class food in a relaxed atmosphere, exactly what you’re looking for on your last evening in Scotland. Located in a converted church, this allows for some excellent features, such as the double height ceiling and large open fire, all of which add to a sense of The Mustard Seed being truly special. On the menu you will find such delights as breast of wood pigeon, Cajun halloumi fries, Scottish salmon, and sweet and sour tofu.

Departure Transfer
Transport: Mercedes V-Class (or similar) with Private Chauffeur Transfer

After a fabulous trip, visiting the finest hotels in the country and playing some of the best and most famous golf courses in the world, you will say a fond farewell to Scotland. Your private driver will escort you to Inverness Airport, help you with your bags, and wish you safe travels.

We hope that you have thoroughly enjoyed your time with us and look back fondly on your time here with Private Chauffeur Scotland.