Which should you play?

Course vs course

The rounds golfers actually argue over — bucket-list neighbours, same-club siblings, splurge versus the smart alternative. Each pairing lays the green fees and the facts side by side, then gives you a straight answer on which one to book.

Modern Fife links

Dumbarnie Links vs Kingsbarns Golf Links

Two modern Fife links you'd bolt onto a St Andrews trip — and one costs close to double the other.

£195–£350 · vs · £399–£486

Modern St Andrews clifftop links

St Andrews Castle Course vs Kingsbarns Golf Links

Two 21st-century clifftop links minutes from St Andrews — is Kingsbarns worth close to three times the Castle Course?

£120–£180 · vs · £399–£486

Same hill, East Lothian

Gullane No. 1 vs Gullane No. 2

Same hill, same club, very different green fees — which Gullane course should a visitor actually play?

£285–£325 · vs · £100–£175

East Lothian coast

Archerfield Fidra Links vs Craigielaw Golf Club

Two East Lothian links a stone's throw apart — which makes the better second round on a Gullane trip?

£135–£185 · vs · £60–£160

East Lothian bucket-list

North Berwick West Links vs Gullane No. 1

The two great East Lothian day-out links — the quirky historic one, or the pure championship one?

£220–£320 · vs · £285–£325

Highland links

Royal Dornoch Championship Course vs Castle Stuart Golf Links

The two Highland bucket-list links either side of Inverness — which one anchors the trip?

£215–£360 · vs · £285–£385

Ayrshire Open venues

Trump Turnberry (Ailsa) vs Royal Troon Old Course

Two Ayrshire Open Championship venues on the same coast — which is the round of the trip?

£425–£1000 · vs · £250–£395

Aberdeenshire links

Cruden Bay Golf Club vs Royal Aberdeen (Balgownie Links)

The two great Aberdeenshire links north of the city — quirky dunes classic or championship test?

£110–£220 · vs · £175–£265

Open venues — and the ballot

Carnoustie Championship Course vs St Andrews Old Course

Can't land an Old Course tee time? Carnoustie is the Open venue you can actually book.

£249–£360 · vs · £340–£355

Same resort, Perthshire

Gleneagles King's Course vs Gleneagles PGA Centenary

Same resort, same green fee — the James Braid classic, or the Ryder Cup course?

£260–£405 · vs · £260–£405

Same club, East Neuk of Fife

Crail Golfing Society (Balcomie Links) vs Crail Craighead Links

Two courses at one clifftop Fife club — the Old Tom Morris classic, or the modern Gil Hanse?

£70–£170 · vs · £70–£125

Kintyre neighbours

Machrihanish Golf Club vs Machrihanish Dunes

Two links side by side at the end of the Kintyre road — the Old Tom classic, or the modern dunes?

£95–£125 · vs · £75–£125

Can't see the match-up you want? Every one of our 233 Scottish course profiles carries the verified green fee, and the course matchmaker will shortlist courses to your budget, region and style.