Duddingston Golf Club

Duddingston sits in one of the more unlikely settings for a golf course in Britain — a parkland layout on the southern flank of Arthur's Seat, the extinct volcano that rises directly out of the Edinburgh skyline. Buses of tourists pass within three hundred metres of the first tee on their way to Holyrood Palace; almost none of them know there's a golf course here.

The course is older than it feels. Founded 1895, redesigned by James Braid in the 1920s, with mature trees and contoured fairways that follow the natural undulation of the land beneath the volcano. The Braid Burn comes into play on three holes. The 4th, a par 3 played slightly downhill towards a green protected by water, is the photographed hole. The 14th and 17th are the holes regulars talk about.

Visitor green fees are reasonable for a course of this quality and location — £55 weekday, £75 weekend. The clubhouse is solid stone, with food served until mid-afternoon and a bar that runs later. The course is closer to the Royal Mile than any other private course in Scotland; for visitors based in Edinburgh wanting a single round without the drive to East Lothian, it's the obvious answer.

Conditioning is consistently good. The greens are slightly faster than the surrounding municipals; the rough is honest. Buggies available, but the hill behind the 14th is probably better walked than ridden. A round at Duddingston pairs naturally with a Sunday morning visit to nearby Holyrood Park.