A Journal for the Thrifty Gowfer
Isle of Skye
Portree, Isle of Skye
Plate IV — Highland course — mountain backdrop, moorland character
Green Fees 2026
Skeabost Golf Club doesn’t publish a standard visitor green fee online — ask the club for current 2026 rates.
Skye's oldest golf course, laid out in 1888 in the grounds of Skeabost House Hotel — but it appears to have closed. The hotel's current owner no longer lists golf and the club has no working website; treat it as closed unless the hotel confirms otherwise.
Skeabost Golf Club was established in 1888, making it the oldest golf course on the Isle of Skye. The course occupies the grounds of Skeabost House Hotel on the shore of Loch Snizort, four miles north of Portree. What was laid out in 1888 — nine holes following the natural contours of the lochside ground — remains substantially the course played today. The greens have grown into the land over 130 years in the way that only old, undisturbed putting surfaces do: the undulation is organic rather than constructed.
Par is 33 across 3,200 yards. The course is compact and the scoring straightforward for anyone of moderate ability, which is precisely the point — Skeabost is not a test course but a landscape course, where the primary experience is the loch, the hills of Trotternish, and the particular quality of Skye light on a quiet morning. Half the holes play along the loch shore. The 5th, a short par 3 to a green at the water's edge with Loch Snizort behind, is the hole that appears in photographs.
The hotel connection meant the course was always accessed through Skeabost House, which runs as a country house hotel with golf as one amenity among several rather than the main commercial driver. That looks to be how it has quietly ended: as of 2026 the course appears to have closed. The hotel is now run by the Sonas Collection, whose website promotes the fishing, the dining and weddings but makes no mention of golf, and the old club website is gone. Recent visitor reports describe the ground being left to renaturalise. Until Skeabost House Hotel says otherwise, treat the course as closed rather than making the trip out to it.
If it does reopen, the setting is the draw: laid out in 1888 on the shore of Loch Snizort, 300 yards off the Portree–Dunvegan road, it was the oldest course on Skye and a short, gentle round in a spectacular spot. For now, golfers heading up the island's north loop are better pointed at the courses in and around Portree — we'll restore Skeabost's details the moment the hotel confirms it is back in play.
The Full Scorecard
Fields marked “Contact club” aren’t public-facing in a way we’ve been able to verify. Call the club directly for these — we’ll update the entry when we have it from source.
Conditions This Week
Scored 0–10 for golf — wind, rain, conditions · Full 7-region forecast →
Location
Portree, Isle of Skye · IV51 9NPOpen in OpenStreetMap →
While They Golf
Isle of Skye isn't only for the golfers. Walks, drives, distilleries, castles, a long lunch — five picks within thirty minutes of the first tee.
The Isle of Skye companion guide →Plan This Round
Where to Stay
Hotels, lodges and self-catering near the first tee. Map-style search via Stay22 covering Booking.com, Expedia, Airbnb and Vrbo.
How to Get There
Glasgow (GLA) or Inverness (INV) is 240 minutes away by car. Train + onward taxi works for the carless visitor.
Insure Your Round
Most home contents policies don't cover golf clubs in transit. Our guide matches you to the right kind of cover and the UK providers worth quoting.
Played here? Consider
Picked for exposed highland courses in Scotland.
Outerwear
Wind off the firth changes club selection two irons. A breathable, fully-waterproof shell that's light enough not to swing in is the single biggest upgrade for Scottish links golf.
Layer
Scottish-made merino — the locals' choice for shoulder-season rounds. Warm enough for a 7am tee time in October, light enough for the back nine when the sun comes out.
Tech
Handles blind tee shots and exposed-coastal yardage cleanly. Battery lasts a 36-hole day; the wind-direction overlay justifies the price on its own.
Stays Nearby
Hotels, B&Bs and self-catering within easy reach of Portree. Tap any property to check rates.
Rates and availability via Stay22. We may earn a small commission if you book — at no extra cost to you. How affiliate links work.
Frequently Asked
Nearby courses
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