Scotland: West Coast & Lothian | 6 nights, 7 games

The eighteen holes of Gullane No.1 Course were established in 1884. The well maintained greens, links grasses, numerous bunkers and sea breezes make a unique challenge for the serious golfer.

The 3rd hole was recently voted one of the top 500 holes in the world by Golf Magazine (USA). The world famous view from the highest point of the Course on the 7th tee across the course and over to Edinburgh, Fife and way beyond is worth the green fee alone.

With every hole having its own distinct character, the course is both memorable and enjoyable.

Luffness New Golf Club was established in l894 when its course was designed by Old Tom Morris. A challenging traditional links course, recently lengthened and with a second par 5 hole introduced, is a host for qualifying rounds of the Open Championship. However the main purpose of the Club remains to serve the needs of its members and visitors. Not for them the island greens surrounded by water, lakes on every hole or a succession of problems far beyond the average player. The course can be hard – mighty hard – when the wind blows down the Forth and the rough is thick enough to whet the whistle of a hungry herd. There are distinctive bunkers too but, like all great courses, Luffness rewards the virtues.

The fairways are beautifully kept, and the golfer who can keep the ball down the middle will find little to worry him, but there is plenty of trouble in store for the wanderers. The bunkers are placed fairly to punish the errant shot and furthermore they are constructed to penalise severely those who cannot get the ball in the air. The course measures 6328 yds, Par 70, SS 71, a reasonable figure on a calm day, but very tight if even a slight wind blowing.

On Scotland's coasts wind can be an incalculable hazard, and the caddies have been heard to say “It will take you three to be up there in two today, Sir” – the second, ninth, and eighteenth fall into this category. The long fourth hole (531 yards) is a very good hole of its type with a deceptive hollow in front of the green calling for a well judged approach. The eighth and twelfth holes also merit a special word of praise for their attractive layout from the tee. The fourth and twelfth greens are situated close to the clubhouse; members are thus able to play a number of permutations without having to walk back from the country.

North Berwick Golf Club provides a perfect blend of tradition, hospitality and a unique golfing challenge. The course is a true Links, starting in the town centre and stretching west along the shores of the Firth of Forth.

Guests will be as impressed with stunning views over sandy beaches, rocky islands and the hills of Fife to the north, as with a course which features the best of traditional links design.

North Berwick Golf Club, the 13th oldest in the world, has a long and proud history, from staging many of the legendary challenge matches of the 19th Century to hosting major events, including Final Qualifying for the Open Championship, in the 21st.

Forever remembered as the birthplace of the Open Championship, Prestwick Golf Club has hosted 24 Opens in all, the last one being 1926, after which the crowds were deemed too large.

Prestwick Golf Club is situated just half an hour south west of Glasgow on the famous golfing Ayrshire coast. A stretch of land unequalled anywhere in the world for prime golfing terrain. Prestwick shares it boundaries with Royal Troon and is just 20 minutes from Turnberry, with Open final qualifying courses such as Kilmarnock Barassie, Glasgow Gailes, Western Gailes and Irvine Bogside all within just 5 minutes drive.

Prestwick Golf Club is a relaxed and friendly club that enjoys hosting golfers from all around the World. Visitors are encouraged to use their temporary membership to its full capacity, and enjoy the full lunch in the lavish Dining room or just a snack in the relaxed Cardinal room.

Founded in 1878 by a few enthusiasts Troon Golf Club soon outgrew its purely local reputation. The Old Course today presents a stern golfing examination and in particular the inward half of Royal Troon is widely accepted as the most demanding of any Course on the Championship rota.

One of the great links courses in Scotland, the Old Course is a challenging test of golfing ability. With the wind to contend with, and deep rough interspersed with gorse and broom, accurate shot making is essential. Players should make their scores on the outward nine, as the prevailing north-westerly wind can make the back nine extremely difficult.

The Portland Course at Royal Troon Golf Club came about in June of 1895, though it was called the Relief Course until 1924.

The Portland Course at Royal Troon Golf Club is a links golf course, and it is more sheltered and shorter than the Old Course, with holes that make their way over land covered by gorse and broom and has five par-3 holes.

Save some strength for the back nine on the Portland Course at Royal Troon Golf Club: It has the golf course's par-5 holes - all four of them.

The most junior of Open venues, the Ailsa course at Turnberry is nevertheless one of the best and toughest challenges in championship golf.

Sited between the magnificent Trump Turnberry Resort and the sea, this great course weaves in and out of spectacular dunes that, with Turnberry lighthouse and Ailsa Craig standing over 1200 foot high out at sea, form great backdrops to all of the holes.

The course has recently undergone an extensive renovation with the changing of a number of holes providing even more excitement along the cliffs. In fact the trio of holes 9, 10, 11 rival if not surpass those at Pebble Beach. The iconic Turnberry lighthouse has been transformed into arguably the world's best halfway house providing amazing views at the end of the 9th hole.

Although stretched to over 7,000 yards for Open Championships, the medal course is not one that demands great power for par but rather more care and attention to detail both off the tee and with the approach shots. This course has seen some of the best exhibitions ever in the game, particularly over its closing holes testing the world's greatest players to their limits.