Known around the world as the ‘Home of Golf’, Scotland has long been a dream destination for anybody who has ever picked up a club.
Dating back to the late Middle Ages, the game was first established and developed in Scotland, although there is some discussion about where it was actually invented.
Today the R&A, based in St Andrews, governs the sport worldwide alongside their sister operation in the USA.
The St Andrews Old Course is the best known of over 550 public and private courses in Scotland and participation in golf remains high, with little of the elitist that exists elsewhere in the world.
Many of the courses on offer date back to the very foundations of the game, with holes that have remained relatively unchanged for lifetimes.
Here are the 10 oldest courses in Scotland, which track the history of the game, according to Scottish Golf History.
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9. North Berwick West Links - 1832
The course at North Berwick was started in 1832 when there were only six holes, before being expanded to 18 in 1877. A ladies' golf club was formed in 1888, with its own clubhouse. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
10. Carnoustie - 1835
Golf at the famous Carnoustie Links dates back as far as 1527, but the first recorded play on the modern course was in 1835. Carnoustie has hosted the Open Championship on eight occasions. Photo: Google Maps