Scottish Hidden Gems Golf Course

1. Machrihanish, 'Battery', 423 yards, par 4

The positioning of the famous first tee provides one of the most beautiful and spectacular opening shots in the entire world of golf. As you aim over Machrihanish Bay, it is critical to hit the fairway. The tighter down the left, the shorter the approach into the green. The fairway appears a lot narrower standing on the tee than it actually is!

2. Kilmarnock Barassie, 'Duncan's Pride', 392 yards, par 4

A championship links that is always in great condition. This hole needs to be thought out to be played well. A long, good drive is required to bring the green in easy range but inaccuracy will be punished. No shame in laying up. 5 is not a bad score here.

3. Royal Dornoch, 'Earl's Cross', 414 yards, par 4

Royal Dornoch has hosted the British Amateur and is a favourite of many of the game's greats, such as Tom Watson & Ben Crenshaw. As you play the 3rd, be sure to keep out of the bunkers down the right. A drive down the left side of the fairway will shorten the hole.

4. Glenisla, 'Dunsinane', 332 yards, par 4

Glenisla is set amongst 180 acres of beautiful, undulating parkland in the valley of Strathmore. Your drive is key to success at this hole, so make sure you keep it to the right. Going for the pin may end with a watery grave, while playing safe with your second brings the bunkers into play.

5. Crail Balcomie, 'Hell's Hole', 450 yards, par 4

The links of Crail host the seventh oldest golf club in the world. The newer Balcomie Links continues the traditions of the past with a great layout. At the 5th you can take on as much of the sea and out of bounds as you dare. The more you cut off the shorter your approach shot to the green, but beware of being too greedy!

6. Taymouth Castle, 'Ballivolin', 365 yards, par 4

Taymouth Castle Golf Course was laid out in 1923 by James Braid in what was originally the deer park of the castle, formerly the seat of the Campbells of Breadalbane. Take your eye off the wonderful scenery and try to carry the road off the 6th tee and you will only have a short iron into the green, but the second shot tends to play longer than it looks - make sure you take plenty club.

7. Murcar, 'Serpentine', 423 yards, par 4

A classic links on the coast to the north of Aberdeen and the 7th is as great a hole as any on the course. It takes a good drive to clear the far burn and the water down the right, but keeping your drive down the right hand side of the fairway opens up the green for your second shot.

8. Letham Grange Old, 'Lochan', 176 yards, par 3

Having hosted several international professional events, you will quickly see why Letham Grange is a championship course. At the 8th make sure you take enough club to carry the water that lies between tee and green. A well struck mid iron to the middle of the green is always a good strategy on this hole. Beware of shooting at the pin, with danger lurking all around the green.

9. Monifieth, 'Long Hole', 547 yards, par 5

Monifeith is a final qualifying course when the Open is at Carnoustie. Normally the 5th is a three shot par five unless playing with a strong tail wind. Hitting the fairway off the tee is key to giving yourself the best chance of laying up in prime position for a pitch and a putt for birdie.

10. Gullane No1, 'Thucket Knowe', 466 yards, par 4

Golf has been played on Gullane Hill for over 300 years and more recently the course has hosted qualifying for The Open and British Amateur. The 10th is a tough uphill par-4 requiring a long straight drive. Avoid the bunker on the left, as finding sand there will rule out reaching the green in two shots. You will then be faced with a long iron or fairway wood into a large green, so accuracy is key.

11. Machrie, 'The Skor', 357 yards, par 4

Islay is renowned for two things - the distinctive peaty quality of its malt whiskies and the no less distinctive quality of the turf, which has made the Machrie golf course such a joy for visiting and local golfers for over a century. At the 11th, a drive down the left centre of the fairway avoids the danger of the out of bounds on the 13th fairway. Take enough club to attack the pin on a slightly raised green.

12. Ladybank, 200 yards, par 3

Ladybank is a fantastic heathland course that is used for final qualifying when the Open is at St Andrews. The 12th hole needs an accurate tee shot to find this guarded green and avoid the bunkers at the front and the back of the green.

13. Ballater, 'The Dee', 161 yards, par 3

Royal Deeside is one of the most beautiful parts of Scotland and the golf course at Ballater captures the tranquility of a sheltered glen high in magnificent mountain country. The testing little par-3 thirteenth demands an accurate mid iron to a green guarded by bunkers on the left, right and back.

14. The Roxburghe, 'Viaduct', 571 yards, par 5

Set in 500 acres of mature woodland and rolling parkland beside the River Teviot in the Scottish Borders, the Roxburghe Hotel, owned by the Duke and Duchess of Roxburghe, is surrounded by the 18 hole Roxburghe golf course. At the 14th, accuracy off the tee is required on a demanding tee-shot, especially from the back tee. Longer hitters may be able to go for the green in two, but this will require a precise long iron or fairway wood to a green heavily guarded with bunkers on the left and right.

15. Nairn Dunbar, 'Harbour', 161 yards, par 3

A championship links layout on the coast of the Moray Firth that provides a warm welcome for guests. The tee shot at the short 16th needs accurately struck mid to short iron. Danger lurks with bunkers carefully positioned all around the front half of the green and out of bounds ready to penalise anything going long.

16. Blairgowrie Rosemount, 'Black Loch', 475 yards, par 4

Played through wide avenues between firs, pines and silver birches with a carpet of heather reaching out to the fairways from the trees, Rosemount is not just a challenging championship course, but also a beautiful place to play golf. The tough par 4 sixteenth, right on the limit, requires a good drive to be able to get home in two shots. A drive down the right half of the fairway will take the out of bounds out of play and open up the green for a long second.

17. Prestwick, 'Alps', 391 yards, par 4

Prestwick was home to the very first Open in 1860 and since then the sand, heather, seaside bent, cavernous bunkers, sloping fairways, the menacing Pow Burn, fast true and undulating greens, and the wind have tormented many Open Champions. At the 17th club selection on your second shot is the key to this hole, with a blind second shot over the 'Alps' dune to a green guarded by the Sahara bunker.

18. Moray Old, 'Home', 406 yards, par 4

Like the Old Course at St Andrews, the course starts and finishes within the town boundaries. With gorse lined fairways, deep revetted bunkers and grass covered dunes along its boundaries, this championship course presents links golf at its finest. The last hole presents many dangers, with out of bounds all the way down the left and 'hell' bunker short of the raised green. A drive down the left side of the fairway will avoid the out of bounds, but miss the fairway left and there are several tricky bunkers to make life difficult. Take plenty of club on the second shot to attack the pin on this raised green.