Not all Scottish courses are famous: Some of the best are unknown

There are many sides to Scottish golf, only one of which is the famous championship courses - the trophies that every first time visitor to the home of golf puts at the top of their must play list and collects as rapidly as they can. From Scotland's total inventory of well over 550 courses, perhaps only 10 or so fit into this category. So what of the remaining 540 courses? Are they inferior and to be ignored? Nothing could be further from the truth. To even dream that less than 2% of the courses in the country that gave birth to the game are the only layouts worth playing is absolute nonsense.

The fact of the matter is that Scotland is blessed with a far higher percentage of excellent courses than any other place on the planet. The comparatively small handful that have become household names are few and far between and the vast majority with names less familiar are often every bit the equal of their celebrity neighbors -- sometimes even better.

No less deserving of fame, they have escaped the publicity of being a venue for The British Open (only five Scottish courses enjoy that honor today) or hosting some other international tournament. Neither have they had praise heaped upon them by well-known professional players, to tout on their websites. Yet these very worthy courses remain the heart and soul of Scottish golf and only they, with far fewer visitors than the big boys, can provide the honest to goodness, genuine Scottish golf experience we all hope to find.

Ask any golfer who has taken a number of golf trips to Scotland, which course they found most enjoyable or which Scottish club sticks out most in their memory and chances are you may never have heard the name before. Fond memories are the best souvenir anyone can bring back from a vacation, so make sure you collect a few of your own on your Scottish golf trip.

Play a couple of those famous courses, but include a least some of the less heralded names as well and add another dimension to your trip. The following list offers a small sampling of the very best. How good are they? Each is a true gem, most are links layouts and they are all ranked among Scotland's top 50 courses.
Chances are St. Andrews is a part of your itinerary and whether you get to play the grand old lady or not, there are a host of gems within a 15-minute drive of The Old Course.

The sparkling new, St. Andrews Castle Course is only two miles outside of town and promises to be the toughest of all the layouts in the area, including The Old Course. Scheduled to open to the public at the end of June, this cliff-top track has already impressed the privileged few who have played it. It may not be a true links, but designer David McLay Kidd (of Bandon Dunes fame) has produced a stunner- just bring plenty of extra balls along.

It's only a few minutes further along the coastal road to the charming fishing village of Crail and one of Scotland's finest golf treasures, Crail-Balcomie Links, a 100-year old layout from Old Tom Morris himself. Startling elevation changes, holes that run along the beach, then through rocky outcrops and gorgeous views in every direction, Crail is a charmer that will capture your heart.

Close by is another enticing centenarian, Lundin Links, a restyling by the great James Braid of the original seaside layout. This classic contains every links defense known, including an old railway track running through the middle and a cantankerous wind that manages to frustrate and confuse to the extreme. Don't miss the very welcoming clubhouse, recently voted as the best in Scotland.

Playing a few of the legends of the West Coast? If Turnberry and Royal Troon are on your play list, you'll be surrounded by a wealth of golfing treasures. Not to be missed is Western Gailes, a shining star in the galaxy of sparklers that stud this links-rich coastline -- and this one already qualifies for legend status. Dundonald is another exceptional links that seems to have been sitting here for a hundred years, but is really only 4 years old. It's a masterpiece from Californian, Kyle Phillips, who took the golf world by storm in 2000 with his outstanding links design at Kingsbarns, near St. Andrews, now ranked number 7 in Scotland -- Dundonald won't disappoint.

Don't overlook Turnberry's second layout, The Kintyre Course, which since Donald Steel's impressive makeover in 2001, has developed into a championship course in its own right and is fast moving up the Scottish rankings. For a different experience, treat yourself to a day trip across the water to the whisky island of Islay. It's only a 30 minute flight from Glasgow Airport and there will be plenty of time for a round on the classic links at Machrie, visit a couple of whisky distilleries and be back in your Troon hotel in time for dinner.

If you have heard the call of the Scottish Highlands and will be playing fabled, Royal Dornoch and probably Nairn, there is a wonderful selection of little known links courses close by and Brora, Golspie, Tain and Fortrose & Rosemarkie should all be considered. Each is filled with history and with Tain designed by Old Tom Morris and the other three by James Braid, you know these are serious links layouts. And this is still only the tip of the iceberg.

Royal Aberdeen and Cruden Bay are the main attractions on Scotland's northeasterly seaboard and both of these crackerjack courses (only just now becoming known to most on this side of the pond) have a supporting cast of excellent, though totally unfamiliar links nearby. Murcar and Fraserburgh head the list of impressive unknowns, but best get there before the crowds.

Seven-time British Open host, Carnoustie, is a golfing legend that everyone wants to play and with good reason -- links golf simply doesn't get any tougher. But ignore the other gems surrounding this beauty and you'll be missing something very special. Montrose is a rough and tumble, windswept layout with claim to being the 5th oldest course in the world -- the game has been played here since the 16th century.

Panmure and Monifieth are both immediate neighbors of Carnoustie, sharing the same links coastline and either of these links will give any visitor a good run for their money. But don't overlook Carnoustie's second course, The Burnside. Far more forgiving than the Championship Course, Carnoustie Burnside provides an excellent warm-up round for the main attraction and the cost of a day ticket to play both, is a rare bargain.

For any who may have been fortunate enough to obtain a visitor time on Muirfield in East Lothian, this is one more Scottish region, overflowing with little known layouts that demand to be played. It's difficult to understand how Americans don't better know North Berwick, a classic links dating from 1832 and ranked number 10 in Scotland. But neither is Musselburgh known, the oldest playing course in existence, nor is Gullane # 1, Luffness New, Dunbar, nor the dozen or so other wonderful links courses that make their home here. Situated only a brief 30-minute drive from the heart of Edinburgh and filled with golf history, East Lothian literally calls out to golfers, but it seems few have been listening.

Scotland's famous, legendary layouts are important and should be experienced, but they only represent a small part of the entire golf picture. Miss out on playing a few of the lesser-known courses and you will be missing the very essence of Scottish golf.