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A green at Scotscraig at dawn, framed by gorse and treesScotscraig's fairways and trees at sunset, with the Tay estuary beyondThe course seen through the Scotscraig clubhouse windows

“…the Final Qualifying venue I went up to was Scotscraig. I just remember it being an incredible experience.”

Justin Rose, 2013 U.S. Open champion, on trying to qualify for The Open there at 14

Historic links · Fife

Scotscraig Golf Club

Tayport, Fife, Scotland · Area: St Andrews, Fife & Angus

  • Links
  • No handicap needed
  • Visitors 7 days

Last checked

About the course

Scotscraig Golfing Club is a par-71 course in Tayport, in north Fife, about 20 minutes from St Andrews. It measures 6,698 yds from the back tees. The club describes it as a blend of traditional Scottish links and heathland, with greens that play firm and fast when conditions allow.

The 1st, Admiral, usually plays into the prevailing wind, with out of bounds up the right. The signature hole is the 4th, Westward Ho, a short dogleg-right par 4 to a raised green guarded by pot bunkers and steep slopes. The club calls the drive at the 8th one of the hardest tee shots on the course, over purple heather to a reverse two-tier green. The 11th, Shanwell, is a long dogleg par 4 with a burn along the bottom of the fairway, and a ditch surrounds the sloping island green at the short 13th.

The club was founded in 1817 by members of the St Andrews Society of Golfers, which later became the Royal and Ancient Golf Club. It began as six holes on the Garpit Race Course, and the first two holes are unchanged since then. Davie Robertson and Old Tom Morris laid out the course, and James Braid later refined it. The club says Braid's raised green at the 4th inspired the "Knoll," a template C.B. Macdonald and Seth Raynor took to American courses such as Piping Rock and Yale. Scotscraig has hosted Final Qualifying for The Open six times, and the Scottish PGA Championship in 2023 and 2025. Justin Rose tried to qualify here for The Open in 1995, at 14, and is an honorary member.

Visitors don't need a formal handicap. It's a walking course: carts are only for golfers with a medical certificate or blue badge. It suits a group based in St Andrews that wants a historic course away from the crowds, and American golfers who know Macdonald and Raynor courses will recognize the 4th.

Can we play it?

Yes, visitors can book tee times seven days a week, all year. You don't need a handicap certificate. Add it to your trip and Scotland Golf Tours requests the tee time for you.

  • Access

    Scotscraig was founded in 1817 and is open to visitors every day of the year. The club asks visitors to know basic etiquette and keep up a good pace of play. Groups of fewer than four may be paired with other golfers. The course is a traditional Scottish links with heathland features. Old Tom Morris laid it out and James Braid later refined it. It has been a Final Qualifying venue for The Open six times.

  • The catch

    Golf carts are for golfers with a medical certificate or blue badge only. You also pay in full up front, and after a 7-working-day grace period the booking can't be refunded.

  • Our tip

    Scotscraig is about 20 minutes from St Andrews, across the Tay from Carnoustie. It works well as a second round near St Andrews or on a day without an Old Course tee time. Book caddies at least 24 hours ahead and bring £70 in cash for each one.

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Add Scotscraig to your golf trip

We build a day-by-day plan, then Scotland Golf Tours requests the tee times and sends a final quotation.

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At a glance

Checked 20 Oct 2026 · prices in US$, converted from the club's own currency
Course type
Links
Visitor days
Seven days a week, all year. The club doesn't publish set visitor tee-time hours.
Handicap limit
No formal handicap required. Players should know basic golf etiquette and keep a good pace of play.
Green fee
$335£250 · 2027 · checked 20 Oct 2026
Rates
2027 high season (1 May–31 Oct): £250 a round. 2027 shoulder season (1–30 Apr): £150. 2026 high season (1 May–31 Oct): £225. Juniors 18 and under pay half. The club publishes no winter rate and no separate weekday or weekend prices. Scottish Golf members (£95) and reciprocal clubs (£50) get lower rates, but these don’t apply to American visitors. Full payment is taken up front.
How to book
With your trip: Scotland Golf Tours requests it for youThe club also takes bookings direct
Caddies
Caddies are available; request one at least 24 hours ahead. The fee is £70, paid to the caddie in cash (sterling) at the end of the round. Each caddie carries one bag. Caddies are self-employed, so availability varies. In very busy periods the pro shop may offer a forecaddie.
Buggies and trolleys
Self-drive carts cost £45, but only golfers with a medical certificate or blue badge can use them. They're first come, first served and depend on ground conditions. Pull trolleys cost £8 and electric trolleys £20 (book ahead). TaylorMade rental clubs cost £50 with a sleeve of balls (book ahead).
Nearest airport
Edinburgh Airport (EDI) · about 75 min

How to get a tee time

Put Scotscraig in your trip and the specialists handle the booking.

  1. Build your trip

    Tell the trip builder your dates, group and handicaps. Scotscraig goes into the plan.

  2. Get a checked plan

    Day by day, with Scotscraig's visitor rules, drive times and an estimate in dollars.

  3. Scotland Golf Tours requests the time

    They send every player's name and handicap to the club, arrange caddies, and send a final quotation.

  4. Say yes, then play

    Nothing is booked until you confirm.

Our golf travel partner

Want Scotscraig booked for you?

Scotland Golf Tours handles tee times, hotels, drivers and caddies, and sends a final quotation.

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Scotscraig

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2027 dates to know

  • The 155th Open at St Andrews runs 11–18 July 2027. Expect heavy traffic and very scarce hotel rooms around St Andrews that week. Scotscraig is not one of the four announced 2027 Final Qualifying venues.

The clubhouse

Scotscraig's red-roofed clubhouse beside the first tee

FAQ

Can visitors play Scotscraig?
Yes. Visitor tee times are open seven days a week, all year. You pay in full up front.
Can you book Scotscraig for us?
Yes. Build your trip with Scotscraig in it and Scotland Golf Tours requests the tee time and sends a final quotation. Nothing is booked until you confirm.
Can we book it ourselves?
Yes, directly with the club. If Scotscraig is one of several courses on your trip, it’s simpler to plan the whole trip in one go.
Do we need a handicap certificate?
No. The club doesn't require a formal handicap. It asks that you know basic etiquette and keep a good pace.
Can we rent golf carts?
Only with a medical certificate or blue badge. Otherwise you walk, with a caddie, a pull trolley (£8) or an electric trolley (£20).
Are caddies available?
Yes, for £70 per bag, paid to the caddie in cash. Request one at least 24 hours ahead. Availability varies because caddies are self-employed.
What if our plans change?
You pay in full up front. You get a full refund only if you cancel within 7 working days of paying. If the club closes the course, it will try to offer another time or refund you.

Sources

  1. 1. Scotscraig Golfing Club: Visitors (green fees, caddies, carts, dress code)20 Oct 2026
  2. 2. Scotscraig Golfing Club: Booking Terms & Conditions20 Oct 2026
  3. 3. Scotscraig Golfing Club: Home20 Oct 2026
  4. 4. Scotscraig Golfing Club: History20 Oct 2026
  5. 5. Scotscraig Golfing Club: Course20 Oct 2026
  6. 6. Scotscraig visitor booking20 Oct 2026
  7. 7. The Open: Final Qualifying venues 2027 confirmed20 Oct 2026
  8. 8. Quote: Justin Rose, 2013 U.S. Open champion, on trying to qualify for The Open there at 1420 Oct 2026

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