Seven nights across two bases, Inverness and Aberdeen, and six rounds along the coast between them: Castle Stuart and Nairn on the Moray Firth, Royal Dornoch on its own firth to the north, then Royal Aberdeen, Cruden Bay and Trump International Aberdeen on the North Sea. Gary Murphy hosts the week, with welcome and farewell dinners and sixteen travelers in all.
The week begins in Inverness and follows the coast south to Aberdeen. In Dornoch, a boy named Donald Ross grew up on the links that Golf Digest now ranks fourth in the world, before leaving in 1899 to design more than 400 courses in America. Herbert Warren Wind called Dornoch the most natural course in the world, and Tom Watson said it was the most fun he had ever had on a golf course.
Down the coast, Royal Aberdeen dates from 1780, making it one of the oldest golf clubs in the world. Cruden Bay runs beneath the ruins of Slains Castle, and Trump International Aberdeen winds through some of the tallest dunes in Britain. Every round sits on a different stretch of water, and every base is within reach of the next day’s golf.
Every Pursuit in Ireland and Scotland is hosted by Gary Murphy. A former European Tour professional with close to 300 Tour appearances, a share of 34th at the 2003 Open Championship and a career-best third at the 2008 Irish Open at Adare Manor, Murphy now competes on the Legends Tour, serves as Head Golf Professional at The K Club, and is a familiar voice on DP World Tour broadcasts. Across the week, on the course and over dinner, he brings the history and architecture of Scottish links golf to life.
Each base is placed for that stretch of the week’s golf, so the trip moves in one direction with no backtracking.
From a modern Moray Firth design to the course where Donald Ross grew up, each round sits on a different stretch of Scotland’s northeast coast, and five of the six rank among Golf Digest’s World’s 100 Greatest.
A modern links on the Moray Firth outside Inverness, hand-built by Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner alongside the late Mark Parsinen. Wide fairways, dramatic green sites and views across the firth have brought several Scottish Opens here, and Golf Digest ranks it No. 65 in the world.
Ranked No. 4 in Golf Digest’s World’s 100 Greatest, Dornoch sits on its own firth far into the Highlands, with plateau greens that turn every approach into a test of nerve in the wind. Donald Ross was born here and served as the club’s professional before leaving for America in 1899.
A classic links along the Moray Firth, with the water in view from every hole on the outward nine, firm fairways and rippling dunes. Nairn has hosted both the Walker Cup and the Curtis Cup.
Founded in 1780, Royal Aberdeen is one of the oldest golf clubs in the world, and its Balgownie links runs beside the North Sea through natural dunes. It received royal patronage from King Edward VII in 1903, has hosted the Scottish Open and the Walker Cup, and ranks No. 76 in the world.
Ranked No. 26 in the world by Golf Digest, Cruden Bay runs along the base of a high bluff, with tall dunes between the fairways and the North Sea. The ruins of Slains Castle, said to have inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula, stand on the cliffs just up the coast. It’s the kind of course Golf Digest’s editors say most visitors drive straight past.
Martin Hawtree’s links opened in 2012 through some of the tallest dunes in Britain, with firm, fast-running fairways, deep revetted bunkers and North Sea views the length of the round. Golf Digest ranks it No. 30 in the world.
Two bases, six rounds and Gary Murphy throughout, with dinners to open and close the week.
A private driver meets you at Inverness Airport for the transfer to Kingsmills Hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure, followed by a welcome dinner with the group and your host.
Round one, on the Moray Firth outside Inverness.
Round two, on the course regarded as the origin of the modern links game.
Round three, followed by the transfer to The Chester Hotel in Aberdeen.
Round four, on the Balgownie links, in continuous play since 1780.
Round five, through the dunes above the North Sea.
Private transfer to Aberdeen Airport.
Everything below is included for every traveler. Airfare to and from Scotland is arranged separately.
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