In Scotland, the golfing season normally extends from April through October. This window should be your starting point for planning your trip dates. Outside of these months, it is possible to travel, but keep in mind that the cold weather will make for a chilly experience.

Best Time to Play Golf in Scotland

In addition, most courses require fairway matting to be used throughout the winter, and several of the more well-known courses, like Castle Stuart and Kingsbarns, are closed entirely.

As a result, we recommend sticking with the traditional travel season.

Climate plays a vital role

However, your perspective of the climate will be shaped to a considerable extent by where you’re from and what you’re used to. Although the weather is frequently ‘changeable,’ the UK’s climate is officially classified as “temperate.” On a links course, the wind is likely to be your biggest adversary, but that’s part of the fun.

Preparing for a little rain and having a waterproof contingency on hand is the greatest advice. We shouldn’t have a chilly spell outside of the winter season. Rather than burdening yourself with cumbersome stuff, you may always buy anything here and contribute to Scotland’s woolen sector. Finally, we’ll be playing golf in low-lying places, so we shouldn’t have to deal with the worst of Scotland.

Summer in Scotland

The longest day of the year is a day or two before or after June 20th. In the Highlands, the sun rises at roughly 04.00 and sets at approximately 22.30. With 17 hours of usable daylight, you can get a lot done. This allows you to play two games if desired, or use daylight to travel between places to open up the entire country. You can add around three days to a week-long golf package tour. In St Andrews, July is the hottest month of the year. The Old Course is a popular destination for golfers.

The school summer vacations begin in the middle of the month, which can lead to a super peak’ season that lasts until mid-August. According to anecdotal evidence, the St Andrews Links Trust believes the first week of August is their busiest of the year. Warming summer air, on the other hand, has begun to add moisture to the atmosphere. The amount of rain that falls in August is unexpectedly higher than you may expect.

Winter in Scotland

Because of the good drainage for sand content in the soils and the fact that they are near sea level, a surprising number of courses remain open during the winter. By today, green fees are frequently half-priced. There are also significant cost savings to be had in terms of lodging. The weather, not the lack of availability on the tee-sheet (even the tee-sheet at St Andrew’s is rarely filled during December, January, and February), is our biggest obstacle to playing. In terms of rainfall, February is one of the driest months of the year.

The moisture in the atmosphere has been drawn out by the frigid air. If you can notice a favorable prognosis and act on it, you may almost likely have some completely exquisite conditions for half the amount you’d spend a few months later. However, you will almost always be expected to follow ‘winter rules.’

Autumn in Scotland

In St Andrews, September is the wettest month of the year, as is the autumn season. It’s also responsible for some of the most ideal playing conditions, which include a warm sun and fresh air. These conditions are most common in the Highlands, where the higher latitude causes the seasons to advance by around three weeks. The first two weeks of September are clear at St Andrew’s, but the Old Course is closed to tourists after that until the first week of October. The Dunhill Links Challenge (a European tour event) takes place at Carnoustie and Kingsbarns towards the end of September.

Many courses switch to their shoulder season prices around the middle of October. In early October, visitor play at Royal Troon comes to an end. Kingsbarns is released a few weeks later, in early November. The United Kingdom switches to Greenwich Meantime at the end of October. As the winter draws nearer, we lose an hour of daylight.

Travelers keep an eye

When planning your Scottish golf vacation, there’s one major event to keep in mind: The Open. The advent of the Claret Jug in Scotland has caused considerable disruption for golfers. The host course is often closed 4-6 weeks before the tournament, with extra limitations such as fairway mats in place. So, if you’re planning a trip to The Old Course, Muirfield, Carnoustie, Royal Troon, or Turnberry ahead of The Open, May is a good time to go. Playing the host of The Open in the aftermath of the tournament is, of course, a thrilling experience.

St. Andrews in September

September may not be the best month to visit if you want to get Old Course tee times. Throughout September, the R&A and other St. Andrews golf clubs host a variety of activities and meetings. Due to this, as well as preparations for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, The Old Course is normally closed for several days in September. This isn’t to imply that St. Andrews hasn’t had a bad month. The Old Course isn’t the only game in town, either. However, if you want to have the best chance of getting a spot on The Old Course tee list, you should wait another month.

But, for lodging availability, make sure your alternative isn’t the University of St. Andrews’ graduation week.

The year 2022 for Golfers

Perhaps the most important element that will influence when you go on your Scotland golf trip is extremely relevant. The extraordinary impact of COVID-19 on golf travel has put a strain on availability at Scotland’s most prestigious golf courses. As a result, you might discover that 2022 is the year for you.

Naturally, when it comes to narrowing down the dates of your trip, your H&B Expedition Planning Manager will assist you in navigating all of these factors. They can utilize their knowledge of availability to steer you to the correct window of time if you have specific courses in mind. Similarly, if you already have a set of dates in mind, they’ll be able to tell you which courses and places will be the greatest fit for your schedule.

Of course, deciding when to go on your golf trip to Scotland is only one of the many decisions you’ll have to make as part of the preparation process. Every one of those decisions will be handled by your Expedition Planning Manager, but you may get started with some helpful information at the links below.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best month to play golf in Scotland?

Late May and/or early June are the best times to visit Scotland for golf if you don’t mind paying high season rates. The courses and accommodations are not overcrowded, the days are lengthy, and the courses are in excellent condition.

We propose April if you want to take advantage of off-season rates.

Can you golf year-round in Scotland?

The Courses Are Available All Year: Scottish courses are open all year, but only locals play them in the winter. That’s especially good news at St. Andrews, where getting a tee time on the Old Course (which is a 50–50 proposition from April through October) is practically a given at this time of year. Check it out for yourself.

How late can you play golf in Scotland?

Scotland has a lot of daylight hours during the summer because of its northern location. From late May to early September, the sun rises at 5 a.m. and does not set until 10 p.m. It is absolutely possible for golfers to go out for a round after an early dinner, weather permitting.

What months Can you golf in Scotland?

In Scotland, the golfing season typically runs from April to October. This window should be your starting point for planning your trip dates. Outside of these months, it is possible to travel, but keep in mind that the cold weather will make for a chilly experience.

Do I need a handicap to play golf in Scotland?

Some Scottish golf courses require all golfers to be able to provide official handicap confirmation. In most cases, a letter from your club is insufficient.