Historic Golf Clubs
in Scotland

Golf was born in Scotland. The earliest written records of the game date to 15th-century Scotland, and for centuries the country's links courses — carved by wind and sea along the coastline — defined what golf looked and felt like. When the first formal clubs were established, Scotland was already a nation that understood golf not as a sport but as a way of life.

The clubs in this list are the living proof of that heritage. Many of them predate the formation of golf's governing bodies. Some played host to the first Open Championships. Others occupy ground that has been grazed by golfers for so long that the turf itself seems to know what it is for.

Scotland has 328 golf clubs in The Centenary database that are 100 years or older. Among them are 7 clubs that hold a Royal designation — the highest independent mark of distinction in the game. Together they represent a concentration of historic golf that is unmatched anywhere in the world.

Below you will find the complete list, ordered by founding year. We also highlight the clubs that currently qualify for The Centenary network based on our Provenance Index — our transparent measure of a club's international and regional standing.