Frommer's Scotland 8th Edition - To Parent Directory

THE BEST FISHING 7primordial seas, drenched withrains and the weak sunlight ofthese northern climes. See “The2 The Best GolfFor full details about golfing in Scotland,see “Teeing Off: Golfing in Scotland,”in chapter 3.• Turnberry Hotel Golf Courses(Ayrshire; & 01655/334-032):Established in 1902, this is one ofthe world’s most sought-aftercourses. It’s not for the faint ofheart—although some of the linksare verdant, others are uncomfortablypaired with the sands, thesalt-resistant tough grasses, and thepowerful winds blasting in fromthe nearby sea. See “Side Tripsfrom Glasgow: The Best of theStrathclyde Region” in chapter 6.• Royal Troon Golf Club (Ayrshire;& 01292/311-555): Laidout along lines paralleling theFirth of Clyde, this club fills a flatlowland terrain whose fairways arealmost breathtakingly greendespite their foundations on sandysoil. This is Lowland Scotland atits most seductive, a 7,097-yard(6,458m) course (one of Scotland’slongest) with a par of 71.See “Side Trips from Glasgow:The Best of the StrathclydeRegion” in chapter 6.• Old Course (St. Andrews;& 01334/466-666): Sometimeduring the late 14th century, agroup of bored aristocrats startedbatting a ball around the nearby3 The Best FishingFor more details about fishing in Scotland,see “Fishing” chapter 3.• The Borders & GallowayRegions: Sea fishing is pureheaven in the Solway Firth; it’sbest near Port William and Portpatrickvillages, in the vicinity ofOrkney Islands: An ArchaeologicalGarden” in chapter 12.meadows. By the time their activitieswere officially recorded in1552, the bylaws of the game werewell on the way to being part ofScotland’s lore. The Old Course isthe world’s most legendary templeof golf, one whose difficulty isshaped by nature and the long-agopaths of grazing sheep. See “St.Andrews: The Birthplace of Golf”in chapter 8.• Carnoustie Golf Links (Tayside;& 01241/853-789): Site of sixBritish Opens, Carnoustie ismuch more difficult than mostplayers anticipate at first glance.U.S. champions Tom Watson andGary Player have referred to it astheir favorite, and much of thetown of Carnoustie was builtbecause of the stream of worldclassgolfers who migrated here.See “Dundee & Glamis Castle” inChapter 9.• Royal Dornoch Golf Club(Sutherland; & 01862/810-219):This is the most northerly of theworld’s great golf courses, only 6°south of the Arctic Circle. Despiteits northern isolation, RoyalDornoch enjoys a microclimatemore akin to the fens around Norfolk,England, than to the Arctic.See “Sutherland: The Gem ofScotland” in chapter 10.Loch Ryan, and along the shore ofthe Isle of Whithorn. The elusivesalmon is best pursued along theRiver Tweed, and the lesserknownhill lochans are ideal fortrout fishermen. Local touristoffices distribute two helpful