Many golf courses are blessed to enjoy some of the most spectacular locations you could possibly imagine. Whether they are perched atop mountains, run alongside the coastline, or are situated within tranquil woodlands, the environments that we play this magical game in can be truly special.
The scenery available from numerous venues is their greatest attribute. It's partly why the likes of Pebble Beach, Cape Kidnappers and Pinnacle Point are so internationally revered. Crans-sur-Sierre - host of the Omega European Masters - projects extraordinary vistas of the Swiss Alps around the globe every year.
Some views can be simply breathtaking. These memorable visuals enhance the layout, offering something unforgettable, creating a backdrop that makes a golf course seem that touch more dramatic and epic.
Golfshake's Derek Clements has previously shared some of his favourite scenic courses, while regular golfers themselves have brought a vast collection of fabulous places to our attention.
Returning to that topic recently, we asked people out there on social media to tell us which golf course had the very best views.
Naturally, many of the usual suspects appeared, and there were some other intriguing additions (which we'll feature at a later date), but there was one frequently mentioned destination that struck a particular, cherished chord in my heart.
The Most Scenic Golf Course You Didn't Know About
While I have now spent far more years away from the island than I had lived there, Rothesay on the Isle of Bute is where I was raised and it will always be the spot that I consider above all to be my hometown.
There are three wonderful courses on this jewel of an island that rests in the Firth of Clyde, easily accessible from the Scottish mainland, all of which are united in that they offer the most incredible views that rival anywhere else that I can think of, certainly throughout the UK.
I have written about them before - and will always champion what they have to give. Port Bannatyne is a unique 13-holer and then you have the 9-holes of Bute Golf Club, situated on the other side of the island, which gaze out across the water towards the mountainous peaks of Arran. This has always been my favourite of the bunch.
That said, I also hold affection for Rothesay Golf Club, the island's sole 18-hole course that sits above the main town, and it was no shock to see it referenced several times in the comments we received, as the views, almost from every corner, are extraordinary.
Although the club itself dates back to 1892, the present course was established in 1908 and was designed by the great Ben Sayers of North Berwick, who joined Open Championship legends Harry Vardon, James Braid, and Arnaud Massy (the reigning Champion Golfer of the Year) for a grand opening exhibition match on Saturday 30th May of that year.
This began the lifetime of a course that continues to captivate both members and visitors. Laid out across Canada Hill (nicknamed as such due to relatives using its vantage point to watch ships carrying family members who were emigrating to the New World), there isn't a hole at Rothesay that doesn't offer something interesting to behold around you, which was a fact apparent to the iconic American Walter Hagen when he stopped by during his glorious heyday of lifting major titles.
During your round, you will be able to see across the Firth of Clyde, the Cowal Hills, Lochs Ridden and Striven, the Isle of Arran and the Ayrshire Hills, Cumbrae, Loch Fad, Loch Ascog and the Kyles of Bute. A remarkable seven Scottish counties in total are visible from the course. That's a complete feast for the senses and a catalogue of individual views that could fill a photo album or annual calendar by themselves.
But there is ample intrigue to the holes beyond just what you can consume visually in the distance.
Every Hole Has Something Unique to Offer
The first and 18th - which run alongside each other sharing the same piece of ground - are contrastingly among the steepest and most downhill holes you are likely to play, while the early par fours at the second and third are both testing, with the latter featuring a tee shot that must be played over the blind crest of a hill.
Other standouts include the seventh, which is a stout walk but offers stunning views from the green, the scenic eighth is a par three that plays vertically downhill, while the course ends strongly with the engaging par five 16th and redoubtable par four 17th that leads you into the thrilling par three finishing hole where you hit straight down the hill (with views over the town) to a green that sits in front of the clubhouse.
Although short on the scorecard, Rothesay is a formidable stretch of the legs, it features plenty of steep inclines, with these changes of elevation just adding to a course that rewards strategy and thoughtful placement of shots over raw power. Tight in places, beguiling in others, it's a quintessential test of Scottish golf that possesses qualities that all golfers can appreciate.
More Golfers Need to Experience This Place
You don't just have to take my word for it, either. Here is one review on Golfshake: "Beautiful. Every hole has a spectacular view as you're constantly going up a hill, bar the rare few holes. Honestly the best cheap course (£30 on weekdays, £40 on weekends) you could ever play."
And here's another that was submitted in 2024: "Incredible views. Fabulous experience for many reasons. Everyone very friendly, golf course in superb condition, good range of holes with a few dramatic par 3s. Yes, it was sunny, yes, I played well, but it's clear to me there is a real club atmosphere here with enormous history. Most noteworthy for me were the greens, absolutely immaculate."
While it's certain that some of you reading this will have played here before, most of you likely haven't. Golfers exploring more remote areas of Scotland's west coast often take a ferry from Ayrshire to Arran (where there are seven courses to play) and work their way towards the joys of Kintyre, sadly bypassing entirely the Isle of Bute and all that it can offer visitors, including rich history, stunning architecture, nature at your fingertips, wildlife to uncover, and all manner of outdoor activities to relish.
Part of that is a trio of enjoyable, visually intoxicating golf courses, with Rothesay Golf Club perhaps the most scenic that you haven't heard of before.
Until now, that is. This is a tee time and experience that is waiting for you.
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