You can contrast those longstanding holes against younger ones built more recently in the south, after your opening round at Cabot Highlands. The property, home to the Mark Parsinen and Gil Hanse-designed Castle Stuart Golf Links, will expand in 2024 with the scheduled opening of a second course designed by the legendary Tom Doak.

Only 9 miles to the east of Castle Stuart, Nairn Golf Club boasts a history as captivating as the aforementioned royal courses. Stretching to 6,774 yards, Nairn’s championship course, which bears the fingerprints of two of Scotland’s legends—Old Tom Morris and James Braid—most recently hosted the Walker Cup in 1999. But if recent developments are most alluring, a visitor to Aberdeen & the Highlands must play a round at Trump International Golf Links, which boasts a layout created by Dr. Martin Hawtree, a course architect who each year is tasked by the R&A to subtly modify the course that is to host the next Open Championship.

Despite the above-mentioned half dozen golf clubs of superlative standing and quality, a Highlands and Aberdeen golf journey wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Cruden Bay Golf Club. Set along the shores of the North Sea, the course is quirky, playing over undulating terrain and offering views of the medieval castle ruins that inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula.