Muirfield, The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, Gullane, East Lothian
Par 71, 7,245 yards
Website: www.muirfield.org.uk
The course: Host to 16 Open Championships and 11 Amateur Championships, this classic links rightly holds its place in the list of the world’s best golf courses. Renowned as the fairest golf course on the Open Championship rota, there are few better examples of a course where you must think smartly to score well. The course is laid out in two separate loops, the front none running clockwise on the outer and the back nine going in the opposite direction on the inner.
Signature hole: Considered to be the 1st, a 444-yard par 4 that Jack Nicklaus maintains is the toughest opening hole in golf.
What makes it special? The course changes direction constantly, so you’ll need imagination, a shrewd golfing brain and a comprehensive shot repertoire.