The United Kingdom is the home of links golf, and we’ve put together a list of links layouts that are must plays in 2026.
Scotland, and in particular St Andrews, is the ‘Home of Golf’. It is the country where the game first came to be, and it is the true spiritual home of the sport, and links golf.
Today, there are links courses in every corner of the country. Some of those are world-renowned, while others you may have never heard of before.
If strolling through sand dunes and having the sea breeze in your hair is your favourite type of golf, then read on for links courses that you must play in 2026 – all of which you can do on the NCG Top 100s Tour…
RELATED – Why should you play on the NCG Top 100s Tour in 2026?
Which links courses are must plays on the NCG Top 100s Tour in 2026?
One of the highlights of northern Scotland is the Championship Course at Nairn, a layout which winds its way along the bay, bringing the North Sea into play throughout much of the front nine. It also has one of the most famous halfway houses in golf, ‘The Bothy’. The Championship Course at Nairn is also one of just nine venues in the United Kingdom that has hosted both the Amateur Championship and the Women’s Amateur Championship, along with the Walker Cup and Curtis Cup – the quartet of major amateur events in the country.
- Book your spot to play at Nairn on the NCG Top 100s Tour on May 19th, 2026 here.
The Old Petty Course has become the second 18-hole layout at the venue, located in the Scottish Highlands. It has joined the Castle Stuart Course, which played host to the Scottish Open on the DP World Tour for a number of years. It opens fully in May 2025, just a couple of weeks before the NCG Top 100s Tour makes the trip north.
- Book your spot to play on the Old Petty Course at Cabot Highlands on the NCG Top 100s Tour on May 21st, 2026 here.
- You can play at both Nairn and the Old Petty Course at Cabot Highlands as part of our Highlands Spring Swing, which also incorporates an event at Fortrose & Rosemarkie.
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Often described as the ‘toughest par 69 in the world’, Royal St David’s certainly presents a challenge for all golfers, no matter their handicaps. Sitting in the shadows of the glorious Harlech Castle, expect strong winds coming off the Irish Sea, and a fantastic par 3 to finish your round!
- Book your spot to play at Royal St David’s on the NCG Top 100s Tour on May 27th, 2026 here.
- You can also play at Royal St David’s as part of our West Wales Swing, which also incorporates an event at Aberdovey.
Conwy is the finest course on the North Wales coastline, and the third oldest in Wales behind only Rhyl and Tenby. With the backdrop of Conwy Mountain, and looking out over the bay, it is an enchanting place to play golf. You’ll also following in the footsteps of the world’s best amateurs, with the venue playing host to the Curtis Cup in 2021.
- Book your spot to play at Conwy on the NCG Top 100s Tour on July 8th, 2026 here.
- You can also play at Conwy as part of our North Wales Swing, which also incorporates events at Bull Bay and Prestatyn.
One of the oldest golf courses in Wales, Tenby’s history dates back to 1888. James Braid, one of the greatest golf course designers in history, was the man behind the 18-hole layout at Tenby, one that has remained relatively unchanged ever since.
- Book your spot to play at Tenby on the NCG Top 100s Tour on August 24th, 2026 here.
Another venue on the South Wales coastline, Ashburnham is a fantastic links offering. A host of the European Tour in days gone by, today, the course is a tough and true links layout. JH Taylor, Fred Hawtree and Ken Cotton have all had a hand in the design of the course over the years.
- Book your spot to play at Ashburnham on the NCG Top 100s Tour on August 26th, 2026 here.
- You can also play at both Tenby and Ashburnham as part of our South Wales Summer Swing, which also incorporates events at Machynys Peninsula and Pyle & Kenfig.
Spey Bay is a unique links course, one that you won’t find anywhere else. You might find dolphins frolicking in the bay, but you will struggle to find a traditional links course that is working its way to being fully reversible with 22 tee boxes and green complexes!
- Book your spot to play at Spey Bay on the NCG Top 100s Tour on September 7th, 2026 here.
When the first album is that good, you know the second is going to be even better, right? That’s what everyone at Trump International is saying about the New Course, which opened to the public in 2025. On the same strip of land as the Old Course, the New has seen the venue run with the tagline of “The Greatest 36 Holes in Golf”.
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- Book your spot to play on the New Course at Trump International on the NCG Top 100s Tour on September 8th, 2026 here.
- You can also play at both Spey Bay and Trump International (New) as part of our Aberdeenshire Swing, which also incorporates events at Newburgh-on-Ythan and Fraserburgh.
Furness Old Links is one of the oldest courses in England, with just two other links venues outdating this Cumbrian course. Sitting on the coastline of the northwestern county, Furness overlooks the Irish Sea, with views to the Isle of Man on a clear day.
- Book your spot to play at Furness Old Links on the NCG Top 100s Tour on September 15th, 2026 here.
- You can also play at Furness Old Links as part of our Cumbria Swing, which also incorporates events at Seascale and Appleby.
When Old Tom Morris designs a links course, and then the likes of James Braid, Fred Hawtree and JH Taylor come and make alterations in the years following, you know that it is going to be a world-class golf course. That’s exacly what you have at Wallasey – a proper links layout on the northern tip of the Wirral.
Old Tom Morris designed the links, with James Braid, Fred Hawtree and J.H. Taylor all involved in the design of the course throughout its history.
- Book your spot to play at Wallasey on the NCG Top 100s Tour on September 24th, 2026 here.
One of many stunning golf courses on the Wirral, the views at Caldy get better as you go through the round. The walk between the 2nd and 3rd holes takes you over the railway bridge, and out to the estuary. As you walk over the bridge, you can see the outline of Wales in the distance.
- Book your spot to play at Caldy on the NCG Top 100s Tour on September 25th, 2026 here.
- You can play at both Wallasey and Caldy as part of our Wirral Swing.
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Now have your say…
Is links golf your favourite type of golf? If so, what is the best links course that you have played? Which links venues do you want to take on in 2026? Let us know your thoughts with a post on X, formerly Twitter!
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