How many golf courses are in Scotland?
The R&A counted 594 golf courses in Scotland at the end of 2020. However, GeoGolf Course currently lists 429 (listed on GeoGolf, checked 11 October 2026).
Golf courses in Scotland: the figures
The first row is an external figure from The R&A, Golf Around the World 2021 (year-end 2020). The other rows count the courses listed on GeoGolf Course, because we read them live from our database.
| Measure | Figure | Kind | Source and date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golf courses in Scotland | 594 | External figure | The R&A, year-end 2020 |
| Courses listed on GeoGolf in Scotland | 429 | Listed on GeoGolf | Live count, checked 11 October 2026 |
| Council areas with a listed course | 31 | Listed on GeoGolf | Live count, checked 11 October 2026 |
| Listed courses with a confirmed hole count | 55 of 429 | Listed on GeoGolf | Live count, checked 11 October 2026 |
| Courses recorded as closed (not counted above) | 4 | Listed on GeoGolf | Live count, checked 11 October 2026 |
Why the two figures differ
The two figures measure different things. The R&A counted facilities across the whole of Scotland at the end of 2020, using National Golf Foundation data. Meanwhile, GeoGolf Course counts the courses in its own directory today.
Our directory includes a course only when we can confirm that it is trading, so it can be smaller than a national count. It is still growing, too. However, the numbers come from different years and different methods. Treat them as two separate answers rather than subtracting one from the other.
Scotland golf courses by number of holes
We show a hole count only when we have confirmed it from the club’s own website. As a result, 374 of the 429 listed courses have no hole count yet, although they still count in the total. See also our list of 9 hole golf courses near you.
| Holes | Courses listed on GeoGolf |
|---|---|
| 18 holes | 46 |
| 9 holes | 9 |
| Hole count not yet confirmed | 374 |
Scotland golf courses by council area
Each council area links to its own page with every listed course. The counts cover courses listed on GeoGolf, not every course that exists, because the directory is still growing. The full table for the whole UK has its own page.
| Council area | Courses listed on GeoGolf |
|---|---|
| Fife | 46 |
| Highland | 36 |
| Aberdeenshire | 31 |
| Perth and Kinross | 26 |
| City of Edinburgh | 24 |
| Dumfries and Galloway | 22 |
| Argyll and Bute | 21 |
| East Lothian | 18 |
| North Ayrshire | 18 |
| Scottish Borders | 18 |
| South Lanarkshire | 16 |
| East Dunbartonshire | 14 |
| South Ayrshire | 14 |
| West Lothian | 14 |
| North Lanarkshire | 13 |
| Moray | 12 |
| Renfrewshire | 11 |
| Angus | 8 |
| East Renfrewshire | 8 |
| West Dunbartonshire | 7 |
| Aberdeen City | 6 |
| Clackmannanshire | 6 |
| Falkirk | 6 |
| Glasgow City | 6 |
| Midlothian | 6 |
| Stirling | 6 |
| Inverclyde | 5 |
| East Ayrshire | 4 |
| Orkney Islands | 3 |
| Dundee City | 2 |
| Na h-Eileanan Siar | 2 |
Closed courses are not counted
We have recorded 4 Scotland courses as permanently closed. They keep a page, but we leave them out of every count above, since a closed course is no longer somewhere to play. See the running log of golf course closures.
Explore golf in Scotland
- All 429 listed golf courses in Scotland
- Golf courses in Fife (46 listed)
- Golf courses in Highland (36 listed)
- Golf courses in Aberdeenshire (31 listed)
- Golf courses near Glasgow
- Golf courses near Edinburgh
- Golf courses near Aberdeen
- Golf courses near Dundee
- Golf courses near Inverness
- Read our Scotland golf guide for where to play.
- Compare nations in how many golf courses are in the UK.
Method and sources
- External figure. The R&A counts come from The R&A, Golf Around the World 2021 (year-end 2020), which uses National Golf Foundation facility data at the end of 2020. We replace the figures when the R&A publishes a newer nation-by-nation count.
- Listed on GeoGolf. These are live counts from the GeoGolf database, read when the page loads and dated 11 October 2026. A course is counted only if it is approved, released and not recorded as closed. A fact that failed our checks is hidden and never counted.
- Hole counts. A course has a hole count only when we have confirmed it from the club’s own website. A missing hole count is shown as not yet confirmed.
- Two kinds of number, never mixed. External figures and listed counts come from different years and methods, so we label each and do not add or subtract them.
- Open data. Download the listed courses as CSV or JSON. Data licence: attribution required, free to use (research, apps, AI training/citation). Attribute as "GeoGolf Course (https://geogolfcourse.co.uk)" and link back to the source page when practical.
Golf courses in Scotland: common questions
How many golf courses are in Scotland?
The R&A counted 594 golf courses in Scotland at the end of 2020. However, GeoGolf Course currently lists 429 (listed on GeoGolf, checked 11 October 2026).
How many golf courses does GeoGolf list in Scotland?
GeoGolf Course lists 429 courses in Scotland, spread across 31 council areas (listed on GeoGolf, checked 11 October 2026). Fife has the most, with 46, while Highland follows with 36.
Why does GeoGolf list fewer golf courses in Scotland than the R&A counted?
The two figures come from different years and different methods. The R&A counted facilities at the end of 2020, while GeoGolf Course counts the courses in its own directory today. Our list is smaller because we add a course only when we can confirm it is trading, so you should not subtract one figure from the other.
How many 18-hole golf courses are in Scotland?
Of the 429 courses listed on GeoGolf in Scotland, 46 have a confirmed 18-hole layout and 9 have nine holes. However, 374 have no confirmed hole count yet, so the full split is still unknown.