Gourock Golf Club

The Firth of Clyde stretches out below you as you walk the fairways at Gourock Golf Club - that's the proper draw here, not just a round of golf. Perched on the Ayrshire coast with views across to the Holy Loch, this is the kind of course where you'll spend half your time distracted by the landscape. The 18-hole layout winds through mature grounds that feel genuinely established without being stuffy about it. You'll get a real sense of Scottish golf tradition without the gate fees that come with the famous names inland.

It's worth the journey from Dunoon - about 20 minutes south - particularly if you're staying at Hunters Quay Holiday Village or Rosneath Castle Caravan Park nearby. Golfers obviously get the most from it, but the clubhouse is accessible to non-players, and the views alone make a walk around the perimeter worthwhile if you're not swinging clubs. Allow a good four hours minimum for a full round; the course isn't brutally long but it's steady going.

The real test isn't the difficulty - it's keeping your eye on the ball when you've got water views every few holes. Not a links course technically, but it captures that windswept coastal feel. Check their website for current green fees and membership details before you visit, as these can shift seasonally. Visit when the weather's decent; Scottish rain here arrives horizontally off the Firth.