Windyhill Golf Club

You'll find Windyhill Golf Club just outside Glasgow, sitting in the rolling terrain where the Lowlands start to get interesting. It's a proper 18-hole championship course that's been going since 1908 - the kind of place where you can feel the weight of golfing history without it being stuffy about it.

The course plays to a decent length and genuinely tests your game. The layout moves through some lovely Scottish countryside, and on a clear day you get views that remind you why people come north to play. The greens are well-maintained, and the rough will punish you if you're not careful - which, if we're honest, is how it should be.

This is unmistakably a serious golfers' course. If you're a hacker looking for nine holes and a laugh, you might feel a bit out of place. But if you've got a handicap and you're keen to play something with some teeth, it's well worth seeking out. Expect to spend a full day here - four hours minimum on the course, plus time for the clubhouse.

Practical stuff: you'll need to check their website for green fees and booking requirements, as it's a members' club that does accept visitors. Rates vary depending on whether you're going midweek or weekends. The WHW Hotel & Campsite is a short drive away if you're basing yourself for a few days of golf tourism around the area.

Come in spring or early autumn when the weather's kinder and the course condition peaks.