I’m writing to you at 34,000 feet, heading home from Scotland after a week of spectacular golf, dramatic scenery, and a sensible amount of single malt with my best mate of 50 years, a solid geezer by the name of Dave.
While this wasn’t a standard client itinerary (we bypassed Edinburgh entirely in favour of maximum time on the fairways) it delivered so many exceptional moments that it would be a disservice not to share them. Whether your ideal Scottish escape involves 36 holes a day, zero golf whatsoever, or a civilized blend of both, the secret lies in tailoring the details.
Here is what Dave and I got up to on our excellent Scottish reunion.
Schloss Roxburghe | The Scottish Borders
Nestled south of Edinburgh, this 5-star estate is a tale of two delights: a grand historic castle hotel paired with the cozy, luxurious Roxburghe Cottages. The two-bedroom cottages are ideal for a golf or fishing getaway, with championship fairways on-site and salmon fishing along the nearby River Tweed.
Our cottage was sheer comfort, the course was beautiful, and the hotel’s Whisky Bar was nothing short of heroic, featuring a 24-page whisky menu printed in a font so small it practically required a magnifying glass.
1881 Gin Distillery School | Peebles
Booked on a whim just days before our travels, this turned out to be the finest tasting and distilling experience I’ve enjoyed anywhere. Tucked inside the historic Peebles Hydro Hotel, it is an interactive masterclass that pairs a distillery tour and guided tasting with a hands-on session at your own mini copper still.
You get to curate your own botanicals to distill, bottle, and label a bespoke 70cl bottle of personalized gin, with your custom recipe kept safely on file for seamless reorders when your home stash inevitably runs dry.
Fairmont St Andrews
If the Old Course Hotel or Rusacks feel a touch eye-watering on the budget, the Fairmont St Andrews is an absolute masterstroke. Perched on the coastal cliffs just two miles south of town, it boasts two world-class courses of its own. It’s so well-positioned that you could easily drop anchor here for a week and play a different legendary course every day without driving more than four miles.
The Old Course | St Andrews
The indisputable Home of Golf—a place where history practically hums in the air the moment you step onto the turf. From the tiny Starter’s Hut to walking the fairways with a seasoned caddie, playing here instils a deep, cathartic realization that you are experiencing something truly rare in a life well lived.
I am a grateful human.
J5 Tip: Securing a guaranteed tee time on the Old Course is a multi-page dissertation in itself. If this is on your bucket list, start planning with us at least 15 months in advance. Seriously.
The Dunvegan Pub
Following a tip from one of our specialist golf partners, Dave and I finished our round on the 18th, threw our clubs in the boot, and hobbled on aching legs roughly 200 yards to The Dunvegan.
This legendary golf pub is a shrine to the game, every inch of the walls and ceiling is covered in signed photos and memorabilia from virtually every golfing titan to have ever swung a club in St Andrews. We replayed all 18 holes over a pint and a dram, debated the "what-ifs," and soaked up an atmosphere of pure golfing reverence.
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