| Rank | Course | The view | Best holes | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Turnberry Ailsa | Lighthouse, Ailsa Craig, Arran, Kintyre | 4–11, esp. the 9th under the lighthouse | £1,000 / £475 / £175 winter |
| 2 | Turnberry King Robert the Bruce | Cliffs over Kintyre's Cove, lighthouse, Craig | 9th clifftop green; Bain's Hill holes | c. £250 |
| 3 | Portpatrick Dunskey | Irish Sea, Ireland, Isle of Man, Kintyre, Cumbria | 13th 'Sandeel' | c. £45 |
| 4 | Girvan | Ailsa Craig straight ahead, Arran north, beach beside you | 1–8 | c. £30 |
| 5 | Stranraer | Loch Ryan, Ailsa Craig, Arran | 5th from the elevated tee | £50 |
| 6 | Wigtownshire County | Luce Bay and the Machars | shore holes, 12th | £60 |
| 7 | Prestwick St Nicholas | Arran from every hole | seaside run | £90–130 |
| 8 | Western Gailes | Arran across the Firth, shore holes | long southward stretch | £310 |
| 9 | Royal Troon | Firth and Arran on the outward nine | 1–6 along the shore | £365 (2025) |
| 10 | Belleisle | Arran across the estate treetops | higher holes | council |
When to play for the view
Late afternoon and evening, when the sun is behind Ailsa Craig from Girvan and Turnberry and the light is on Arran from Prestwick and Troon; in June it is bright until ten. After a westerly clears, visibility to Ireland from Portpatrick and Bennane is at its best. Winter afternoons give the clearest air of all — and the cheapest fees.
For non-golfers with a camera
The public coastal path crosses Turnberry's Ailsa course to the lighthouse; Girvan prom runs beside the first holes; the Southern Upland Way passes Portpatrick's 13th. See photography spots.
Prices and visitor policies checked August 2026 against the club's own website and cross-checked with independent golf guides. Clubs revise rates every season and restrict visitor times around competitions, so confirm directly before you book.
