Destination: Scotland

Long considered the birthplace of golf, Scotland has become a must-visit pilgrimage for many golfers, especially those eager to tackle the unique challenges of traditional links played on the sandy soil and dunes next to the sea.

Every British Open Championship venue in Scotland offers at the very least limited public play, so it's easy to play the same shots as past Claret Jug winners, from Prestwick Golf Club to the most coveted Scottish course of them all: the Old Course in St. Andrews.

Though these prestigious hosts are the real draw for golf travelers, Scotland is rife with other lesser-known golf clubs that offer a similar, pure links experience at a fraction of the cost. Other areas, such as the remote Highlands, attract the masses for their long summer days, whisky and remote golf courses like Royal Dornoch and Brora.

Some golf groups pine for the even more remote courses found down along Scotland's Mull of Kintyre like Machrihanish, Shiskine and Machrie.

The most concentrated pockets of golf are around Edinburgh, from St. Andrews to the north, on down to East Lothian, which is home to a collection of links all within a short drive from Musselburgh, to Dunbar with Muirfield and North Berwick in between.

While Scotland's historic links lure worldwide visitors, a new breed of coastal golf courses have debuted in recent years. Kingsbarns, the Castle Course at St. Andrews, Machrihanish Dunes and Castle Stuart are all modern creations worthy of their soil in the birthplace of golf.