Golf is one of my great passions…it has been since I was a child.
No matter where I am in the world, I like to have a golf course on my doorstep.
My home in Portugal, in the Praia D’El Rey Golf and Beach Resort on the Silver Coast, boasts a world-class course that’s set amid pine forests and undulating dunes. My condo in Cabo San Lucas, in the 5-star Quivira Resort, is home to a spectacular coastal course designed by Jack Nicklaus. Here in Ireland, I can see a golf course out of my window. That’s the course at the Fota Island resort.
The golf course is where I go to unwind…where I go to think…and often it’s where I get my best ideas.
I’ve even recorded a video to explain why golf makes me a better investor (click here to check it out). And I’ve written a book called How to Retire Early and Golf Every Day—for Half the Cost of Staying Home. (Members of my Real Estate Trend Alert group can access it here for free. Not a RETA member? Join here now.)
It’s fair to say that golf is never far from my mind. And with the 152nd Open having just wrapped up at Royal Troon in Scotland and still fresh in the memory, my team and I have been investigating an old thought I’ve had…
How much would it cost to own a home close to one of Scotland’s legendary courses?
St. Andrews in Scotland is the home of golf. Scotland is a mecca for anyone who loves the game. Yet, owning a nice home near one of Scotland’s legendary courses can cost less than you’d think…
For avid golfers like me, Scotland is a hallowed place. It’s home to some of the most celebrated courses in the world, including the world’s first—the iconic St. Andrews Old Course.
Playing Scottish courses like St. Andrews is a bucket-list achievement for many golfers, myself included (I was fortunate enough to play St. Andrews some years back). Indeed, every year golfers from around the world descend on Scotland to test themselves on courses like St. Andrews, Muirfield, Royal Troon, Turnberry…
And yet, homes within easy commuting distance of these golf courses can be surprisingly affordable. That means you could have a base where you could spend a couple of weeks each year working on your handicap…and potentially make some rental income from your fellow golf fanatics when you’re not using it.
With this in mind, I asked my team to look for some interesting listings close to some of Scotland’s greatest golf courses. Here’s what they found… (Note, we haven’t visited these properties or done any due diligence on them.)
A Charming Two-Bedroom Cottage Close to St Andrews Old Course for $238,690
As you prepare to hit your opening drive from the hallowed first tee at St. Andrews Old Course, you’re aware of the ancient R&A clubhouse looming behind you. All around onlookers stand watching and yes, judging…this is not for the faint-hearted.
The 127-yard, wide opening tee should be one of the easiest in the game, but the weight of history hangs heavy, and the relief that comes with a decent shot is palpable. And then you’re away, walking in the footsteps of the game’s greats…
A round at The Old Course is on the bucket list of just about every serious golfer.
St Andrews has hosted 30 Opens, more than any other venue. Past winners at the venue include such luminaries as Dick Burton, Jack Nicklaus (twice), Seve Ballesteros, John Daly, and Tiger Woods (twice).
As Jack Nicklaus famously observed, “If you’re gonna be a player that’s gonna be remembered, you must win at St. Andrews.”
That’s partly because St. Andrews features one of the most infamous holes in all of golf, The Road Hole. Stats show that the par-4 has been the hardest hole among all the courses that host The Open Championship. You might need to play here a few times before you get it right…
And for that you’d need a base somewhere close. With a small cottage near to St Andrews, you’d have the perfect excuse to spend a couple of weeks in Scotland each summer, getting to grips with one of the most challenging courses in golf.
And you won’t need to break the bank…
For instance, this charming two-bed cottage is listed for £185,000 ($238,690) and is just outside the small town of Newburgh and only a 30-minute drive from the Old Course. It’s been refurbished and features double glazing throughout, as well as high-quality finishes in the kitchen, and solid oak doors.
Covering three floors, the cottage has two bedrooms. The master bedroom has a walk-in wardrobe and ensuite bathroom. There’s an open-plan kitchen/lounge and a private garden.
In peak season, my team found two-bed Airbnbs listing for £100 to £200 in Newburgh, such as this one, so it’s easy to imagine you could list this cottage as a short-term rental in that range.
A 25-minute drive from St. Andrews Old Course, this cottage would give you the perfect excuse to play at the Home of Golf every summer.
An Historic Two-Bedroom Cottage Near Royal Troon for $290,360
When the sun shines on Royal Troon, the Firth of Clyde river estuary sparkles, and the ancient sandstone clubhouse glows. When the weather’s fine, you can see the island of Ailsa Craig to the south while the mountains of the Isle of Arran are visible to the west.
Royal Troon first hosted The Open in 1923 and now has hosted the event a total of 10 times, most recently, of course, just last weekend.
The classic links layout at Royal Troon features the first six holes running along the stunning Scottish coastline. However, the course’s signature hole is undoubtedly the short par-3 eighth, known as the “Postage Stamp,” after the diminutive size of the green. It’s been the downfall of many a top player over the years and with no safe way to play the hole, it’s a real test of nerve and skill.
The Royal Troon clubhouse has changed little since it was completed in 1886.
Just a 10-minute drive from Royal Troon, my team found this two-bedroom stable cottage on the historic Coodham Estate, in the village of Symington. It’s priced at £225,000 ($290,360). Both Coldham House mansion, which dates to the mid-1800s, and the stables have been restored with high-spec fixtures and fittings.
The stable cottages look out over a picturesque, cobbled courtyard, with a charming well at its center. The cottage boasts a wood-burning stove, modern and spacious kitchen area and two large double bedrooms. There’s also a shared garden at the back of the cottage.
Most Airbnb listings for other two-bedroom cottages in the same area are priced at around £200 and above for the night during peak season.
This two-bedroom cottage, priced at £225,000, is just a 10-minute drive from Royal Troon and 40 minutes away from Glasgow.
A Three-Bedroom House 10 Minutes’ Drive from Muirfield for £370,000
Muirfield, with its lush green fairways and devilish wind off the North Sea, is a challenge for even the most skilled golfer.
This course has hosted a total of 16 Opens, the first of which was all the way back in 1892. The most recent was in 2013, when Phil Mickelson produced a superlative final round to take home the Claret Jug at the 142nd Open Championship.
The first nine holes take you in a clockwise direction around the outer edge of the course. After you finish the ninth hole, you’ll start the back nine, which goes in the opposite direction (counterclockwise) and through the inner part of the course.
Home of The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, Muirfield is considered to be the oldest golf club in the world.
My team found this three-bedroom end-terrace cottage for sale, just a 10-minute drive from Muirfield. It features three double-bedrooms, one of which is an ensuite. There’s also a small garden and convenient links to local public transport networks.
The proximity to Muirfield would likely give this home serious rental appeal with golf fanatics, and it’s just a 40-minute drive to Edinburgh, the Scottish capital and one of the most beautiful historic cities in Europe. Though at £370,000 ($477,690) it’s not cheap.
This picturesque three-bedroom cottage is just a 40-minute drive from Edinburgh with its ancient streets, pubs, and restaurants.
Ronan McMahon, Founder, Overseas Dream Home & Real Estate Trend Alert
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Your Daily Dream Home
Caprese, Michelangelo, Tuscany, Italy
This charming two-bedroom stone home is located in a small hamlet in Tuscany, Italy.
The living space is spread across two floors, with a kitchen, living room, and bathroom on the first floor and two bedrooms on the second. The ground floor features two garages and a service room.
The home retains its original terracotta floors and wooden beamed ceilings. All windows are double-glazed, and heating is provided by a wood-burning stove and electric radiant panels.
A grocery shop and restaurant are just over a mile away, while Caprese Michelangelo, a picturesque village known as the birthplace of Renaissance artist Michelangelo, is only 5 minutes by car.
The village is set amongst the picturesque forests and rolling hills of the Tuscan Apennines. The spectacular Tuscan countryside, with its soft golden light, has captivated artists for centuries.
