Skip to content
TheScottish Golf Collection
Enquire

When to go

Links golf in Scotland is played all year, but the month you choose shapes everything: the light, the weather, the crowds and the colour of the hills. Here is each month at a glance, with real daylight and climate figures.

The year at a glance

Average sunshine by month, east coast

Hours of bright sunshine per month at Leuchars, beside St Andrews (1991–2020)

0
50
100
150
200

May is, on average, the sunniest month of the year, and June brings the longest days. For most visitors, late May to mid June and the first half of September offer the best balance of weather, light and availability.

How late can you tee off?

Choose a course and a date to see sunrise, sunset and the latest start that should let you finish 18 holes in daylight, allowing about 4 hours for a round on foot.

Sunrise
–
Sunset
–
Daylight
–
Latest 18-hole start
–

Month by month

  1. January

    Winter

    Short days and bracing links golf for the hardy, with Edinburgh at its most atmospheric.

    7 hr 32 min of daylight mid-month in St Andrews; average high 6.8°C

  2. February

    Winter

    Still winter, with lengthening afternoons and snow on the hills inland.

    9 hr 35 min of daylight mid-month in St Andrews; average high 7.7°C

  3. March

    Shoulder season

    The season stirs: clocks go forward, days lengthen quickly, and the courses are quiet.

    11 hr 47 min of daylight mid-month in St Andrews; average high 9.6°C

  4. April

    Good

    Fresh, bright and uncrowded, with the gorse beginning to flower along the coast.

    14 hr 13 min of daylight mid-month in St Andrews; average high 11.8°C

  5. May

    Our pick

    Our favourite month: long days, gorse in bloom, and the sunniest weather of the year on average.

    16 hr 22 min of daylight mid-month in St Andrews; average high 14.5°C

  6. June

    Our pick

    The longest days of the year: evening golf, light after ten, and the season in full swing.

    17 hr 40 min of daylight mid-month in St Andrews; average high 17.2°C

  7. July

    Good

    Peak season: warm by Scottish standards, busy, and often the month of The Open.

    17 hr 07 min of daylight mid-month in St Andrews; average high 19.3°C

  8. August

    Good

    Heather on the hills, festivals in Edinburgh, and long, warm-ish days.

    15 hr 10 min of daylight mid-month in St Andrews; average high 19.1°C

  9. September

    Our pick

    Firm, fast links, golden light and easing crowds. A favourite of seasoned visitors.

    12 hr 48 min of daylight mid-month in St Andrews; average high 16.8°C

  10. October

    Shoulder season

    Autumn colour, quieter courses and softer light, with the clocks going back at the end.

    10 hr 28 min of daylight mid-month in St Andrews; average high 13.2°C

  11. November

    Winter

    The season winds down: short days, winter rules, and St Andrew's Day at the end of the month.

    8 hr 13 min of daylight mid-month in St Andrews; average high 9.5°C

  12. December

    Winter

    The shortest days, festive Edinburgh, and Hogmanay to see in the new year.

    6 hr 55 min of daylight mid-month in St Andrews; average high 7°C

Monthly averages for 1991–2020 from Met Office station records. The Paisley and Nairn stations closed during this period, so their averages cover roughly twenty years. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Found your month?

Tell us when you would like to travel. We will advise honestly on what is realistic for the courses you have in mind, and plan the journey around the best of the season.

Begin Planning Your Journey