Scotland's Endangered 5th Oldest Course
Standing on the 2nd tee at Montrose Golf Links, you're playing golf on borrowed time. The North Sea, churning just meters away, claimed seven meters of this historic fairway last year alone—more than double the predicted rate. The same wind that's tested golfers here since 1562 now threatens to erase part of the course entirely.
This isn't hyperbole. It's scientific fact backed by government data and £440,000 in emergency funding.
Montrose Golf Links is the 5th oldest golf course in the world, with 462 years of unbroken play stretching back to 1562. But accelerating coastal erosion, intensified by storms in late 2023 and early 2024, has placed this historic links in genuine peril. The iconic 2nd hole—arguably the course's signature stretch along the North Sea—could disappear within a decade if erosion continues unchecked.
Why Montrose Links Demands Your Attention—Now More Than Ever
The coastal erosion crisis at Montrose Golf Links isn't a distant threat. It's happening right now, accelerating at an alarming rate.
According to Dynamic Coast's April 2025 report, Montrose is experiencing "some of the fastest known rates of change on record" along Scotland's coastline. The numbers tell a stark story: erosion averaged one meter annually in the 1970s-1980s. Dynamic Coast's 2021 study predicted three meters per year going forward. Instead, the course lost seven full meters in a single year between 2023 and 2024.
The timeline of destruction was dramatic. Storm Babet struck on October 18-21, 2023, stripping away 1-3 meters of coastline in days. Storm Gerrit followed in late December 2023, taking another chunk. February 2024 storms completed the assault.
"The current 2nd tee would definitely be gone if we lose another seven metres," Course Manager Paul Teviotdale told National Club Golfer. "The back of the 1st green would be hanging."
The Scottish Government responded with £440,000 in emergency funding in January 2024 for short-term erosion management and developing long-term strategy.
How to Book
Online: montrosegolflinks.com
Phone: Royal Montrose Golf Club - 01674 672932
Phone: Montrose Caledonia Golf Club - 01674 672976
Book 2-4 weeks ahead during peak season (June-August). Spring and autumn offer more flexibility.
The 1562 Championship Course (Par 71, 6,585 Yards)
Montrose Golf Links sprawls across classic linksland on the Angus coast, offering two distinct experiences as the routing moves from dramatic coastal stretch to sheltered inland section.
The front nine showcases links golf at its most exhilarating. Holes 1-7 run along the North Sea, where elevation changes reveal stunning coastal panoramas and wind dictates every shot. These holes face the erosion threat—the ones creating the course's most memorable moments and the ones you need to experience while they still exist.
The routing turns inland for holes 10-15, moving through more protected terrain with different challenges. Dunes provide wind shelter here, but Montrose's strategic bunkering and undulating fairways maintain pressure.
Holes 16-18 deliver a powerful finish, bringing you back toward the coast and Montrose town. The course measures 6,585 yards from championship tees with par 71. The course rating of 71.7 and slope rating of 129 mark this as a legitimate test without reaching Open Championship punishment.
Things to See & Do Beyond Golf
Montrose Town Centre - Charming historic town center with independent shops, cafes, and the Montrose Museum showcasing 1,000 years of local history.
Montrose Basin Wildlife Centre - World-renowned nature reserve attracting 50,000 migratory birds annually, including pink-footed geese and ospreys. Excellent visitor center with telescopes and viewing platforms.
House of Dun - Magnificent Georgian mansion managed by the National Trust for Scotland, featuring stunning plasterwork and beautiful walled gardens.
Lunan Bay - Picture-perfect beach 6 miles north with Red Castle ruins perched on cliffs. One of Scotland's most beautiful coastal walks.
Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre - Former RAF base with aviation history exhibits and the story of Britain's first operational military airfield.
The Market Street Dining - Local favorite for seafood and Scottish fare. The George Hotel offers excellent fish and chips. For fine dining, try 36 on the Green overlooking the golf course.
Things to See & Do
Montrose Town Centre - Charming historic town center with independent shops, cafes, and the Montrose Museum showcasing 1,000 years of local history.
Montrose Basin Wildlife Centre - World-renowned nature reserve attracting 50,000 migratory birds annually, including pink-footed geese and ospreys. Excellent visitor center with telescopes and viewing platforms.
House of Dun - Magnificent Georgian mansion managed by the National Trust for Scotland, featuring stunning plasterwork and beautiful walled gardens.
Lunan Bay - Picture-perfect beach 6 miles north with Red Castle ruins perched on cliffs. One of Scotland's most beautiful coastal walks.
Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre - Former RAF base with aviation history exhibits and the story of Britain's first operational military airfield.
The Market Street Dining - Local favorite for seafood and Scottish fare. The George Hotel offers excellent fish and chips. For fine dining, try 36 on the Green overlooking the golf course.
