Prestwick Golf Club - Scotland

It's impossible to play a links golf course in Scotland without running smack dab into some kind of history. It's on the walls, in the clubhouse, in the bar, in the brochures and in the men's rooms. Prestwick Golf Club has more to brag about than many, being the birthplace of the British Open (in 1860) and home to the first 12 editions.

There's been an airport built nearby since, but don't let the traffic and plane noise scare you off: Prestwick is still a terrific links course. If you're a first-timer, get a caddie. The layout has the gall to follow the natural terrain, which creates some odd angles. You aren't led around by the nose like at many American courses.