- Central Scotland
Lothian
Is Lothian the Best Golf Region in Scotland?
Lothian is made up of Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital city, East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian.
East Lothian is also best known as ‘Scotland’s Golf Coast’ and boasts 21 golf courses, including Muirfield, Gullane, North Berwick and Archerfield across 30 miles of coastline.
— Golf Courses
Golf Courses You Can Play in Lothian
Musselburgh
James Braid
Style: Parkland
Par: 71
Established in 1938, The Musselburgh Golf Club is situated in a stunning, mature parkland location just a few miles outside Edinburgh.
The course is the first on ‘Scotland’s Golf Coast’. It is situated in very attractive parkland and is recognised locally as having wide inviting fairways and superb greens.
The club has been used as a final open qualifier when the open was played at Muirfield in 2013, and previously as a regional open qualifying venue.
Musselburgh
(Old Links)
James Braid
Style: Parkland
Par: 34
Musselburgh Links, The Old Golf Course is an original Open Championship venue, hosting the event on six occasions between 1874 and 1889.
Surrounded by Musselburgh Racecourse, this meticulously preserved nine-hole course allows you to follow in the footsteps of some of Scotland’s golfing legends.
Royal Musselburgh
James Braid
Style: Parkland
Par: 70
Royal Musselburgh Golf Club is at the start of the famous stretch of golf courses on the East Lothian coast, situated to the east of Musselburgh on the B1361, this picturesque parkland course is certainly worth the visit.
The Club is the sixth oldest in the world originating at the 9 hole Musselburgh Levenhall links where the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, Royal Burgess Golfing Society and, Bruntsfield Golf Club also played.
Designed by the famous Open champion and golf architect, James Braid, Royal Musselburgh Golf Club is a picturesque parkland course kept in tip-top shape and a treat to play, especially when you are coming into the home stretch on the last five holes.
Longniddry
Harry Colt, Donald Steel, Niall Glen & Paul Kimber
Style: Parkland
Par: 70
Longniddry Golf Club is situated along the southern shore of the Firth of Forth, just a few miles east of Edinburgh. The course has a unique design that combines woodlands and links.
Based on the scorecard alone, the golf course does not seem particularly long, especially not by today's standards, but don't let that fool you.
Although there are no par 5s to be found on the course, golfers will come across eight par 4s that measure over 400 yards. Many of Longniddry Golf Club's holes play much longer than the indicated yardage thanks to the hilly terrain, numerous strategically placed bunkers, and mature pines.
The fairways are quite generous and the greens are large, but golfers will be faced with punishing gorse and rough if their shot is even slightly wayward. The prevailing winds add another difficult element to the course.
Craigielaw
Donald Steel
Style: Links
Par: 71
Situated on Scotland’s Golf Coast, Craigielaw truly is a golfers’ paradise. Not only boasting a challenging 18 hole championship golf course, designed by Donald Steel, Craigielaw is surrounded by a further 22 golf courses.
These courses include world-renowned greats such as Muirfield, North Berwick and Gullane.
The course opened in 2001 and in this short period has been host to many national events, including the 2006 Scottish Amateur Strokeplay Championship and was a qualifying course for the 2007 British Seniors Open at Muirfield.
With challenging greens, cavernous bunkers and spectacular views over the Firth of Forth, Gullane Hill and out towards Edinburgh and Fife, Craigielaw Golf Club is an experience not to be missed.
Gullane (No. 1, No. 2 & No. 3)
Willie Park Jnr
Style: Links
Par: 71, 71 & 67
Golf has been played over the links at Gullane for more than 350 years. Today, Gullane Golf Club is one of Scotland's most prestigious member clubs, mixing the finest tradition with some of the most admired natural links land in the world.
Gullane is blessed with superb turf and a climate that allows all year round golf. Visitors are welcome to play our championship courses which offer dramatic coastal views and a golfing challenge to savour.
Laid out over prime seaside land, the three golf courses are simply known by number reflecting their age.
Gullane No. 1 (1884) has a long history of hosting national and international championship golf events, including the 2018 Aberdeen Standard
Investments Scottish Open and Ladies Scottish Open, the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open in 2015 as well as Local Final Qualifying for the Open Championship at neighbouring Muirfield.
Gullane No. 2 (1898) was laid out by the legendary Willie Park Jr and has also been used for Open Championship Qualifying as well as the Seniors Open Amateur.
Gullane No. 3 (1910) was also designed by Willie Park Jr. It may be the shortest of the three courses, but it provides a wonderful test based on shot-making skills rather than power.
The Renaissance Club
Tom Doak & Don Placek
Style: Links
Par: 72
The Renaissance Club is a Tom Doak and Don Placek true links design from 2006. A private club with little play, the green is kept to an impressive standard with Mr. Doak claiming it is one of the best-kept courses in all Scotland.
The owner, American Jerry Savardi, moved from Ponte Verda, Florida to North Berwick to develop and actively run the club.
The course sits on 300 acres overlooking the Firth of Forth in East Lothian, Scotland. Formerly part of the Archerfield Estate, it lies immediately adjacent to The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers at Muirfield.
Sat beside some of the best golf courses in the world, the 18 holes at The Renaissance Club hold their own in every way.
Archerfield Links (Fidra & Dirleton)
DJ Russell
Style: Links
Par: 72 & 72
Archerfield is a 550 acre estate situated just a few miles between the golfing village of Gullane and the vibrant seaside town of North Berwick, on Scotland’s coastline in the beautiful county of East Lothian.
Our 17th century mansion house sits at the heart of the estate, and with the guidance of Historic Environment Scotland was completely transformed in 2002 from its near-derelict state to the glorious and luxurious exclusive use venue you see today.
Above you, the whispering pines. Ahead, the sweeping fairways. Out here, it feels as if it’s just you and the course. Golf has never been more inviting than this: the 18 hole Fidra Links is a unique mixture of pine forest and fast-running links.
On coastal land that has hosted golf for over 100 years, DJ Russell has created the 18 holes of the Dirleton Links.
It’s a challenging expression of a traditional Scottish links course with its sweeping fairways, deep, menacing bunkers and undulating dunes bordering the fairways. Already enjoyed by a quartet of Masters Champions, from Gary Player to Ian Woosnam.
Dunbar
Old Tom Morris, Ben Sayers & James Braid
Style: Links
Par: 71
First laid out in 1856 and redesigned over the years by the likes of Old Tom Morris, Ben Sayers and James Braid, Dunbar East Links has a page pedigree second to none.
As befits such a gem of golf course architecture, it has played host to countless national and international championships. It has been a final qualifying course for the Open when played at Muirfield, while The British Boys', The Scottish Amateur,
Scottish PGA, Scottish Boys', British Ladies' and the Ladies Home International Championships have all been played here.
Interestingly Dunbar hosted the first PGA Championship on the European Tour in 1968 (now contested each year at Wentworth as the Tour's flagship event).
Well defined holes following the natural contours of a narrow strip of land between the old red sandstone deer park wall and the rocky shoreline are the hallmarks of these links. At a little over 6,500 yards, it is not the longest championship course, but any golfer thinking this equates to a lack of challenge will soon be put right.
This is a course built upon those old fashioned golfing virtues of club selection and shot-making. With the ever-present – and ever-changing – wind off the sea, it demands accuracy and judgement, and rewards only bravery and skill.
Glen
Ben Sayers & James Braid
Style: Links
Par: 70
Golf was first played on the East Links, North Berwick in the 17th century, although a nine hole course did not come into being until 1894. It was extended to 18 holes in 1906 with a design provided by five times Open Champion, James Braid and his design partner Ben Sayers
The Glen, East Links is one of the most popular of East Lothian golf courses. Whether you have played golf in Scotland before or if this is your first visit, the Glen is a golfing venue not to be missed. It provides a challenging and enjoyable test of golf for all levels of golfer.
This North Berwick course enjoys spectacular headland views across the Firth of Forth and of the Bass Rock, which houses the largest gannet colony in the UK.
Luffness (New)
Old Tom Morris
Style: Links
Par: 70
Situated in the heart of the renowned golfing country on the East Lothian coastline. Founded in 1894 and designed by Old Tom Morris, Luffness New Golf Club offers challenging and enjoyable golf in a historic setting.
A challenging traditional links course which offers a true test of golf without being the longest of courses. There are no island greens surrounded by water, lakes on every hole or a succession of problems far beyond the average player.
The course can be hard – mighty hard – when the wind blows down the Forth and the rough is thick enough to whet the whistle of a hungry herd. There are distinctive bunkers too but, like all great courses, Luffness rewards the virtues of accuracy and patience.
The fairways are beautifully kept, and the golfer who can keep the ball down the middle will find little to worry him, but there is plenty of trouble in store for the wanderers.
The bunkers are placed fairly to punish the errant shot and furthermore they are constructed to penalise severely those who cannot get the ball in the air.
The greens are small and true and always in excellent condition. The course measures 6581 yds, Par 70, a reasonable figure on a calm day, but very tight if even a slight wind is blowing!
North Berwick (West Links)
Designer - Unknown
Style: Links
Par: 71
The West Links Course is a true links located on the edge of the Firth of Forth. It is a championship course having hosted many events over the years.
Playing the course is all about imagination with the sea in play on 6 holes! The beach is just one long and sometimes wet hazard if the tide is in. You will find walls in the middle of fairways and in front of a green.
All of these hazards are an important part of our history charting the development of the course from a few holes through to the full 18 hole course.
Muirfield
Old Tom Morris, Harry Colt, Tom Simpson & Martin Hawtree
Style: Links
Par: 71
The golf course is distinctive in a number of respects. First, the layout, where the opening nine holes circle clockwise around the perimeter of the property, whereas the back nine run anti-clockwise on an inner circuit.
The proximity to the sea and the prevailing weather system mean that completely calm conditions are the exception, so golfers must adapt to frequent changes in the angle of the wind.
Second, generations of professional, amateur, serious and less serious golfers continue to confirm that Muirfield is a very fair and balanced test of links golf.
There are two par fives and two par threes in each 9; with the exception of the 11th hole, the fairway landing areas are visible and relatively flat; and very few of the 150 bunkers are hidden.
Even when the turf is firm and running, it is rare for a good shot to be punished.
Kilspindie
Willie Park Jr. and Ben Sayers
Style: Links
Par: 69
Scotland is a land of hidden gems – and for golfers Kilspindie Golf Club is one of the finest, lying hidden among the nature reserve of Aberlady Bay, the quaint village of Aberlady, and the teeming waters of the Firth of Forth.
Playing these traditional Scottish links, you may witness sea-birds diving for food, migratory geese, and seals sunning on the sand.
In the distance, you can see the profile of Edinburgh, its Castle, and the long extinct volcanic cone of Arthur’s Seat. The course is secreted away from the village via a few hundred yards of private, single-track road.
The links were designed by Willie Park Jr. and Ben Sayers, with minor modifications over the years. The first hole, a par 3, is due north, followed by three holes directly into the prevailing wind. The 2nd hole is the only par 5, but it can play more like a par 6 or 7.
—Where To Stay
Accommodation
in Lothian
- Ducks Inn, Aberlady
- Watchman Hotel, Gullane
- Gullane Apartments, Gullane
- Craigielaw Lodges, Craigielaw
- Marine Hotel, North Berwick
—Where To Golf