Winter browsing - Scotland completed

[Mark_Rowlinson]

So, at last we come to the big names of the Lothians, starting with the links course at their eastern extremity:

http://www.dunbar-golfclub.co.uk/
A compact links, rarely more than two fairways wide, of championship standard.  Everyone cites the 12th as the stand-out hole, but I like the whole course, the way it changes pace, the variety of challenges and simply the feel of the place.

http://www.whitekirk.com/
No GCAer is going to play a new inland course when there are so many first-rate links in the area, but if you run out of money try Whitekirk – it’s decent value for an interesting heathland course with some excellent use made of the natural features.

http://www.topweb.free-online.co.uk/nb/
A pretty underwhelming website, but GCAers are so familiar with the architecture of North Berwick that they don’t need me to tell them about it.

http://www.glengolfclub.co.uk/
Just click on the scorecard for some stunning photos.  It’s not all links, but it is a most enjoyable place to play golf and quite testing.

You wouldn’t expect the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers to have anything so vulgar as a website, so here’s a course guide from the 2002 Open:
http://www.golftoday.co.uk/tours/2002/open/course.html

http://www.gullanegolfclub.com/
Rated by some locals as even better than Muirfield – but I’ll not get dragged into the argument.  It is a links, but it is extraordinarily hilly (the No.1 course, that is) – apparently the sand was simply blown onto the bare rock, the grass grew and hey presto!  The views from the top of the course (7th) are terrific.  Pricey.

http://www.scottishgolfcourses.com/southeast/luffnessnew.html
Luffness New keeps a low profile, but readers of Donald Steel’s Classic Links will know how highly he rates it.  Wonderful greens, tough rough, not over-bunkered, still remarkably resistant to scoring.  

http://www.aberlady.org/Golf%20Clubs.html
This gives details of both clubs playing over Kilspindie’s diminutive links.  

http://www.craigielawgolfclub.com/
A new course in the Kilspindie back-yard, unknown to me as yet.  Any reports?

http://www.longniddrygolfclub.co.uk/
Not actually a links, but not far off, either, with plenty of heather and gorse, excellent drainage and seaside turf, plus some fine views over the Firth of Forth.   It has a wonderful collection of strong par 4s and I love the place.

http://www.musselburgholdlinks.co.uk/
A must for anyone with a sense of history.  Site of early Opens, somewhat altered, but very much in the same spirit and now restored to reasonable health.  You can also hire reproduction hickory-shafted clubs.  

There’s also Musselburgh Golf Club (a full 18-hole parkland course of some difficulty) and:

http://www.royalmusselburgh.co.uk/
A fine parkland course and a baronial-style clubhouse.

http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/CEC/Recreation/Leisure/Data/Braid_Hills_No1_Golf_Course/Braid_Hills_No1_Golf_Course.html
Fantastic views of the City of Edinburgh, a hilly site with some tricky targets and plenty of gorse.  

http://www.sol.co.uk/b/bruntsfieldlinks/rightframe.html
Founded in 1761, Bruntsfield moved to its present site at the close of the 19th century.  Willie Park, Alister Mackenzie and Fred Hawtree have worked on it over the years and it’s a parkland course of genuine championship status with clever greens.

http://www.baberton.co.uk/
A rolling parkland course giving fine views from its high ground.  The par 3s are reckoned to be particularly demanding.

http://www.duddingston-golf-club.com/
David Whyte makes the point that ‘Edinburgh appears to be supplied with better golf facilities than any other major European centre.’  He cites Duddingston as one of its best parkland courses.  I have no personal knowledge of it.

http://www.kingsknowe.com/
An Alex Herd/James Braid parkland course, which again I don’t know personally, but acquaintances tell me it’s worth playing.  It won’t break the bank to find out.

http://www.scottishgolfcourses.com/southeast/glencorse.html
A course with eight par 3s, but only one of them under 200 yards!  A stream affects 10 holes and some say that the 5th is the hardest par 3 in Scotland.

http://www.dmsc18916.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Home.htm
I’m told that Merchants of Edinburgh is a must play despite measuring less than 5,000 yards.  Click on ‘course’ and enlarge the photo and I think you’ll see why.

http://www.royalburgess.co.uk/
An old club with a history traceable back to 1735.  The course is parkland, but good of its kind.

http://marriott.com/property/propertyPage.mi?marshaCode=EDIGS
Can anyone point me to a website which tells me rather more about the golf courses?  Braid’s East Course is reckoned to be a joy.  Sadly, I’ve never been there.

http://www.bathgate-golfclub.co.uk/
Probably the only club to produce two Ryder Cup Captains (Eric Brown and Bernard Gallagher) and the course record of 58 is held by another – Sam Torrance.  A Wilie Park/James Braid creation.

http://www.harburngc.com/
Another course I don’t know, but David Whyte’s book has a super photo which puts it on my must visit list and at £18.50 a round it looks more attractive by the minute.

http://www.linlithgowgolf.co.uk/
Nice to find a website which records the course manager’s report.  Quite a few short par 4s appeal to my ever weakening skills!


I think this concludes Scotland.  If I’ve missed anything of importance don’t hesitate to enlighten me.  I had hoped to finish Northern Ireland, too, before going away for a few weeks.  Please be patient – I’ll do it when I come back.  I’ll then pull it all together (including your corrections and additions) in a document which Ran will post for easy access as a reference tool for all.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

This is an area so rich in great links golf that one could play here every day and never feel the need to wander. I feel the same way about Fife, the Troon, Turnberry area and Dornoch area as well. What a great country for golf.

[Bill_McBride]

Mark, thanks for the Glen Club website, great photos!  My brother and I will be playing North Berwick West Links the afternoon of May 11th and the East Links the following morning, before hitting the trail for Painswick.  I had heard from some that it's a great round of golf, from others don't waste your time, but the photos make it all look superb.  And 6200 yds par 70 is not that short, particulalry when looking at some of those hills!

Are we going to see you at Painswick?  

[Dan King]

To break up a long stay in East Lothian one year I played Whitekirk. It had only been opened about a year. I was less than impressed with it. It had far too many forced hikes, and a number of holes that played about the same. They only fine memory I have from then is that they did have Belhaven’s Best on tap.

For a good website about East Lothian and specifically the West Course, check out my friend Dougie Seaton’s site:
http://www.north-berwick.co.uk/

I noticed he hasn’t been updating it over the last few years, but still there is plenty of good information.

The Glen course reminds me of Sandpiper near Santa Barbara. It’s a nice course, but not something you’d travel all the way to Scotland to see.

Dan King

Like many of the great holes in golf, first impressions of the 192 yard, par 3 15th [Redan] are deceptive, and only by playing the hole several times does it reveal it's hidden subtleties. The mounds, ridges and depressions left after the sea receded gives the West Links its natural contours and the 'Redan' was part of that evolution.
 --Dougie Seaton

[Norbert P]

 I have my regrets of missed opportunities of golf in Scotland and one was not having the time to play Dunbar and to see the town of John Muir's birthplace.  Next time I go will be heavily concentrated in Eastlothian.

(I also regret not meeting up with Dougie Seaton)

[RJ_Daley]

Mark, thank you very much for the great amount of time it must take to compile such a viewing feast for us winter shut-ins.  Now, if one could only buy about 50 more years of golf time to travel to so many intruguing places...