1 Night, 2 Rounds
North Berwick Golf Club is the 13th oldest club in the world and boasts a fantastic links golf course that starts right in the town before stretching west along the coastline above the Firth of Forth. It's proper, old-school Scottish links golf, shaped by wind, turf and years of crafty design, so you'll want to bring your bump-and-run and keep an eye on the forecast.
You're within easy reach of Edinburgh, which makes North Berwick a brilliant choice for a short break or as part of an East Lothian golf tour. It's also got the pedigree to match the scenery, having hosted Final Qualifying for The Open, The Ladies British Open Amateur Championship and The Amateur Championship, so you really are following in the footsteps of top-class players.
The views announce themselves from the 1st, a short par 4 of 342 yards off the white tees, where the green sits beautifully framed by the sea. From there the course keeps pulling you towards the coast, with holes that ask you to pick a line, trust it and accept that links golf doesn't always give you the bounce you planned. The 18th is a brilliant closer at just 277 yards, driveable on the right day, but trouble right makes it a proper risk-and-reward finish. Bag a closing birdie and, needless to say, the 19th hole tastes even better.
Fancy building it into your next trip? Include North Berwick as a headline round on your East Lothian break.
Who is this for?
Golfers who want a classic Scottish links day out, an easy run from Edinburgh, with proper history and sea views from the opening holes.
Who is it best for?
Links lovers and East Lothian tour planners who want a genuine bucket-list round with championship pedigree and a risk-and-reward finish.
1 Night, 2 Rounds
1 Night, 2 Rounds
2 Nights, 3 Rounds
2 Nights, 3 Rounds
3 Nights, 4 Rounds
3 Nights, 4 Rounds
1 Night, 2 Rounds
3 Nights, 4 Rounds
3 Nights, 4 Rounds
The West Links course at North Berwick Golf Club course has hosted final qualifying for the Open Championship in recent years, and is a links in the traditional sense; golfers must negotiate deep, revetted pot-bunkers, blind drives and devilish burns.
Golf writer Gary Williams called the 13th hole (Pit) "one of the great short par-4s in the world," and he's not wrong. There are more than a few holes that stand out at North Berwick, many have been duplicated throughout the world, but the most notable may be the 14th and 15th. The former is named ‘Perfection', apparently because it takes two perfect shots to master it. It may also have something to do with the views over the Bass Rock, which sits imposingly in the Firth of Forth, and is home to the world's largest gannet population.
The 15th, ‘Redan', is the classic par-3 which has reputedly been the subject of a number of copies in modern golf course design, featuring a vast hidden gully front-right of the green. Packed-full of character, North Berwick is a classic Scottish links.
The West Links course is not the longest in Scotland but it is fun to play and provides a unique round of golf. Navigating your way around the course you will come across stone walls, cavernous bunkers, humps, hollows and burns as well as the odd blind shot.
North Berwick is ranked as one of the best courses in Scotland and is a must play course when on a golf break around Edinburgh.
| Par | 71 |
|---|---|
| Designed by | David Strath, Ben Sayers |
| Opened for play | 1832 |
| White | 6,420 yards | SSS 71 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | 6,033 yards | SSS 70 |
| Red | 5,751 yards | SSS 74 |
The Wee course at North Berwick Golf Club is great for encouraging children to take up the game of golf before venturing on to the more challenging terrain of the West Links.
Originally established as the 'Ladies Links' in 1868 the Wee course is a 9 hole layout of Par 3's situated adjacent to the 15th and 16th holes of the West Links.
The original 1880 clubhouse has been developed over the years to now include modern changing facilities for both ladies and gentlemen. A bag store is available for your golf clubs as well as lockers for clothes and valuables.
The bar is a perfect place to relax with a drink after your round, located on the upper floor of the clubhouse as well as the East and West lounges. Spectacular views are on offer of the 18th green, 1st tee, North Berwick town, harbour, the Firth of Forth and the islands of Bass Rock.
North Berwick Golf Club is located in the centre of North Berwick less than half a mile from the train station, with good access from the A1.
Address: Beach Road, North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland, EH39 4BB
Gerry
✓11 Nov 2019
This is a fantastic links course well worth playing. The course is not the longest but it seems to me to be built in a similar style to the old course at St Andrews. It is, therefore, quite challenging in windy conditions and its greens are tricky.
René
✓27 Jul 2019
played it already twice and it's one of my favorite course in the world.
David
✓22 May 2019
Shortest of the courses. But extremely fun to play. Softer fairways some chances to chip a wedge.
Yes
No
No visitor tee times available after 12:30 on the weekend.
There is 1 bar on site
There is complimentary car parking
