Craigielaw Golf Club
Historical context
Craigielaw Golf Club, opened in 2001, sits in the heart of East Lothian—widely known as Scotland’s Golf Coast. Surrounded by some of the world’s most historic links courses, Craigielaw fits naturally into the deep-rooted golfing tradition of this remarkable coastline.
Course design and playing style
The course is laid out across open linksland with rolling terrain, strong bunkering, and the constant influence of coastal winds. Its routing follows the natural contours of the land, offering a varied and engaging test where accuracy and control are essential. The open setting provides expansive sightlines and a true links feel throughout.
Unique features & lodge accommodation
Craigielaw offers stunning views over the Firth of Forth and its surrounding islands, giving every round a strong sense of place. A standout feature is the on-site lodge accommodation—comfortable, golfer-focused lodges located right beside the course. Staying here means you’re just a short walk from both the first tee and the clubhouse.
The combination of high-quality links golf, peaceful surroundings, and excellent on-site accommodation makes Craigielaw an ideal destination for multi-day golf trips, where play, relaxation, and convenience come together seamlessly.
Gullane Golf Club 1, 2 & 3
Historical significance
Gullane Golf Club, founded in 1882, sits in the heart of East Lothian—often referred to as Scotland’s Golf Coast. Golf has been played here since the 17th century, long before the club’s formal establishment. Gullane has also played a key role in professional golf, with Course No.1 hosting the Scottish Open multiple times, firmly establishing its place on the international stage.
Three courses, three identities
What sets Gullane apart is its trio of full-length links courses, each with a distinct character:
- Course No.1 – a true championship test, known for elevation changes, strong winds, and sweeping views from Gullane Hill.
- Course No.2 – shorter and more technical, with strategic bunkering and subtle greens rewarding precision.
- Course No.3 – more accessible, yet still authentically links; ideal as a warm-up or relaxed round.
Together, they offer a rare combination of variety, quality, and tradition for golfers of all levels.
Character and playing style
All three courses are classic links, shaped by natural dunes, fast-running fairways, and constant winds off the Firth of Forth. Strategy and ball control are essential, while the terrain ensures ever-changing conditions. Gullane is challenging without being unfair—a hallmark of great links golf.
Surroundings and culture
The courses sit alongside the charming village of Gullane, known for its traditional pubs, welcoming restaurants, and unmistakable Scottish atmosphere. With iconic neighbours like Muirfield, North Berwick Golf Club, and Dunbar Golf Club nearby, Gullane offers a perfect blend of top-class golf, history, and local charm.
Here, you don’t just play golf—you experience the full story of Scottish golf.
Longniddry Golf Club
A distinctive coastal style
Longniddry Golf Club sits on Scotland’s east coast in East Lothian, close to the Firth of Forth. Although near the sea, it offers few direct sea views—immediately setting it apart from traditional links. The sandy soil, fast fairways, and excellent drainage, however, still deliver a distinctly links-like playing feel.
Neither links nor heathland—something in between
Longniddry is best described as a hybrid course:
- too sheltered and tree-lined to be a pure links
- too open and sandy to be fully heathland
Some holes run through lightly wooded areas, while others open up into more exposed terrain. This variation creates an engaging rhythm and requires constant adaptation. Wind plays a role, but less dominantly than on true coastal links—making positioning and club selection more important than raw power.
Historical significance
Founded in 1921, Longniddry holds a respected place within the golfing tradition of East Lothian. Rather than competing directly with the region’s famous links, it embraces its own identity: calm, honest, and accessible, without sacrificing quality.
Character and playability
The routing is varied and makes clever use of natural contours. Greens are well-protected without being overly severe, making the course both playable and strategically interesting for a wide range of golfers. It’s a layout that rewards familiarity—the more you play it, the more its subtleties reveal themselves.
Atmosphere & clubhouse
A standout feature of Longniddry is its warm and relaxed atmosphere. The traditional clubhouse serves as the social heart of the club, known for its hospitality and views over the course—an ideal setting to unwind after a round.
Combined with its unique course profile, Longniddry offers a distinctive and highly enjoyable golfing experience in a region already rich with world-class courses.
Glen Golf Club
Historical significance & setting
The Glen Golf Club sits high above North Berwick along the coast of East Lothian—a region rightfully known as Scotland’s Golf Coast. Founded in 1906, the club features a single course, the East Links, spectacularly positioned atop the cliffs overlooking the sea.
Character and playing style
The East Links is a true cliff-top course where elevation changes, coastal wind, and narrow playing corridors define the challenge. The routing follows the natural shape of the coastline, with tees and greens often dramatically perched above the sea. It is a course that rewards control, precision, and disciplined shotmaking, particularly when the wind from the Firth of Forth is at full strength.
Spectacular views
What truly sets The Glen apart are its breathtaking panoramas. From multiple holes, players enjoy sweeping views across the East Lothian coastline, with Bass Rock serving as a constant landmark on the horizon. Here, the scenery is not a backdrop—it is an essential part of the golfing experience.
A pure members’ experience
The Glen is a traditional members’ club: understated, welcoming, and entirely focused on the game itself. In the shadow of the famous West Links at North Berwick Golf Club, The Glen offers something completely different—height, drama, and scenery combined with honest and demanding golf.
For golfers exploring East Lothian beyond the famous names, The Glen is an essential stop—a course remembered for its setting, character, and unfiltered natural beauty.
Dunbar Golf Club
An authentic links course
Dunbar Golf Club, founded in 1856, is one of the oldest links courses in Scotland. The layout sits at the easternmost edge of East Lothian, on a narrow strip of land between the sea and the inland landscape. This unique setting gives Dunbar its unmistakable links character, with the coastal influence always present.
Cultural and historical context
Dunbar Golf Club holds a deeply rooted place in Scottish golfing history and is a key part of the East Lothian Golf Coast. Its compact setting, traditional routing, and unspoiled character deliver a pure links experience that is increasingly rare today.
A round at Dunbar feels like golf reduced to its essence: sea, wind, a narrow strip of land, and timeless play.
North Berwick Golf Club
Historical significance & character
North Berwick Golf Club, founded in 1832, is one of the oldest golf clubs in the world and often described as a living museum of links golf. The West Links is globally celebrated for its unmistakable quirkiness—stone walls, beachside holes, and playing lines that would be unimaginable today, yet remain timeless and legendary. This unique character has drawn top players such as Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, who have made the journey to experience this iconic course.
Playing style: quirky and timeless
North Berwick is a sequence of unforgettable holes that define its personality. Hole 13, “The Pit,” is famous for the stone wall cutting across the line of play just before the green, demanding precision over power. It is followed by hole 14, “Perfection,” a short yet brilliant par 4 often cited as one of the finest holes in links golf. Hole 15, the legendary “Redan,” is perhaps the most copied par 3 in the world, with its diagonally sloping green rewarding creativity and control. Then comes hole 16, featuring one of Scotland’s most distinctive greens—dramatically contoured with two plateaus and a valley between them, where positioning is everything and simple putts are rare.
Views, finish & sense of place
Throughout the round, sweeping views over the Firth of Forth and Bass Rock provide a constant backdrop. The finish is equally memorable, with the home hole returning toward the clubhouse—echoing the iconic setting of The R&A clubhouse at St Andrews—as you quite literally play back into the town.
The charming seaside town of North Berwick completes the experience, where golf, sea, history, and daily life blend seamlessly. This is not just a course you play—it’s one you truly experience, hole by hole, memory by memory.
