East Lothian Coastal Road
Tour
Duration: 7 days
East Lothian is blessed with the highest
concentration of links courses in the world. Follow the A198 east
from Edinburgh for a superb collection of coastal courses
stretching from Musselburgh to Dunbar.
Longniddry
Among the courses lining the Forth estuary,
Longniddry stands out for its mix of links and parkland. 6260 yards
may not seem long but with no par 5's and eight 400+ yards par 4's,
this is a stiff challenge, particularly in a west wind, leaving no
doubt why the course has been an Open qualifying venue.
Craigielaw
This is East Lothian's newest course and it meets
the challenging standards of its neighbours. The links are managed
in traditional fashion with minimal watering, but it is the greens
that are special. Each is defended by an armoury of bunkers so a
good fairway position is essential. A welcome addition to East
Lothian's golf portfolio.
Kilspindie
The 35th oldest golf club is a Scottish links
retaining its original, traditional features. This medium length
course is nonetheless a good test of golf and a challenge to all
golfers. Several holes border the shoreline and each hole enjoys
magnificent views.
Gullane
No2
The favourite of many locals, Gullane 2 hosted
the 2002 Seniors Open Amateur Championship. The course runs down
Gullane Hill towards the nature reserve at Aberlady Bay. Although
this links has plenty of length it is the testing short holes that
offer the greatest challenge.
North Berwick
GC
North Berwick is one of the best and most scenic
links courses in Scotland with views over the Isle of May, the
islands of Fidra and Craigleith, the Bass Rock and across the Forth
to Fife. The course is sprinkled with top-notch holes and rewards
strategy and guile rather than power hitting. The par three 15th,
'Redan', is one of the most copied holes across the world.
Glen
The East Links in North Berwick combines inland
turf with a seaside setting. Every hole offers the golfer a
different perspective of the Firth of Forth, with views dominated
by the Bass Rock. Elevated tees and greens across the course mean
that careful club selection, consistency and confidence in iron
play are vital.
