EXPLORE NORTH BERWICK GOLF CLUB WITH LOMOND GOLF TOURS SCOTLAND.
When it comes to iconic golf destinations in Scotland, North Berwick is one of the first venues rolled off the tongue.
Like St Andrews, this famous links starts and finishes in town. Golf was played in the area since at least 1672 but the club was formed in 1832 making it the thirteenth oldest in the game. At 6,420 yards off the back tees, North Berwick is not overly long, but is blessed with several iconic and quirky holes which overlook the supreme vistas of the beaches, rocky outcrops, the Bass Rock and the Fidra lighthouses, as well as views across the Firth of Fife.
North Berwick offers a relatively gentle opening hole, the 2nd at North Berwick is where the round truly begins. The Firth of Forth provides its name and guards the right-side for the entire length of the hole. The strategy off the tee, however, is what makes this stern par-4 rather captivating. The golfer who takes the bold line up the right of the fairway is usually rewarded with a relatively flat stance to take on the approach shot. Those who err on the side of caution and steer their drive to the left, far away from the sea, will have to attempt their 2nd shot from a mini-mountain range of humps and bumps. Of course, a 3rd shot from the beach is always a possibility, no matter what line you choose off the tee. Among the many memorable and quirky holes at North Berwick, the three-hole stretch of 13 through 15 illuminates the course’s virtues perfectly.
18
Holes
6420
Yards
71
Par
The 13th - PIT
A short par 4 calling for an imaginative approach to a sunken green behind a wall. Take time to look west and enjoy the view to Fidra, thought to be the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Treasure Island”.
The 14th - perfection
Legend has it that this hole is so christened because it requires two perfect shots to his the green. It might also be because of the sublime view, this time to the Bass Rock, home to one of the world’s largest gannet populations.
The 15th - REDAN
The original, copied many times. A testing par 3 played to a large, steeply sloping green. Beware the vast hidden gully to the right front of the green. The holes play’s every inch of its length.
HISTORY AND CHARACTER LIKE NO OTHER.
Golfers from around come to North Berwick to play golf and experience the wealth of history and character this fine old links has to offer. There may not be another course in the world with more challenging and appealing holes that capture a golfer’s true imagination.
Many of the world’s finest golfers have experienced North Berwicks offerings with Jordon Speith, Max Homa, Rickie Fowler, Justin Thomas, and the legendry Tom Watson and understand how special it really is. Back in 1992, North Berwick was used as one of the qualifying courses for the 1992 Open Championship, and as such was closed to everyone except competitors. As dusk fell on the first day, course superintendent, himself a good golfer, was making his weary way home at the end of a 15-hour day when he spotted someone hitting shots to North Berwick’s unique 16th green. The elevated green lies like a narrow shelf across the fairway and is split in two by a four-foot-deep, but closely mown gully. Only a perfectly struck shot will hold the surface, but if the ball ends on the wrong half of the split, aircraft-carrier-deck-like green the first putt can be nightmarish. The superintendent quickly recognised as Tom Watson explained he had been watching from his hotel room window just a few feet away and had become so intrigued and fascinated watching hopeful qualifiers trying to negotiate the green he wanted to have a go himself.
The East Coast Links is a popular choice for Scotland golf trips thanks to the rich assortment of Championship Links Golf. In additional to North Berwick there is Gullane, Renaissance, Luffness, Archerfield, Dunbar, as well as the Open Championship’s hardest venue Muirfield. As one of the iconic destinations for golf in Scotland, East Coast ranks on the must play regions for any golfer whilst visiting Scotland.
“North Berwick has been on my hitlist since I was a kid and sometimes when you get that joy of doing something you wanted to do since you were a kid, that can make you find that love for golf, the invigoration that if gives you, it was a really fun and something that will stay with me for ever.”
Max Homa (PGA Tour Winner and US Ryder Cup Player)
ACCOMMODATION
The Marine, North Berwick
3 Mins
The Bonnie Badger, Gullane
13 Mins
Greywalls Hotel, Gullane
13 Mins
Cheval The Edinburgh Grand, Edinburgh
55 Mins
The Scotsman, Edinburgh
55 Mins
RESTAURANTS
Osteria
2 Mins
The Bonnie Badger
13 Mins
La Potiniere
17 Mins
The Old Clubhouse
18 Mins
The Kitchin
58 Mins
PUBS
The Ship Inn
2 Mins
The Auld Hoose
2 Mins
The Bonnie Badger
11 Mins
The Old Clubhouse
12 Mins
The Golf Tavern
59 Mins
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