Photo: Thomas Nugent · CC BY-SA 2.0
East Lothian, Scotland
North Berwick Golf Club — West Links
One of the oldest golf courses in the world, opened in 1832, and home of the original Redan hole.
Course overview
North Berwick's West Links opened in 1832, among the oldest golf courses still in continuous use anywhere in the world. David Strath shaped the course into its 18-hole layout within its first few years, and Ben Sayers carried out the last major redesign in 1932. Its 15th hole, Redan, is one of the most copied hole designs in golf, replicated at courses worldwide. Visitors can book online, with play generally available Sunday to Thursday; Friday and Saturday are reserved for members.
The essentials
- Architect
- David Strath; Ben Sayers (redesign 1932)
- Established
- 1832
- Type
- Links
- Par
- 71
- Length
- 5,871 m
- Location
- East Lothian, Scotland
Character & atmosphere
A quirky, historic links along the Firth of Forth, with blind shots, small green complexes, and the original Redan — a template copied more than almost any other hole in golf. Shorter than a modern championship test, but demanding of creativity and course knowledge over raw length.
Highlights
Why play here
- Designed by David Strath; Ben Sayers (redesign 1932), opened in 1832.
- Sea views feature throughout the round.
Practical guidance
Plan your visit
How to get there
Edinburgh Airport (EDI) is approximately 26 miles away — around 45 minutes to an hour's drive via the A1 and A198. Visitor tee times can be booked online directly through the club, with play generally available Sunday to Thursday; Friday and Saturday are reserved for members.
Where to stay
Gullane village is the natural base for Muirfield, sitting immediately alongside the course with easy access to the rest of East Lothian's dense links coastline. It has a quiet, well-kept character quite different from Edinburgh, roughly 45 minutes away by car.
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Scotland
Explore East Lothian
A short coastal stretch east of Edinburgh with one of the highest concentrations of historic links in the world, led by Muirfield and North Berwick's West Links.