Archerfield Links

The Clubhouse, Golf Green,

Dirleton, East Lothian EH39 5HU

  • Office

    +44 (0)1620 897 050
  • Pro shop

    +44 (0)1620 897 050
  • Fax

    +44 (0)870 051 5487
  • Golf pro

    Gary Nicol / Oliver C. Morton.

About the course

  • The Course:

    18 holes. Parkland & open links. Gently undulating terrain - easy to walk.

  • Surroundings:

    Woodland.

  • Designer:

    David J. Russell

Back
tees
Club
tees
Front
tees
Yards
6948
6201
5463
Par
72
72
72
SSS or slope
73
70
71

At the same location:

Above distances are for the Fidra course. Also at Archerfield Links is the 18-hole Dirleton Links (par-72; 6,946 yards from back tees).

Location

Latitude:

56.061671

Longitude:

-2.785510

How to get there:

20 miles NE of Edinburgh.

On the eastern outskirts of Edinburgh, at the junction of the A1 and A720 (Edinburgh by-pass), follow the A1 direction Berwick-upon-Tweed. After 5 miles take the Bankton Junction exit, and follow the A198 direction North Berwick. Follow the A198 through Longniddry, Aberlady and Gullane. 1.5 miles further east from Gullane, turn left into Archerfield.

Archerfield Golf Club (Fidra Links)

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.

Est. 2005

Archerfield Golf Club (Fidra Links): The private Archerfield Golf Club boasts two excellent championship golf courses - the Dirleton and Fidra Links. The layouts can be played by the club's members, their guests and visitors staying at the sumptuous Archerfield House, and other onsite accommodation on the Estate.

Both Archerfield's courses possess their own unique charms and challenges. The first 11 holes on the Fidra Links, meander through the relatively flat terrain of an attractive pine forest. On the back-nine the layout heads into a more open environment, where grassy dunes, gorse bushes and deep rough give the holes a classical links-style character. The generally good-width fairways tighten-up from time to time, as at the short par-5 6th, while a superb variety of bunkering will test your course management and/or skills from sand.

Although laid out on relatively flat terrain, the fairways are full of bumps and hollows, while the large and immaculate greens are surrounded by sand bunkers and slick grassy run-offs. Amongst an excellent collection of par-3s, the 8th hole is seriously defended by two gaping front bunkers, both at least six feet deep!

At the par-3 4th and par-4 5th holes you glimpse the Firth of Forth estuary and Fidra rock (plus lighthouse) through the pine trees. Beyond these early glimpses however, sea views are not really a feature of the Fidra Links. Chances for outside visitors to play here are rare, but if an opportunity does come your way it's well worth accepting.

List of courses: Home of Golf

Visitors

Who can play and when?

Archerfield Links is a private members' club. Guests staying at Archerfield's onsite accommodations can book to play on weekdays and weekends. A limited number of Visitor Experience tee-times can also be arranged, based on availability.

Handicap required.

Green fees

Contact Archerfield House or the golf clubhouse for information on Visitor Experience Stay&Play packages.

Other information

Players generally walk this course. Caddies available.

Practice facilities

Excellent

Did you know?

Stately Archerfield House looks out onto the estate's two superb David J. Russell designed golf courses - the Fidra and the Dirleton. Fidra Links takes its name from the small offshore island that can be seen from the 4th and 5th holes.

Named after the archers of King Edward I* who pitched their tents here during the English invasion of 1298, Archerfield has a fascinating story to tell. Its ancient past can still be seen in the form of a Scottish burial cairn now carefully preserved on the second hole of the Fidra course.

After enjoying a splendid period as a stately home, the house was taken over by the British Army shortly after the outbreak of World War II. The estate fell into inexorable decline in the decades that followed. Hidden away like a precious jewel it was brought back to life in relatively recent times.

*Edward I of England reigned from 1272-1307; he is often referred to as Edward Longshanks.

Published ranking

Scotland's 45th best course (Golf World, 2022).
Britain & Ireland's 138th best course (Golf World, 2022).

Where2Stay

  • Archerfield House5-star

    Dirleton, East Lothian EH39 5HQ

    +44 (0)1620 850 542

    Visit website

    Archerfield House comprises a small number of luxury bedrooms and self-contained suites that provide the opportunity for a very comfortable and high-quality Stay&Play experience. Staying at Archerfield House is the only way for visiting golfers to play the Archerfield Links golf courses.

    • Golf at this hotel:

      Archerfield (Dirleton and Fidra Links courses)

    • Golf within 5 miles:

      Muirfield; North Berwick; Glen; Gullane (Nos 1, 2 & 3); Luffness New; Craigielaw.

    • Golf within 20 miles:

      Dunbar; Royal Musselburgh; Musselburgh Links (Old course).

  • The Open Arms3-star

    Dirleton, East Lothian EH39 5EG

    +44 (0)1620 850 241

    Visit website

    Located opposite 13th century Dirleton Castle, this long established family-run hotel is ideally located to access the many excellent golf courses in East Lothian.

    • Golf at this hotel:

      No

    • Golf within 5 miles:

      Muirfield; Renaissance Club (private); Archerfield (Dirleton & Fidra Links); Gullane 1, 2 & 3; Luffness New; Craigielaw; North Berwick; Glen.

    • Golf within 20 miles:

      Dunbar; Kilspindie; Longniddry; Royal Musselburgh.

Find a course

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Tournaments

Ryder Cup: Rome plays host to the first ever Ryder Cup to be staged in Italy, with the USA defending golf’s greatest team trophy at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club (Sept 29-Oct 1).

Solheim Cup: also in September, also in southern Europe, the 18th Solheim Cup will be contested at Finca Cortesin on the Costa del Sol, with Europe defending after their surprise win in Toledo, Inverness Club (Ohio) in 2021 (Sept 22-24). 

Who's Who

Céline Boutier: with many successes as both an amateur and professional golfer, Boutier added a major championship title to her impressive résumé at this year’s Evian Championship.

Alex Cejka: buffeted by rain and high winds, especially on the high-scoring final day, Čejka prevailed over Pádraig Harrington in a playoff at Royal Porthcawl, to scoop the Senior Open Championship title.

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.

Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.

Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)

Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.

Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available

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