Photo of The North Berwick Golf Club

The North Berwick Golf Club

West Links, Beach Rd,

North Berwick, East Lothian EH39 4BB

  • Office

    +44 (0)1620 892 135
  • Pro shop

    +44 (0)1620 895 040
  • Fax

    +44 (0)1620 890 312
  • Golf pro

    Martyn Huish (Head PGA Professional), who succeeded his father David in 2009.

About the course

  • The Course:

    18 holes. Seaside links. Gently undulating terrain - easy to walk.

  • Surroundings:

    Coastal duneland.

  • Designer:

    Designer of original layout unknown; later extensions and modifications by Old Tom Morris and David "Davie" Strath (1876), Tom Dunn (1880s), and Ben Sayers Jr and Major Cecil K. Hutchison (1932).

Back
tees
Club
tees
Front
tees
Yards
6509
6168
5775
Par
71
71
74
SSS or slope
72.5
71.0
74.0

Location

Latitude:

56.058829

Longitude:

-2.727216

How to get there:

24 miles NE of Edinburgh

Approaching North Berwick from the west, follow A198 down the hill towards town centre. Bear left direction town centre where the A198 bears off to the right. Immediately after Bass Rock Garage turn left into Pointgarry Road. Golf is immediately on your right.

The North Berwick Golf Club

5-star: Fabulous – courses don’t get much better than this.

Est. 1832

North Berwick Golf Club is home to one of the most scenic and enjoyable seaside links courses in Scotland. Also known as the "West Links," golf has been played here for centuries, while nearby Glen Golf Club plays home to the town's "East Links." North Berwick is laid out along the shoreline of the Firth of Forth. From most of its holes, you will enjoy fabulous views onto the Firth, as well as the islands of Bass Rock, Craigleith, Lamb and Fidra.

The Firth provides an immensely scenic distraction as you make your way out-and-back, but it's also responsible for North Berwick's renowned windy conditions, which can vary between a gentle sea breeze and something a tad stronger. Based on a classic shore-hugging open links format, one nine is invariably played into the wind, the other against. The plentiful bunkering and firm fast greens are usually immaculately presented. The rough, you'll be pleased to discover, is generally not too penal, but be careful of stone walls that create an additional hazard on a few of the holes.

The most fun you'll ever have on a golf course, might just come on North Berwick's closing stretch. Among many wonderful holes, the well-bunkered par-3 15th (Redan) has been copied on numerous courses around the world. Much less replicated is the short par-4 13th (Pit), with a wall to clear directly in front of the green. As the Club advises, "don't argue with the wall, it's older than you are." The par-4 16th (Gate) is home to one of the longest, narrowest putting surfaces you'll find in golf, made even more challenging by a deep gully that cleaves the green in two.

If a hard westerly wind is blowing at the wide-open and bunkerless par-4 18th, you might be tempted (momentarily) to aim your tee shot out-of-bounds over the car park, and let the wind bring it back to the fairway - a knee-trembling and possibly expensive strategy. It's just as scary if a hard easterly is blowing! In addition to great tradition and hospitality, North Berwick offers a unique and fun golfing challenge - don't miss it!

List of courses: Home of Golf
  • Photo of The North Berwick Golf Club
  • Photo of The North Berwick Golf Club
  • Photo of The North Berwick Golf Club
  • Photo of The North Berwick Golf Club
  • Photo of The North Berwick Golf Club
  • Photo of The North Berwick Golf Club
  • Photo of The North Berwick Golf Club
  • Photo of The North Berwick Golf Club
  • Photo of The North Berwick Golf Club
  • Photo of The North Berwick Golf Club
  • Photo of The North Berwick Golf Club
  • Photo of The North Berwick Golf Club

Visitors

Who can play and when?

Visitors welcome on weekdays and Sundays.

Must book in advance. Proof of handicap required.

Green fees

Visitor fee, 18-holes in high season (April thru' Oct): £285 (all days).

Contact club for full details, discounts, packages, etc. [Last updated: 2025].

Other information

Players generally walk this course. Caddies available if requested in advance.

Practice facilities

Good

Did you know?

North Berwick is reputedly the 13th oldest golf club in the world; it is also said to be the world's second oldest continually used links golf course. The club has a long and proud history that has included staging many top level tournaments, including final qualifying for the Open Championship. For more details view Top Golf Tournaments at North Berwick Golf Club.

Published ranking

Scotland's 5th best course (Golf World, 2025).
Britain & Ireland's 10th best course (Golf World, 2025).
World's 30th best course (GOLF Magazine, 2023/24) and 18th best public access course (Golf World, 2025).

Where2Stay

  • The Marine North Berwick4-star

    Cromwell Road, North Berwick EH39 4LZ

    +44 (0)1620 892 406

    Visit website

    The Marine North Berwick is at the heart of the East Lothian golfing coast; the hotel overlooks the 16th green of North Berwick’s Championship West Links course.

    • Golf at this hotel:

      No

    • Golf within 5 miles:

      North Berwick; Glen; Muirfield; Gullane (No.1, No.2 and No.3 courses).

    • Golf within 20 miles:

      Dunbar; Luffness New

  • The Open Arms3-star

    Dirleton, East Lothian EH39 5EG

    +44 (0)1620 850 241

    Visit website

    Sitting 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; Gullane (No.1, No.2 and No.3 courses); Luffness New; North Berwick; Glen.

    • Golf within 20 miles:

      Dunbar; Royal Musselburgh.

Find a course

Or

Tournaments

Sony Open in Hawaii: played at Waialae Country Club near Honolulu, the Sony Open takes over the spotlight from The Sentry as the PGA Tour’s calendar-year opening event (Jan 15-18). The Sentry (not being played in 2026) was formerly known as the Tournament of Champions, with a field typically restricted to golfers who won a PGA Tour event in the previous calendar year.

Dubai Desert Classic: the DP World Tour’s first Rolex Series event of 2026, is contested for the 37th time (Jan 22-25). First won by Englishman Mark James in 1989, it now boasts a four-time winner, Rory McIlroy. Played on the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course, this once desert-surrounded course is the long-time flagship for Golf in Dubai.

Recently visited

Our visit last month included two rounds at Golf de Chantilly, one of France’s most prestigious clubs.
It offers two superb layouts: Le Vineuil, a five-star championship course with a rich history, and Longères, an excellent four-star course that provides a strong and enjoyable test.

The wider Paris region offers plenty more. Courses such as Fontainebleau, Golf de Saint-Germain, and several other top-rated layouts make this area one of Europe’s most rewarding golf destinations, offering a mix of woodland, heathland, and parkland designs.

The Dutch GC, The Netherlands

The Dutch: "It's no' just a game", as they say in Scotland, and that's certainly true at The Dutch. With 5-star services throughout, a lavishly comfortable Loch Lomond-inspired clubhouse, and a superbly designed and presented golf course, one could not ask for more from this top-end private club.

Join us at The Dutch from August 21–24 for the Festival of Golf, featuring the HotelPlanner Tour. Experience four days of top-tier sport, live music, incredible food, and unexpected surprises. Explore the grounds, connect with others, embrace new challenges, and dive into an unforgettable celebration. Click here to buy tickets.

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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