Golf Flag
From some of the world’s oldest
golf courses to dramatic new
layouts, the East Lothian region
provides an inspirational setting for
the travelling golfer. Golfing brothers
Andrew & Paul Marshall tee it up
along Scotland’s Golf Coast...
This is the scene. It’s a sunny mid-May m orning at
Edinburgh airport, and after loading golf clubs and
luggage into our hire car, we drive 15 miles east to
Musselburgh Links, the oldest continuously played
golf course in the world. This is the start of a five-
day journey along Scotland’s Golf Coast, playing
a half-dozen selection of the 22 top quality golf
courses stretching through 30 miles of stunning
East Lothian coastline, golden beaches and rolling
countryside.
Courses such as Musselburgh Links, North Berwick
and Kilspindie are historic links where the golfing
forefathers once strode the sheep-cropped turf
with their hickory clubs, whilst others such as
North Berwick GC 14th (West Links)
Craigielaw and Archerfield Links are more recent
creations from the modern era.
The great thing about East Lothian is the plethora
of options available for golf, accommodation and
dining. You can pay around £20 to play a parkland
course like Gifford or several times more for an
exclusive experience at Muirfield. You can stay in a
caravan by the sea, a local bed & breakfast or a five-
star private country house. You can enjoy fish and
chips at the Lobster Shack in North Berwick harbour
or put on some smart threads for fine dining at
Greywalls - there’s something to suit all preferences
and budgets.
In addition to the excellent golf and stunning
coastal vistas, other highlights and attractions along
the way include a tour of the famous Glenkinchie
Distillery, castle visits, the Scottish Seabird Centre,
boat trips to Bass Rock and a tour of Concorde in
her final resting place at the National Museum of
Flight.
“This is as good a day as it gets at North Berwick
West Links,” says club member Drew Cochran, who
we join along with Derek Douglas to tackle this
traditional links on a narrow strip of land between
Volume 4 • Issue 43
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