Winter Golf in Scotland
Welcome to my third post on Winter Golf in Scotland and my final blog of the year!! This week, I take a look at what discounted green fee offers there are at the links and coastal courses in East Lothian, the Scottish Borders, South West Scotland and Ayrshire.
In today’s post, there are several Open Championship venues, including the oldest golf course in the world and the venue of the first Open Championship. Additionally, I have also picked out some great deals, at many of the Open Championship qualifying courses as well.
In my September blogpost, I pointed out some of the reasons for reduced green fees, at this time of year. Most points are obvious but you may find something useful before booking your next round of winter golf. You can read the post by clicking HERE.
East Lothian Region
Winter Golf in Scotland
The Old Golf Course, Musselburgh Links
(Open Championship Venue)
www.musselburgholdlinks.co.uk
The Old Golf Course was an original Open Championship venue and held the championship 6 times, between 1874 and 1889. If you want a trip back in time, on this historic course, you can hire hickory clubs and play the game as it once was. There is such history behind this 9 hole course, most notable being its claim to be the oldest golf course in the world.
Round: £15.30 from 1 November 2018 (the hire of hickory clubs will be extra and must be booked in advance. See their website above for details)
Craigielaw Golf Club
www.craigielawgolfclub.com
Craigielaw Golf Club offers a great test of golf over its championship course. Furthermore, it has great views, from both the course and the clubhouse which add to the experience. In September this year, it held the Staysure Scottish Seniors Open, where Gary Orr won by a single shot.
Round: w/d £35 w/e £45 from 1 November to 31 March 2019
Gullane Golf Club
www.gullanegolfclub.co.uk
There are three courses at Gullane Golf Club. The No.1 course has not only hosted the Open Championship qualifying but also the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open in 2015. In July 2018, it held both The Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open & The Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open.
No.1
Round: £75 from 1 November to 31 March 2019 – see website for more details about visitor times.
No.2
Round: w/d £41 w/e £46 from 1 November to 31 March 2019
No.3
Round: w/d £29 w/e £33 from 1 November to 31 March 2019
Muirfield
(Open Championship venue)
www.muirfield.org.uk
With 16 Open Championships to its name, Muirfield is certainly on the wish list of many people. Muirfield allows visitors on Tuesdays & Thursdays, the format of which must be fourballs in the morning and foursomes in the afternoon. Please check their website for full booking details and conditions.
Round: £110 from 13 November to 14 March 2019 – Tuesdays & Thursdays only.
North Berwick West Links
www.northberwickgolfclub.com
Another Open Championship qualifying course on this incredible stretch of golfing land is North Berwick West Links. The views will take your breath away and many of the holes will leave a lasting memory. Don’t pass it by!
2018 Round: £85 from 1 November to 20 December 2018
Round: £55 from 20 December to 31 December 2018
2019 Round: £60 from 1 January to 28 February 2019
The Glen Golf Club, North Berwick
www.glengolfclub.co.uk
On the east side of North Berwick lies the clifftop course at the Glen Golf Club. The elevated position offers fabulous views of North Berwick, the Firth of Forth and the Bass Rock and its colony of gannets. Enjoy their famous signature hole, the par 3 13th.
Round: w/d £30 w/e £40 from 1 November to 31 March 2019
Winterfield Golf Club, Dunbar
www.winterfieldgc.com
Winterfield sits to the west of Dunbar and is a short 5,160 yard par 65 course. This coastal course has an elevated position, with great views over the Firth of Forth and the Bass Rock. The first hole is an intimidating 228 yard Par 3. There is plenty of distraction, with a gully ahead of you and water and rocks catching your eye, short left. This is a testing hole, whether you are playing with the wind or against it.
Round: w/d £27 w/e £31
Dunbar Golf Club
www.dunbargolfclub.com
If you are planning to golf in East Lothian, a visit to Dunbar Golf Club would complete the trip! It’s a classic links course which goes straight out (from the 4th) and straight back along the water’s edge. This Open Championship qualifying course is a delight to play. I have played it countless times but I look forward to the next round, with excitement, every time!
Round: £45 from 1 November to 31 March 2019
(please check website for visitor times)
Scottish Borders Region
Winter Golf in Scotland
Eyemouth Golf Club
www.eyemouthgolfclub.co.uk
The clifftop course at Eyemouth has a couple of ‘must play’ holes in Scottish golf. The 6th hole is a dramatic par 3 across the sea, rocks and cliff face, where you need to take a lot more club that you think – see the video below.
The 13th hole is Scotland’s longest hole at 656 yards. Needless to say, it is a par 5 and thankfully it’s downhill!
Round: from £20 from 1 November to 31 March 2019
I included Eyemouth GC in a blog post earlier in the year which you can read HERE. thehomeofgolf.com/EYEMOUTH
South West Scotland Region
Winter Golf in Scotland
Powfoot Golf Club
www.powfootgolfclub.com
I was fortunate enough to visit Powfoot GC in the midst of this year’s heatwave. The course was in great condition and looked stunning, with plenty of gorse still in full bloom. The gorse gives the course good definition but you will want to stay well clear of it!
Round: £23 from 1 November to 30 March 2019
Southerness Golf Club
www.southernessgolfclub.com
Southerness is a quality links on the Solway Firth. There is plenty heather around, so driving accuracy is key here, especially on windy days, on this exposed course.
Round: w/d £35 w/e £40 from 29 October to 24 March 2019
Wigtownshire County Golf Club
www.wigtownshirecountygolfclub.com
Wigtownshire County Golf Club is a very flat, easy walking links course. If you think you are going to play more than four times, you might want to consider taking full winter membership at £120!
Round: £30 from 1 November to 31 December 2018-11-02
Winter Membership: £120 from 1 October to 31 March 2018
Portpatrick Dunskey Golf Club
www.portpatrickgolfclub.com
Portpatrick Dunskey, although it sits on the coast, it is a rolling moorland course. Interestingly, it sits about 150 ft. above sea level, on rocky cliffs and, as a result, has fantastic views throughout the year.
Round: £20 from 1 November to 15 March 2019
Ayrshire Region
Winter Golf in Scotland
Turnberry
(Open Championship Venue)
www.turnberry.co.uk
The Open Championship has been played at Turnberry four times – it needs no introduction from me!
Ailsa
Round: £175 (Mon-Thu) & £200 (Fri-Sun) from 1 November to 31 December 2018
King Robert the Bruce
Round: £70 from 1 November to 31 December 2018
(Hotel guests do get better rates – check their website above for details)
Prestwick St. Nicholas Golf Club
www.prestwickstnicholas.com
Prestwick St.Nicholas is a beautiful links course right on the edge of the Firth of Clyde. As you can imagine, it comes with stunning views over the water and out to the Isle of Arran.
Round: w/d £35 w/e £40 from 29 October to 29 March 2019
Prestwick Golf Club
www.prestwickgc.co.uk
As many of you will know, Prestwick Golf Club is the birthplace of the Open Championship. It was first played here in 1860. Prestwick Golf Club went on to host 24 Open Championships, the last of which was held in 1925.
Round: £110 from 1 November to March 2019
Barassie Links
www.kbgc.co.uk
Barassie Links is an Open Championship qualifying links course. It has also hosted the qualifying for both the Scottish Open & the Senior Open. Needless to say, many prestigious amateur events have also been played on this wonderful links course.
Round: £40 (single) £120 (fourball) from 1 November to March 2019
Western Gailes Golf Club
www.westerngailes.com
In typical Scottish links course style, Western Gailes is no more than two holes wide. As a result, it is wedged between the railway line and the sea. The Scottish Seniors Open Championship was held here in 1996, as well as, many top amateur events over the years.
Round: £70 (Mon-Fri) from 1 November to 15 March 2019 – includes soup & sandwiches
Gailes Links
www.gaileslinks.co.uk
Gailes links has been host to 32 international championships since 1927. Most notably, from 2014 to 2017, Gailes Links was the sole Final Open Qualifying course in Scotland.
Round: £50 (single) £140 (fourball) from 1 November to 31 March 2019
Irvine Golf Club
www.theirvinegolfclub.co.uk
The links at Irvine Golf Club is another Ayrshire course steeped in history. So it is no surprise that it is an Open Championship qualifying course.
Round: £30 from 1 November to 31 December 2018
Dundonald Links
www.dundonaldlinks.com
Dundonald Links has been growing in stature over the last 10 years. Furthermore, from 2008 to 2011, it held the 1st stage European Tour Qualifying School. 2012 saw the course host the Senior Open qualifying, followed by the Boys Amateur Championship in 2014.
The Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open was held at Dundonald Links in 2015 and 2016. And most recently, in 2017 the course hosted the European Tour’s Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.
Round: £55 from 1 November to 31 March 2019
West Kilbride Golf Club
www.westkilbridegolfclub.com
A hidden gem on the Ayrshire coast, is the 6523 yard championship links course at West Kilbride. It is a few miles from its Ayrshire neighbours (20 mins drive to Irvine) but it is no stranger to hosting championship golf. It held the Scottish Boys’, British Girls’ and Scottish Women’s Amateur Championships in recent years.
It is a great golf course, with breath taking views across Irvine Bay and the Firth of Clyde. With the Isle of Arran sitting proudly in the background, what’s not to like?
Round: £30 from 1 November to 31 March 2019
FINAL BLOG OF THE YEAR – this was the final blog post of the year – a huge thanks to you all for reading, commenting, tagging & sharing my posts throughout 2018.
Next blog post will be MARCH 2019 – until then, enjoy your winter golf in Scotland and have a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year when it comes!!
