North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland
North Berwick Golf Club – West Links
One of the most beloved and characterful links in Scotland, North Berwick's West Links is a course of extraordinary personality — ancient, quirky, and utterly irreplaceable.
About the Course
North Berwick Golf Club – West Links
North Berwick Golf Club's West Links is one of the oldest and most characterful courses in Scotland. Established in 1832 on a narrow strip of linksland along the East Lothian coast, the course has evolved organically over nearly two centuries into a layout of extraordinary personality. It is not a course of conventional difficulty or modern design logic — it is something rarer and more valuable: a course of genuine, irreplaceable character.
The West Links is famous for its eccentricities. The 15th hole — Redan — is one of the most copied holes in golf, a par-three with a plateau green angled away from the tee that has inspired imitations at courses around the world. The 14th — Perfection — plays over a stone wall. The 13th — Pit — drops into a natural hollow. These are holes that could not be designed today; they exist because the land demanded them.
The backdrop throughout is the Firth of Forth, with the volcanic plug of Bass Rock rising from the sea beyond the 16th green. North Berwick is a course that golfers return to again and again — not because it is the hardest or the longest, but because it is one of the most enjoyable and memorable rounds in the world.
By the Numbers
Course Statistics
Based on course length, terrain & layout
Handicap index suggested for full enjoyment
The Course
Why It Stands Out
The Redan — Most Copied Hole in Golf
The 15th at North Berwick is the original Redan — a par-three with a plateau green angled away from the tee that has been copied at courses around the world. Playing the original is a pilgrimage for any serious student of golf architecture.
Bass Rock and the Firth of Forth
The volcanic plug of Bass Rock rises from the Firth of Forth beyond the 16th green, creating one of the most dramatic backdrops in Scottish golf. The coastal panorama throughout the round is extraordinary.
Irreplaceable Character
North Berwick's eccentricities — the stone wall at the 14th, the natural hollow at the 13th, the blind shots and quirky angles — are the product of nearly two centuries of organic evolution. No modern course could replicate this character.
A Course Golfers Return To
North Berwick is not the hardest course in Scotland, but it may be the most enjoyable. Golfers who play it once almost always return — drawn back by the character, the setting, and the sheer pleasure of the round.
The Course
Course Views
Extend Your Itinerary
Pair It with Other East Lothian Links
North Berwick sits at the heart of East Lothian's Golf Coast, within a few miles of Muirfield, Gullane, and the Renaissance Club. The concentration of great links golf in this compact region is unmatched anywhere in Scotland.
Golf Travel
How It Is Included
North Berwick is a natural companion to Muirfield on any East Lothian itinerary. The contrast between the ancient character of the West Links and the championship precision of Muirfield makes the pairing one of the most satisfying in Scottish golf. We build North Berwick into Golf Coast programmes alongside Gullane and the Renaissance Club, arranging tee times and accommodation to create a seamless experience.
To explore how North Berwick fits into a wider route, visit our Home of Golf Collection page or our Scotland golf tours page.
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Play North Berwick Golf Club
Speak with our team to arrange tee times at North Berwick and build a private itinerary across the East Lothian Golf Coast.
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