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The North Berwick Golf Club plays over the historic West Links beside the Firth of Forth in East Lothian. Organised club golf dates to 1832, when the available common land accommodated only six holes; the layout expanded progressively as additional ground became available and eventually reached 18 holes. The modern West Links is a traditional coastal links with several architectural features that became influential far beyond North Berwick.
The par-three 15th, Redan, gave its name to one of golf architecture's most copied template-hole concepts, while the 13th, Pit, incorporates an old stone wall into play. Current official competition data lists the men's Blue course at par 71 and 6,162 yards and the women's Red course at par 74 and 5,769 yards. Visitors are accepted on restricted days and times.
The course is an 18-hole links golf course. The course originally opened in 1832. It is open to the public. On-site facilities include Clubhouse, Bar, Dining, Locker rooms, Pro shop, Caddie service, Club hire, Electric trolley hire.
Golf was being played on North Berwick's links land long before a formal club existed, with documentary references reaching back to the seventeenth century. Organised golf began with the formation of North Berwick Golf Club in 1832. At that point the available common land reached only as far as the March Dyke, now crossing parts of the modern third and 16th holes, and there was space for just six holes.
Members therefore played three circuits for an 18-hole medal competition.
The West Links was not created from a single architect's master plan. It evolved over generations as access to additional land allowed the course to move farther west and as golfers adapted the natural dunes, burns, walls and coastal ground. This gradual evolution produced several holes whose concepts later became architectural references in their own right.
Most famous is the par-three 15th, Redan, whose angled green and defensive contours inspired versions around the world. The 13th, Pit, is equally characteristic of North Berwick's willingness to incorporate existing landscape features, requiring play around and over an old stone wall.
The original six-hole course expanded in stages through the nineteenth century until the West Links assumed its modern 18-hole form. Generations of club professionals and players influenced those changes rather than one named architect. The clubhouse also developed alongside the course; part of the present building dates to 1880 and originally served as the gentlemen's locker room.
North Berwick is internationally influential despite never having hosted The Open Championship itself. Redan is among golf architecture's best-known template holes and has been copied by architects including Charles Blair Macdonald and Seth Raynor. The West Links has hosted major amateur championships and Open Final Qualifying and remains regularly ranked among leading links courses in Britain and Ireland.
The West Links remains an active members' club course with controlled visitor access. In 2026 visitors are accepted Monday to Thursday and Sunday during published windows, with no visitor play on Fridays or Saturdays. The club continues to use the historic hole names and maintains the traditional outward-and-return links routing beside the Firth of Forth.
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| Fee Type | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 March-31 March 2026 Sunday-Thursday | £220 | Fairway mats may be compulsory. Visitor tee times are restricted. |
| 1 April-31 October 2026 Sunday-Thursday | £320 | Visitors are not accepted Friday or Saturday under the published 2026 schedule. |
| Scottish Resident Rate March & November 2026 | £165 | For Scottish residents who are members of a Scottish golf club; proof of address required. |
Prices are indicative and subject to change. Contact the course to confirm current rates.
| Front 9 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Par | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 36 |
| Yards | 322 | 419 | 444 | 168 | 360 | 139 | 345 | 489 | 498 | 3184 |
| Index | 9 | 11 | 1 | 15 | 5 | 17 | 3 | 13 | 7 | - |
| Back 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Par | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 35 | 71 |
| Yards | 153 | 526 | 366 | 363 | 359 | 178 | 359 | 405 | 269 | 2978 | 6162 |
| Index | 18 | 2 | 8 | 12 | 6 | 14 | 4 | 10 | 16 | - | - |
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