North Berwick Golf Club
There are golf holes here that will live long in the memory due to the magnificent setting along the Firth of Forth and the view across to the permanence of Bass Rock, Fidra Island and the coastline of Fife in the distance.
This never fails to be in a Scottish golfer's top 20 courses and like the Old Course at St. Andrews it begins and finishes within the town. The extraordinary layout has virtually remained the same since 1895, though the club was founded back in 1852, with a few tweaks by Ben Sayers in the 1930s.
The two famous signature holes are the 14th 'Perfection' and the 15th 'Redan'. The 14th asks you for not only a blind tee shot but also a blind approach to the green which lies hard against the beach, while the 15th requires a 190 yards to reach the safety of a raised green protected by two cavernous bunkers, expect a typical crosswind to be part of the equation here.
It co-hosted the British Amateur with Muirfield last year and will be a Final Qualifier for the Open Championship when it is held at Muirfield in 2013.
Dunbar Golf Club
Only 30 miles East of Edinburgh, this thin strip of natural links land had the powerhouse of 19th Century golf design Tom Morris influencing it's layout during 1856. Used as a qualifier for the Open when it is held at Muirfield, and will be again for the event in 2013, it has also been host to the Scottish Professional and Amateur Championships.
A generally flat course the strength of the wind that blows off the Firth of Forth will be the overriding factor during play, usually helping going out but, as I'm sure you have guessed, generally against on the back 9. Super views over the sea towards Bass Rock, Isle of May and a distant Fife, with the beach (potentially) coming into play on 5 of the holes! A great links.
Gullane Golf Club
A Championship course in its own right, Gullane acts as an Open qualifier to nearby Muirfield when it hosts the Open Championship. The 1st hole is at sea level then you tackle the 2nd, Windyhill, a 379 yard par 4 that climbs up Gullane Hill. Once on top we stay there until the 17th, with it's hilltop tee and 390 yard drive downhill to a green protected by huge bunkers. On a good, dried out, links fairway the green will look mighty inviting to the big hitters.
An interesting footnote to Gullane is that legendary Babe Zaharis became the first American to win the British Ladies Championship here in 1947.
