SCOTLAND’S GOLF COAST TOPS THE GOLF COURSE RANKINGS

SCOTLAND’S GOLF COAST IS TOP OF THE GOLF COURSE RANKINGS

There are many ‘Top 100 golf course’ lists. There is a lot of criteria, and of course, much debate. That’s the beauty of golf, its subjectivity. One thing is for sure, golfers enjoy reading golf course rankings. For some, there are bucket-lists, for others there are wish lists. Scotland’s Golf Coast can tick a lot of boxes.

9 Hole Quality

There is a misconception that courses in ‘Top 100’ rankings are expensive and unattainable. That’s not the case. On Scotland’s Golf Coast, we will set the tone with our 9 hole courses. We have two wonderful 9 hole courses, the historic Musselburgh Links, and the scenic, parkland, Gifford. In Golf.com’s 50 Best 9 hole courses in the World, Musselburgh Links takes pride of place at #40. Meanwhile, both feature in National Club Golfer’s Top 100 9 hole courses in the UK & Ireland, aswell as in Scotland Where Golf Began’s Favourite Scottish 9 Hole Courses.

19 out of 21

With 21 courses on Scotland’s Golf Coast, it is astonishing that 19 make it into Today’s Golfer’s Top 200 Courses in Scotland, with Musselburgh Links the lowest ranked at 158 and the highest is Muirfield at #4.

Today’s Golfer has no shortage of lists. The Top 100 Fun courses in GB&I feature Musselburgh Links at number 81, our partner course, Bamburgh Castle at 53, Gullane No.3 at 45, Kilspindie at 17 and North Berwick at number 1.

The West Links

Talking of North Berwick, its rise in the rankings has been rapid. The uniqueness of the course, the location, its history and reputation have seen it added to many a ‘must-play’. The West Links is at 9 in Golf Digest’s World’s Greatest Courses and 18 in Today’s Golfer’s Best Courses in the World.

Greatest Concentration of Championship Links Courses in the World

Scotland’s Golf Coast has the greatest concentration of Championship links courses in the world. There are world-renowned links courses such as the previously mentioned North Berwick, 16-time Open venue, Muirfield (featured in Scotland Where Golf Began’s 10 Must-Play Courses in Scotland), Gullane No1 and Scottish Open host, The Renaissance. However, the selection is much greater. Another partner course, Goswick, hosted an Open Regional Qualifier last year, whilst Craigielaw hosts one this year. There are eight of our courses in Today’s Golfer’s Top 100 Links Courses in the UK & Ireland.

Best Region for Golf in UK

National Club Golfer also has Scotland’s Golf Coast as one of, if not the highest ranked region in the UK & Ireland. There are six courses in the GB & Ireland Top 100, with 12 in Scotland’s Top 100. To return to Golf Digest, there are five East Lothian courses in the 40 Best Scottish Golf Courses, with Muirfield and North Berwick in the top five.

Under £65

Rankings are not the be-all and end-all, but the examples above highlight the extent of quality golf in East Lothian. Further evidence is demonstrated by Gullane No.3, which is ranked at number 44 in the Britain and Ireland’s Top 100 Golf Courses under £65, demonstrating that the selection is of the highest no matter what the budget.

UK’s No.1 Golf Destination

There are 21 courses on Scotland’s Golf Coast, East Lothian. Combined with our four partner courses, Eyemouth in the Borders and Dunstanburgh Castle, Goswick and Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland, the destination is hard to beat. As the courses are on the east side of the country, weather is drier, the climate is better and the turf, firm, and well-draining.

Our accommodation providers will happily piece together an itinerary or point you in the right golf direction depending on budget, so visit our Stay and Play section, and our Accommodation page for more detail. Additionally, or alternatively, download our comprehensive guide.