From the moment you arrive at The North Berwick Golf Club, it’s clear that you’re in for something special.
The ocean breeze, the cackle of seagulls, the lush fairways and greens pressed against the heart of town, and the warm welcome from staff and members alike all set the stage for a memorable round on the West Links.
Despite its long and rich history in the game, North Berwick was once the kind of place that most American golf travelers only played if there was extra time around a visit to nearby Muirfield. Today, it rightfully holds must-play status on Scotland golf tours to this part of the country.
This rise in popularity is partially owed to the first-impression described above. But for most, it’s the spellbinding West Links itself which captures the heart of so many visitors.
Here are 7 things to see during your round at North Berwick Golf Club.
2nd Hole – Sea
After a relatively gentle opening hole, the 2nd at North Berwick is where the round truly begins.
The Firth of Forth provides its name and guards the right-side for the entire length of the hole. The strategy off the tee, however, is what makes this stern par-4 rather captivating.
The golfer who takes the bold line up the right of the fairway is usually rewarded with a relatively flat stance to take on the approach shot. Those who err on the side of caution and steer their drive to the left, far away from the sea, will have to attempt their 2nd shot from a mini-mountain range of humps and bumps.
Of course, a 3rd shot from the beach is always a possibility, no matter what line you choose off the tee.
13th Hole – The Pit
Perhaps the most famous hole at North Berwick is also its most puzzling.
By the scorecard, the 13th hole – known as Pit – seems like a relatively benign par-4. And it certainly would be, were it not for the ancient stone wall that stands between the fairway and green.
A short-iron is all that’s usually required from the fairway, but hilarity may ensue if the approach is blocked to the right or comes up short of the wall. The ricochet is not the kind of shot that most golf travelers have in their bag. The simple fact that it may be required is why the 13th hole has come to symbolize the West Links at North Berwick more than any other.
14th Hole – Perfection
The name says it all at the 14th hole at North Berwick.
After striking a blind approach shot up and over a ridge, the climb to the top eventually reveals one of the great panoramas in Scotland. The green rests against the beach, Bass Rock seemingly floats offshore, and the southern portions of the Kingdom of Fife are usually visible across the Firth of Forth.
It’s one of the great Kodak Moments in Scotland, and one that has a funny way of distracting the golfer from the task at hand.
15th Hole – The Redan
The 15th at North Berwick is said to be the most replicated hole in golf.
This stern par-3, so named for its fortress-like green, was imported to the United States at places like Chicago Golf Club and the National Golf Links of America by architect C.B. MacDonald, and later spread even further by his protege Seth Raynor.
The green is tilted from right-to-left and front-to-back, requiring the golfer to navigate the slope off the tee if they’re to have any chance of holding the green. Complicating matters further, a driver may not be nearly enough club if the wind is up.
16th Hole – Gate
As the West Links inches its way back to town, the 16th green provides an excellent spectating opportunity for guests at the adjacent Marine Hotel.
The green is essentially split into two halves by a swale which awkwardly cuts across its center. If an approach shot should find the opposite half as the flagstick, the golfer must navigate a roller coaster of a first putt. Like the Redan, it’s said that the 16th green was part of the inspiration for the Biarritz greens common on MacDonald/Raynor courses in America.
18th Hole – Home
Like The Old Course at St. Andrews, the 18th at North Berwick is a short, straight-forward par-4, which is drivable by big hitters.
The edge of town and its accompanying out of bounds is also uncomfortably close to the right-side of the fairway. The smart play is a mid-iron out to the left to set up an easy wedge into the green.
But few can resist the temptation to pull the driver and possibly end an already unforgettable day on an even higher note.
The 19th
As you stroll these ancient fairways, it’s easy to see why the West Links at North Berwick is beloved by so many.
For the golf traveler who has crossed an ocean in order to play it, there’s only one proper cap to a day such as this. That’s by heading upstairs to the clubhouse lounge to recount with friends the shots off the beach and over stone walls.
Before you leave, be sure to open the doors to the small patio and soak in the West Links one last time.
That is, until the next time.
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