The beauty of Edinburgh is here for all to see with many golfing visitors arriving by plane or train to explore one of the greatest golfing coastlines in the world. The city is rich in history, its castle a centrepiece that can be seen for miles around including from Gullane, where the 2018 Aberdeen Standards Investments Scottish Open will be held in July. Museums, galleries, restaurants bars and retail therapy make a day or two in Edinburgh an essential part of any trip to this coast of Scotland.
East of the city lies a string of courses, 20 strong, spread across 20 miles of coastline that shadows the Firth of Forth. Names like Muirfield, Gullane and North Berwick are instantly recognisable but the quality runs deeper with courses such as Longniddry, Dunbar and Kilspindie promising glorious golf. But even within the city golfers will find golf of history and quality. The Royal Burgess Golfing Society, minutes from the airport, is widely recognised as the oldest golf club in the world and Bruntsfield Links, next door, has a plaque over the door with 1761 engraved into it. Yes, this is where golf began.
The courses along the coast offer views over the waters and one of the most striking sights is Bass Rock, three miles east of North Berwick. This seabird sanctuary hosts the third largest colony of North Atlantic Gannets in the world. It forms a constant backdrop to Glen and North Berwick golf clubs.
And, not far from North Berwick, is East Fortune Airfield, where Scotland’s National Museum of Flight can be found. A concorde resides here, in its entirety.
The villages are sprinkled along the coastline, providing an excellent choice of food and accommodation, with breweries and distilleries scattered in between. If you wish to combine golf with views then the luxury Garleton Lodge B&B is the ideal base. From its outdoor hot tub and panoramic dining room windows nine golf courses are visible on the distant coastline. It’s a perfect appetiser.
Or, for some golfing ingenuity and fabulous food, try the Duck Inn in Aberlady, with its unique array of golf games.
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