Golf courses in East Lothian

East Lothian, the stretch of coast just east of Edinburgh, is one of the great heartlands of Scottish golf, with around 16 courses lining a single sweep of shore. Often called Scotland's Golf Coast, it offers a remarkable density of seaside links within a few miles of one another, all shaped by firm turf, sea breezes and centuries of play on this storied ground.

The variety along this short coastline is extraordinary. The North Berwick Golf Club is one of the most charismatic links in the world, full of quirk and history, while Muirfield is revered as a stern and beautifully natural test. Around them, courses such as Glen Golf Club, Longniddry Golf Course and Winterfield Golf Course give visitors links and clifftop golf of real quality, with Haddington Golf Course offering a gentler inland round when the wind gets up. The climate is cool but relatively dry by Scottish standards, and the long northern summer days stretch play well into the evening. For a true links pilgrimage in a compact, welcoming setting, East Lothian is hard to better.