The West Links at North Berwick and the Firth of Forth at dusk

Unofficial golf trip guide · East Lothian

Where to stay for an East Lothian golf trip

Independent guide · Last checked: 6 Nov 2026

In short

For an East Lothian golf trip, stay in North Berwick or Gullane: both are small seaside towns where you can walk to the first tee, and everything except Dunbar is within about 15 minutes' drive. North Berwick's West Links takes visitors Monday to Thursday and Sunday, Gullane's three courses take them every day, and Muirfield takes them only on Tuesdays and Thursdays through a once a year application. May to September is the main season, and 2027 green fees are already out at every club on this page.

Where to stay in East Lothian

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ABCDEF North Berwick1 Gullane2 Dirleton3 Dunbar4

ACourse to play

Plan ahead Book North Berwick and Gullane No.1 first, since their 2027 fees and times are already out, and apply to Muirfield as soon as it opens the diary for the year you want.

Courses you can play in East Lothian

  1. Fairways of the West Links at North Berwick Limited visitor times

    North Berwick West Links

    A links that starts and finishes in town, with stone walls, the beach in play and famous holes like the Redan (15th) and a Biarritz green (16th). Visitors play Monday to Thursday from 11:00 and Sunday from noon, never Friday or Saturday.

    Visitors play from 1 March to 31 October 2027: Monday to Thursday 11:00 to 14:50 and Sunday 12:00 to 15:50, never on Friday or Saturday. Fourballs can book online; groups of one to three book through the club's bookings team, and two balls may be paired up. The club's 2026 visitor terms ask for full payment when you book. Closed to visitors 15 to 20 March and 20 to 25 September 2027 for course work.

    Green fee: £360 (2027) · Course site ↗

  2. Links fairways on the No.1 Course at Gullane Golf Club Limited visitor times

    Gullane No.1

    The club's championship course, starting in the village and climbing Gullane Hill for big views over the Firth of Forth from the 7th tee. Visitor fees are published for every day of the week.

    Book online through the club's visitor booking page or by phone. Visitor fees are published for every day of the week, with set time windows on Fridays and in the spring, October and winter offers. A ticket for one round on each of the three Gullane courses costs 425 Monday to Friday in the same week, or 475 over seven days including weekends (2027). Payment and cancellation terms are not published on the club's site.

    Green fee: £310 (2027) · Course site ↗

  3. Links fairways on the hill at Gullane Open to the public

    Gullane No.2 and No.3

    Two more links on the same hill, played from The Links clubhouse across the road. Cheaper rounds that pair well with No.1 on a day ticket.

    Booked the same way as No.1, online or by phone. Both start from The Links clubhouse across the road from No.1, where you check in at the pro shop 30 minutes before play. In the winter, spring (April) and October offers, weekday times on No.2 and No.3 have no restrictions, with the first fourball at 09:04; main season times are not published.

    Green fee: £110 (2027) · Course site ↗

  4. The first green at Muirfield Limited visitor times

    Muirfield

    Home of The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, just east of Gullane. Visitors play on Tuesdays and Thursdays, in fourballs in the morning and foursomes (alternate shot) after lunch on a 36 hole day.

    Visitors play on Tuesdays and Thursdays only, not on public holidays. Independent golfers apply once a year by emailing the club's booking form, with up to three preferred dates per group: the 2027 diary was open to them from 18 to 27 March 2026, after tour operators. From May to September only fourballs are booked; smaller groups go on a waiting list. Payment in full is needed to confirm, and fees are refunded only if the club resells the time. Handicap 24 or lower, checked when you book.

    Green fee: £420 (2027) · Course site ↗

  5. Fairways and a small hut on the links at Dunbar Golf Club Limited visitor times

    Dunbar Golf Club

    A links on a narrow strip of coast at the east end of Dunbar, with a public coastal path alongside. Visitor times every day except Thursday.

    Visitor times from March to October 2027: Monday, Wednesday and Friday 10:09 to 11:57 and from 13:27, Tuesday 10:09 to 11:39 and from 13:36, weekends from 11:48, and none on Thursdays. Book online (up to four golfers, one round, paid in full) or by enquiry form, email or phone (paid in full within 10 days). Cancelling within seven days of booking is refunded in full; after that you lose 100 per golfer more than a month out, get 30% back between a month and a week out, and nothing inside a week.

    Green fee: £195 (2027) · Course site ↗

  6. Green fairways at Luffness New Golf Club Limited visitor times

    Luffness New

    A traditional members' links on the west side of Gullane. Visitors play Sunday to Friday in set windows and ask the office for a start time, as there is no online tee sheet.

    Visitors play Sunday to Friday, never on Saturday, in set morning and afternoon windows, with the last afternoon start at 15:30. The club's booking and visitors pages give slightly different windows for some days, so check the times with the office. Book through the club office by phone or email; there is no online tee sheet and exact times are not given, so you name a preferred start. A deposit of 50 per player confirms the booking. Bring evidence of a current handicap.

    Green fee: £220 (2027) · Course site ↗

How tee times work

Build the week around the clubs with set visitor days: Muirfield on Tuesday or Thursday, North Berwick Monday to Thursday (11:00 to 14:50) or Sunday (12:00 to 15:50), no Thursday at Dunbar and no Saturday at Luffness New. Gullane's three courses publish visitor fees every day and book online, as does Dunbar, and North Berwick books fourballs online. Muirfield is different: you email an application with up to three preferred dates during a short window in the spring of the year before, and the 2027 window closed in March 2026. Most clubs take the full fee up front with limited refunds, so travel insurance is worth having.

Closures to know about

North Berwick is closed to visitors from 15 to 20 March and 20 to 25 September 2027, and takes visitors from 1 March to 31 October 2027. Muirfield takes visitors on Tuesdays and Thursdays all year, except public holidays. Gullane, Dunbar and Luffness New publish lower winter or shoulder rates, and North Berwick may use fairway mats in March.

A sensible plan

Five nights in North Berwick or Gullane from a Sunday works well: Luffness New or Gullane No.3 on Sunday afternoon, North Berwick on Monday, Muirfield on Tuesday if you hold a time (for 2027 that now means a tour operator or the club's waiting list, since the independent window closed in March 2026, and only fourballs are booked from May to September), Gullane No.1 if not, and Dunbar on Wednesday. Spend Thursday at Gullane on a No.1 and No.2 day ticket, then fly home on Friday.

Getting there

Fly into Edinburgh (EDI), about 50 minutes' drive from Gullane and an hour from North Berwick outside rush hour. Trains run from Edinburgh Waverley to North Berwick in about 33 minutes, about once an hour (up to 19 trains a day), stopping at Drem, 4 miles from Gullane (book a taxi ahead, there is no rank). The Scottish Open is played at The Renaissance Club, a private course between Gullane and North Berwick, from 8 to 11 July 2027, so rooms will be harder to find that week.

Practical notes

Walking
These are walking courses. North Berwick says its slopes do not suit buggies (one single seat medical buggy, on request). Gullane hires ride-on buggies only with a medical certificate sent ahead, and bans personal buggies. Muirfield has two buggies at 40 a round for golfers who could not otherwise play, and free pull trolleys. Luffness New buggies are for medical needs only (40). Dunbar has a few buggies under its buggy policy. Push and electric trolleys can be hired at North Berwick (5 and 20) and Gullane (9, and 27 a round for electric).
Caddies
North Berwick 2026: 70 plus tip, paid to the caddie in cash; request when booking or at least 14 days ahead; 20 if cancelled on the day; forecaddies 35 each for two players or 30 each for three or four; 2027 rates not out yet. Gullane: one caddie per golfer, no forecaddies or double bags, request ahead; cancelling on the day costs the full fee. Muirfield: 80 for one round or 160 for two plus tip, booked at least 24 hours ahead, one bag per caddie, and only Muirfield caddies on the course. Luffness New has no caddies of its own and tries to borrow them from neighbouring clubs (70 plus tip, not guaranteed).
Dress code
On the course: North Berwick bars jeans, tracksuits, cargo shorts and T shirts, and its terms ask for tailored shorts with knee length socks. Gullane bars denim, T shirts, cargo or combat trousers and shorts, tracksuits, rugby and football shirts, flip flops and open sandals on the course and in the clubhouse. Luffness New wants formal golf wear, golf shoes, knee length socks with tailored shorts, and no jeans. In the clubhouse: Muirfield asks for jacket, tie and dress shoes for men at lunch, and Luffness New for jacket and tie in the main lounge and dining room.
Handicap
Muirfield: 24 or lower, checked when you book, minimum age 12. Dunbar expects members of recognised clubs and may ask for a certificate. Luffness New asks for evidence of a current handicap. North Berwick publishes no limit, but its 2026 visitor guide asks for 9 or lower, with proof, to play from the White (back) tees, and juniors must show a handicap. Gullane publishes no limit.
Stay rules
Muirfield, Dunbar and North Berwick (2026 terms) take the full green fee up front; Luffness New takes a 50 deposit per player. Muirfield refunds only if it resells the time. Dunbar refunds in full only within seven days of booking. Travel insurance is worth having.
Winter
Muirfield winter 2026 to 2027 rates: 180 in November, 150 December to February, 200 in March, with morning fourballs from 08:40 to 09:40. Gullane offers winter rates from 1 January to 31 March and from 1 November to 31 December 2027. North Berwick takes visitors from 1 March in 2027.

When to book

  1. NowBook a room with free cancellation as close to the course as you can.
  2. Your cancellation dateKeep or cancel before it passes.
  3. 6 to 11 June 2027Your trip.

Free guide

The Unofficial East Lothian Golf Trip Guide

Every area, every course, how tee times work and the booking dates in one place, updated every year.

East Lothian golf trip questions

Can visitors play Muirfield?

Yes, on Tuesdays and Thursdays (not public holidays), with a handicap of 24 or lower. Independent golfers email an application with up to three dates when the club opens its diary for the next year; the 2027 window ran from 18 to 27 March 2026. In 2027 a round costs 420 GBP, or 655 GBP for 36 holes with lunch.

How much does it cost to play North Berwick in 2027?

From 1 April to 31 October 2027 a round costs 360 GBP Monday to Thursday and 380 GBP on Sunday. In March it is 260 GBP and 280 GBP. There are no visitor times on Fridays or Saturdays.

Where should I stay for golf in East Lothian?

North Berwick or Gullane. You can walk to the North Berwick West Links or to Gullane No.1, and the other courses are a short drive, except Dunbar at about 25 minutes. Edinburgh works only if you accept about 40 minutes' drive each way.

What handicap do I need for Muirfield and the other East Lothian courses?

Muirfield asks for 24 or lower and checks it when you book. Dunbar may ask for a handicap certificate and Luffness New for evidence of a current handicap. North Berwick publishes no handicap limit, but its 2026 visitor guide asks for 9 or lower, with proof, to play from the White (back) tees, and juniors must show a handicap. Gullane publishes no limit.

Can I get to North Berwick and Gullane by train?

Yes. ScotRail runs from Edinburgh Waverley to North Berwick in about 33 minutes, about once an hour (up to 19 trains a day), and the West Links is a 5 minute walk from the station. For Gullane, get off at Drem, 4 miles away, and book a taxi ahead.

Can I use a buggy on East Lothian links?

Mostly not. North Berwick has no buggies apart from one single seat medical buggy, and Gullane, Muirfield and Luffness New keep them for golfers with a medical need. Electric trolleys can be hired at North Berwick and Gullane.

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

Photo credits