Edinburgh Courses

[KenL]

Re the bold bit...I've never 'got' that attitude. Sure, many of the greens are unnaturally raised, but so what! That helps drainage and adds a little more to the challenge of those holes. Always seemed to me that it's just narrow-mindedness as, to me, they are not really 'tricked up', but simply 'created' - apparently from the previous use as potato fields. Would you consider (fabulous imo) 16th at North Berwick to be tricked up?
https://m.facebook.com/watch/?v=813789232617956&_rdr And, from ancient memory so I may be wrong, even NB's 1st green is some way above the level of the shot in too.
I agree re Kilspindie - a really fun course. I've used almost every club in the bag (certainly both Driver an PW!) for the tee shot on 8!

16 at NB is not tricked up, it is just a crap hole. The green is a total joke.

 

[KenL]

So many courses to choose from in East Lothian but the Glen in North Berwick is a good shout and often overlooked in favour of the usual suspects, Gullane etc...

Glen, apart from the first hole is good fun but not worth what they are charging these days.

 

[peld]

The Glen has some wonderful views but its a very average course. Not worth the drive out from Edinburgh by itself.

 

[Hugh74]

The Glen has some wonderful views but its a very average course. Not worth the drive out from Edinburgh by itself.

For the views its stunning and while some holes are good yes other are pretty average. I'm a member so prob a bit biased. Enjoy your trip whatever courses you play.

 

[patricks148]

Tbh if I was going so close to some of the finest links courses in the world I'd be pushing the boat out and playing a couple of them.

Though i used to live in Edinburgh, it was before I took up the game, there are lots of courses around the town. Only played Dalmahoy, Mortonhall, Bruntsfield and Royal Burgess, I wouldn't play any of those over a links.

 

[Brads]

I eat at Craigielaw a lot . Lovely place , but Kilspindie next door is a stunning wee course. Members there will tell you the soil on Craigielaw isn’t as good.
Tbh any course between Longniddry and Dunbar is going to please you. Just pick the price bracket that suits.

 

[Foxholer]

...Members there will tell you the soil on Craigielaw isn’t as good.

Not unreasonble, as Kilspindie has been a golf course for over 150 years compared to C'law's 20 after previous use to grow spuds!
The land (at least) of both of them is owned by the Earl of Weymss, as is Longniddry and the entire town! Aparently, both courses were meant to be based at Kilspindie, with C'law starting from what is now its 7th, but planning, quite reasonably imo, rejected that plan. A redesign of the course - to the current one - would have had to have been done. It turned out rather well imo! Great practice facilities too!

 

[Golfnut1957]

I like Craigielaw. It’s more of a modern rather than traditional links but very enjoyable. Lots of folk moan about the greens but that’s the modern style for championship courses, I think. They’re large, with clear sections to them and run off areas. Need to think about going for the right part of the green rather than just getting anywhere on the dance floor or you risk 3 putting.

Hitting any green, anywhere puts me at risk of three putting.

 

[Golfnut1957]

For the views its stunning and while some holes are good yes other are pretty average. I'm a member so prob a bit biased. Enjoy your trip whatever courses you play.

We played it last year, absolutely loved it. I suspect that the sunshine and lack of wind contributed to the feel good factor.

 

[AliMc]

Tbh if I was going so close to some of the finest links courses instead world I'd be pushing the boat out and playing a couple of them.

Though i used to live in Edinburgh, it was before I took up the game, there are lots of courses around the town. Only played Dalmahoy, Mortonhall, Bruntsfield and Royal Burgess, I wouldn't play any of those over a links.

Add Duddingston and maybe Ratho Park to your list and for me anyway you've got most of the courses worth playing in and around Edinburgh, but as you say play any of them over a links such as Gullane 1 or 2, North Berwick, Dunbar or Luffness to name just a few Nah not for me but hey ho everyone's different ?

 

[AliMc]

Craigielaw is not well liked around here. Tricked up greens spoil the course for me.
Kilspindie next door is a gem of a course. Short, but full of character.
The lodge at Craigielaw is a lovely place to stay unless you want to be in Edinburgh of course.

The first part of your post is pretty accurate, if I had a £ etc for the number of people who have said 'I've played it once but wouldn't bother going back' it's been about Craigielaw.
If maybe only 6 or so of the greens were like upturned saucers and the rest a bit more 'normal' it would be better but some of them are just ridiculous
I've played it a fair bit as a guest of my mate who's a member but he got into Dunbar last year and is giving up Craigielaw at the end of March, (the subs are over £400 more than Dunbar), was always good to have a game there but can't say I'll miss it too much

 

[KenL]

I guess you don't agree with my appraisal of Kilspindie @AliMc ?

 

[rudebhoy]

For the views its stunning and while some holes are good yes other are pretty average. I'm a member so prob a bit biased. Enjoy your trip whatever courses you play.

Pushing my trolley up the hill to the 1st green nearly killed me! Other than that, enjoyed it even if it was blowing a gale the day we played it.

 

[AliMc]

I guess you don't agree with my appraisal of Kilspindie @AliMc ?

No I like Kilspindie Ken, very good course just a wee bit on the short side maybe, I just grasped a few courses out of the recesses of my brain, you will notice I even included NB, don't know what came over me !

 

[Brads]

What is peoples views on Winterfield ? @ £30 a round.

 

[KenL]

What is peoples views on Winterfield ? @ £30 a round.

The front 9 is the worst 9 holes I've ever played.
Lovely views on the back 9.

 

[KenL]

It's OK but probably the least appealing of the East Lothian links.

Don't see it as a links, just like the Glen or Longniddry are not links courses.

 

[Foxholer]

Don't see it as a links, just like the Glen or Longniddry are not links courses.

There's a 2 or 3 very linksy holes on the back 9 of Longniddry though, but I'd never consider it a links course. Home of my first Hole-in-one (13th) - with nobody in the bar to celebrate with, save my opponent!

 

[AliMc]

The front 9 is the worst 9 holes I've ever played.
Lovely views on the back 9.

Holes 1,2,7,8 and 9 at Winterfield are decent enough but the stretch from 3 to 6 are featureless, if your not 1 or 2 under for these you feel as if you have dropped a couple of shots

 

[rudebhoy]

OP - some good discounts if your club is in the James Braid society.

We played Dunbar, The Glen and Royal Musselburgh 2 years ago, and got them a good bit cheaper than the normal green fees.