Scotland’s Golf Coast is ready to again excite and inspire in 2021 as it encourages golfers to journey back to its stunning shores and savour experiences on and off the course.
After a challenging 12 months across the tourism industry due to COVID-19, the East Lothian region is ʻgood to goʼ this year as restrictions from the global pandemic continue to ease. Boasting the worldʼs greatest concentration of championship links courses, the 30-mile coastline offers a fantastic destination to suit all abilities and budgets for stay-and-play breaks – as well as one of Scotlandʼs driest and sunniest locations for all-year round golf.
With a choice of 21 courses in total – headlined by championships tests such as 16-time Open venue Muirfield and this year’s Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open host, The Renaissance, to delightful challenges like Gullane No.3, Royal Musselburgh and Winterfield – it offers a variety of golf at incredible value.
Combined with a plentiful choice of accommodation
– including resorts, hotels, bed & breakfasts and self- catering with some offering short-game golf facilities on site – and easy access to main road networks, it is hoped visitors will be flocking back to the East Lothian fairways. It is less than 45 minutes to all of Scotland’s Golf Coast courses from the nation’s capital, Edinburgh, and under 90 minutes from Glasgow. The region can also be easily reached in a three to four-hour drive from the likes of Newcastle, Manchester or Leeds.
Scotland’s Golf Coast is a private sector led/public sector supported business and marketing alliance with almost 40 members, including golf clubs, accommodation providers and other local businesses. Since the launch of a new website, scotlandsgolfcoast. com in March 2020, website sessions are up 120% and database growth up 592% to highlight the demand for the area. David Cockerton, Owner of Garleton Lodge, Hotel, Restaurant & Spa, said: “We are all looking forward to a successful year in 2021 and welcoming visitors back from across Scotland and beyond – we’re good to go. It has been a hugely challenging period for everyone due to the pandemic and we hope there is a demand to return to East Lothian such is the quality of our product. Scotland’s Golf Coast continues to be a success and we look forward to working with all our providers to capitalise on the excitement for golf and the opportunities to travel again in 2021.”
The region will again be showcased to a global audience in July when the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open is held for a third straight year at The Renaissance. It will be the fifth time Scotland’s Golf Coast has staged the men’s event in seven years given Gullane, which offers a wonderful mix of three courses, was the tournament host in 2015 and 2018.
The Ladies Scottish Open was also played at Gullane in 2018 and The Renaissance in 2019 and 2020, while Muirfield will welcome the AIG Women’s Open next year. Muirfield most recently staged The Open in 2013 when Phil Mickelson prevailed, while the renowned links was the scene for Scotland’s first staging of the Ryder Cup back in 1973. Musselburgh Links, Dunbar and North Berwick – home to Scotland’s all-time leading female professional Catriona Matthew – boast excellent reputations on Scotland’s Golf Coast, while other much- loved venues include Archerfield Links, Craigielaw, Kilspindie, Longniddry, Luffness New and The Glen.
Wherever you venture on your East Lothian golfing journey, you will find traditional links and classic inland layouts, often steeped in history, and complemented by modern, challenging courses. In terms of accommodation, there are options for every budget. From Duck’s Inn at Aberlady – where you can perhaps enjoy some ʻbar-stool golf’ – to the Marine Hotel & Spa on the West links in North Berwick, and from Archerfield House to Garleton Lodge, which boasts stunning views across the Forth and surrounding East Lothian countryside. A number of the accommodation providers in East Lothian package together the accommodation and courses for the golfers’ convenience.
