Longniddry Golf Club

En trevlig parkbana delad som 9 link och 9 park.

It's long and tough, which is fair enough but was under constant pressure from members behind. Only an hour for 1st six holes. Felt like Linford Christie. It was also the most expensive we played. The hospitality was however 1st class.

Opened in 1921, Longniddry is a Harry Colt design that is located only 18 miles east of Edinburgh. Don’t be fooled by the fact that it is only a par-68. At 6271 yards, there are no par-5’s but has eight par-4’s that stretch out to over 400 yards. You will need to hit it long and straight if you’re going to conquer this tract. A beast if you are playing hickory golf clubs as we were.

Even though the course runs parallel to the south shore of the Firth of Forth, Longniddry is best defined as a heathland layout with some elevation changes. The west half of the course is heavily tree-lined whereas the east holes are open links-style with a smattering of trees.

Most putting surfaces are large and elevated but extremely slow on the day we played it. In fact, they were soft enough that we could actually land our approach shots on the greens and not watch them roll off the back. Trust me this is not the norm in East Lothian Scotland.

The first three holes set the stage for the front nine - 397,403 and 450 yard par-4s. Now you understand what I was saying earlier.

The 1st hole epitomizes your experience on this course. Your opening drive offers some forgiveness if you can stay out of the fescue and avoid the two fairway bunkers. In contrast, your long approach shot is to a raised green with a forested horseshoe shaped backdrop and two deep sod-faced bunkers to contend with.

Welcome to Longniddry - two different design styles on one golf course.

The most difficult hole on the course might be the 4th hole, a 450-yard par-4 that not only requires a long straight drive, but your approach is uphill on this dogleg left. To make matters worse is the green is perched on a plateau with two pot-bunkers in front. Plus, anything long or short right and you’ll be buried in the thick fescue.

Another memorable hole is #4 nicknamed Largo, a 194-yard downhill par-3. Don’t be short left as a deep faced sod bunker is almost impossible to get out of and I can attest to.

It’s not until you reach the 12th hole that you finally get a reprieve from the trees. Holes 12 to 18 have more of a wind-swept links feel but are much less dramatic. Either way both personalities of this course will test your skills and a must play in East Lothian Scotland.

After your game, you must pull a pint in the historic stone-face clubhouse and watch other golfers trying to putt from the large swale on the back corner of the 18th green. Longniddry Golf Club is truly ‘A Tale of Two Stories’.

Prachtige mix van links en parkbaan.

Links-achtige golfbaan. De baan ligt niet direct aan zee, maar de invloeden zijn er zeker. De baan heeft geen par 5's, maar als de wind er is zijn er zeker een paar holes die als een par 5 spelen. De greens zijn zeer goed met een lekkere rol. Een aantal holes loopt tussen de bomen door en hier is dus wat meer beschutting van de wind.

Heerlijk ouderwets clubhuis waar je je koffie uit een automaat kan halen als er niemand is. De mensen zijn er alleraardigst. Geen oefenfaciliteiten aanwezig.