Home | Travel | Course Review: Craigielaw Golf Club, Scotland

Course Review: Craigielaw Golf Club, Scotland

By Jane Lees on September 1, 2021

The perfect setting on Scotland's Golf Coast

Women & Golf visited Scotland this month to cover the AIG Women's Open. It seemed too good an opportunity to visit some of the wonderful array of golf courses on offer - over 560 at the last count - and we headed to Scotland's Golf Coast to play a few of the lesser-known courses in the area.

Inspired by the great links courses of Britain, Craigielaw Golf Club sits in the shadow of more illustrious neighbours such as Gullane, Muirfield, The Renaissance Club and North Berwick.

With challenging greens, cavernous bunkers and spectacular views over the Firth of Forth, Gullane Hill and out towards Edinburgh and Fife, Craigielaw Golf Club is an experience not to be missed.

Spectcular coastline

Craigielaw sits mid-way between Edinburgh and Dunbar - 40 miles of stunning coastline, golden beaches and rolling countryside - in East Lothian. We now know why East Lothian is known as Scotland's Golf Coast because it's home to 22 golf courses, many listed as the best links courses in the world.

View from 10th green down fairway to 10th tee

The Course

They refer to the course as 'limestone-heathland-links' and it has all the undulations of a links with the added danger of heather, gorse and bracken. Barring a steep uphill climb on the 1st the course is fairly flat. The fairways are generous with the lovely undulations you would expect of a links course. Watch out for the treacherous bunkers! Oh, and the sheep, who are very friendly and don't interfere with play at all.

There's a number of interesting holes: No.2 keep left, lots of danger on right; No.5 par 3 over the ravine is a tester, No.18 par 4 with a two-tier fairway, but overall the course is challenging and a good test for all golfers. There's quite a few blind holes which makes things interesting but the black & white markers are an excellent guide. It's easy to identify the next tee and the course would suit both long and short hitters so good for a mixed handicap group.

Craigielaw is relatively new to the area having only arrived in 2001. Since then it has established itself as a firm feature for golfing visitors, more recently hosting two Scottish Senior Opens.

From every hole there is a magnificent view of the sea and sometimes it's hard not to be distracted! Hole 11 is a case in point.

The Lodge

In addition to a great course, you can even stay onsite at The Lodge. Attached to the clubhouse, the Lodge boasts 25 well-appointed rooms which can be set up in a double or twin format.

13 rooms enjoy views across the course to the River Forth, Gullane golf courses and the Kingdom of Fife, whilst 12 rooms enjoy the quiet and secluded view across a decorative courtyard.

Beware the pink stuff

"I'm not saying the bunkers are
DEEP,
but you need
STEPS
to enter and exit!"

Course Feedback

And what did the Women & Golf Members think of the course?

"A lot tougher than it looks. The flatness of the course belies many challenges including straw-like rough and pot bunkers. Love the broken stone walls that give that added bit of interest. The greens are true but slightly heavy.
The vistas amazing. A real highlight.
Would suit ladies of mixed abilities and great for a group outing with onsite accommodation in The Lodge overlooking the course."

Course Information

Craigielaw is a friendly, modern golf club where all members are equal. They take pride in this and encourage a club atmosphere which is relaxed and approachable.

18 holes | Par 71 Green Par 71 Blue | 5,371 yards Green 6,043 yards Blue | Private | Links