Dunbar East Links – Golfing Galore

Just thirty miles away from Edinburgh, in the County of East Lothian, universally acknowledged as the Cradle of Golf, lies a hidden, lesser known gem of Scotland. Dunbar East Links on the eastern edge of Dunbar offers golf all year round and is a classic links golf course, hugging the coast. It offers spectacular views of the Firth of Forth and May Island with the shadowy outline of Fife in the distance.

Designed by Old Tom Morris around 1856, Dunbar East Links nestles on the estuary of the Firth of Forth. Dunbar East Links actually is a complex combination of links and inland turf located on a narrow strip of land that runs along the natural outline of the rocky coast. Bordered on the other side by the ancient walls of the Old Deer Park wall, this captivating course poses a challenge for all levels of players.

This 6404 yard championship links course has been the venue of all major golf tournaments of Scotland. Many Open qualifiers have also been conducted here. The well planned holes go along the natural direction and outline of the coastline. The coastal breeze is a permanent element affecting the quality of the game. A slightly stronger wind can pose a serious threat and make each round quite different from the next.

The game gets off sedately enough with the first three holes being pretty straight forward. Once you cross the wall and are in the seashore-hugging part of the links, the game gets trickier as it goes along. The boundary wall a constant companion on the right hand side, throughout the outward nine. The ninth through the twelfth are probably the most challenging holes on the course. A magnificent collection of par 4s offers a spectacular game and breathtaking views. The loop from the 12th to the 17th overlooks Dunbar town across the bay. The final hole of Dunbar looks straightforward enough, but should a slice land on the rocky beach or sand and shell layered bunker, the game may take longer to wind up than planned.

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