Glen Golf Club

The Glen Golf Club’s East Links is a par 70 of about 5,738 metres, leaving North Berwick to climb cliffs and headlands facing Bass Rock. Extended to eighteen holes by James Braid and Ben Sayers in 1906, it combines links turf, dramatic elevation and some of East Lothian’s most recognisable sea views.

Golf is recorded on the East Links from the seventeenth century, although a formal nine-hole course appeared only in 1894. The club then asked five-time Open champion James Braid and local professional Ben Sayers to extend it to eighteen holes in 1906. The result retains layered origins: ancient play, late-Victorian organisation and Edwardian architecture directed toward the landscape. The routing runs east of North Berwick across a higher, rockier coastline than the neighbouring West Links. Holes climb to views of the Firth of Forth, Bass Rock and Tantallon Castle, then descend near bays and cliffs. Sea wind meets the slopes at changing angles; a tee can feel protected before the approach becomes fully exposed.

Braid and Sayers used natural elevation for commanding tees, partly hidden greens and shots that appear suspended over the sea. The famous thirteenth, the Sea Hole, crosses a rocky bay toward a green beside the shore. Elsewhere bunkers, walls, slopes and directional changes create a less uniform experience than a flat links. From the men’s medal tees the course is 6,275 yards, about 5,738 metres, at par 70. The walk contains climbs, while firm fairways add running distance. Sloping lies are common and complicate flight control. Exposed greens can become quick, and shots toward the sea suffer from deceptive depth perception.

The Glen is a welcoming members’ club rather than a resort. Proximity to central North Berwick, the clubhouse terrace, visitor services and views create a strong local identity. Multiple tees suit varied abilities, although the walk and exposure deserve realistic preparation. Coastal conditions can transform the round.

Play the East Links for its rare union of history, architecture and landscape. It resembles neither the West Links nor Gullane: cliffs and shots above rocky bays create a distinct visual tension. The thirteenth supplies the iconic photograph, but the course’s deeper value lies in the variety of all eighteen holes. Key facts: 18 holes; par 70; about 5,738 metres from medal tees; nine holes in 1894; extended by James Braid and Ben Sayers in 1906; views of Bass Rock and Tantallon; the thirteenth Sea Hole crosses a rocky bay.

Club championships, East Lothian amateur events and visitor opens — Annual calendar Golf recorded on the East Links since the 17th century; 18-hole design completed by Braid and Sayers in 1906