Visitors - The experience
It is a fact of golfing life that the golf clubs who traditionally make visitors most welcome are not always, by any stretch of the imagination, the most scenic or the most pleasingly designed courses.
There are, however, one or two notable exceptions and Dunbar Golf Club is one of them.
“The gannets chatter away as they
dance from rock to rock.”
By popular consent, it one of the most rewarding courses in Scotland, regularly ranked in the “top fifteen”. Its proud history stretches back to the very beginnings of golf when local inhabitants took wooden stick to ball on the coastline’s grassy prestigious qualifying course for the Open Championship.
“The fishing smacks net their catch
not a mile offshore.”
The word “breathtaking” is somewhat overused in the 18-hole context but in the case of East Lothian’s easternmost golf course, it is an epithet both fitting and obligatory in describing its effect on first time visitors, The North Sea in all its glory is a constant partner to any round. Indeed, some of the holes rub shoulders with the splendid beach.
“The Isle of May and Bass Rock and
the distant outline of Fife all vie for our attentions”.
Views across to the islands in the mouth of the Forth and beyond to the coastline of Fife are guaranteed to take the edge off the disappointment of even the most alarmingly sliced approach shot. In fact, even seasoned local golfers are on occasion distracted from their choice of iron by the sheer beauty of the backdrop to their game. Happily, the warmth of the welcome extended to visiting golfers is as unchanging as the view. Dunbar as a seaside resort with fine hotels, miles of attractive beaches and two picturesque harbours, is well used to a regular influx of seasonal visitors. The golf club echoes the accommodating spirit of the town and extends the welcome to winter visitors too. Dunbar basks in its justified reputation as Scotland’s sunniest spot. Unlike some of its more famous cousins, the golf course rarely submits to inclement conditions.
“A solid drive along the flat brings us
within sight of the Barns Ness Lighthouse.”
Summer or winter, playing the links course on the shores of the North Sea is a very special experience for any keen golfer. Nestling between ancient stone walls and the sea, Dunbar is a vision of golfing enjoyment often imagined but seldom fulfilled.
On completion of a memorable round, the clubhouse is a haven of comfort. Visitors are encouraged to compare notes with local aficionados over a drink or two. The malt selection is almost as daunting as the doglegging 382 yards 7th hole. (After a couple of drams, the semi-blind second shot over gently rising ground to the green will seem eminently possible).
