Overview: North Berwick’s West Links is perhaps the most fun and eccentric golf course in the world, a seaside journey filled with blind shots, ancient stone walls, and greens that defy conventional logic. Located in the charming town of North Berwick on the Firth of Forth, the course is a "living museum" of architecture that has evolved over nearly two centuries. It is the birthplace of many of the game’s most famous "template" holes, which have been copied by architects across the globe. With spectacular views of the Bass Rock and a routing that takes players directly through the heart of the coastal dunes and even over the town’s harbor wall, it is a course that prizes imagination and joy over rigid difficulty.

History: While golf has been played on this land since the 17th century, the club was formally established in 1832. The course grew from a 6-hole loop into the 18-hole masterpiece it is today through the hands of legends like Old Tom Morris and Ben Sayers. Its influence on American golf is profound; C.B. Macdonald and Seth Raynor spent weeks at North Berwick studying its unique features, which they later brought to the United States to create courses like National Golf Links of America. Despite its age, North Berwick remains a relevant and challenging test, proving that strategic quirkiness is a timeless defense against modern technology.

Did You Know? The West Links is home to the original "Redan" (the 15th), which is the most frequently replicated par-3 in the world. However, its most unique feature is the 13th hole, named "Pit." The green is situated behind a centuries-old stone wall, requiring players to hit a precise approach shot over the masonry to reach the putting surface—a hazard so unusual it would never be built today, yet it remains one of the most beloved shots in the game.

North Berwick Golf Club (West)

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