Having first played golf in Scotland MANY years ago and having worked Opens and other events up in the Home Of Golf it's been a real pleasure to venture back up to Scotland over the past couple of years in a more 'holiday' vibe.

Don't get me wrong, the golf is always super competitive, but is played in the right spirit and backed up with plenty of evening entertainment.

I was introduced to Scotland's Golf Coast for the first time in 2019, having played most of my golf in Scotland either in Fife or Ayrshire, when we ventured up to play Luffness New and Dunbar.  Two exceptional golf courses on a track of land like no other for Golf

This year we headed back to East Lothian.  We drove the 5 hours up to start our trip at the charming Kilspindie Golf Club.  Not a long course, but a course packed with quirk and stunning views (a feature of this part of the world), where the driving isn't key, but your approach shots most certainly are put under the microscope.

We ventured back to our digs, the revered Ducks Inn in Aberlady where a warm welcome awaited.  The Ducks is getting a reputation globally thanks to both Erik Anders Lang and the NLU boys, and it is a true haven for golf nerds like ourselves.

Day two we headed to the Glen (North Berwick East), and whilst not a traditional links and with a few ordinary holes, the views were something else and there were some very challenging and eye catching holes. 

Whilst two of our party headed back to The Ducks for a well earned rest (or maybe a pint!), two of us headed to Musselburgh Old Links to soak in some true history.  Welcomed by a 240 yard par3, golf on this course dates back to 1672....  90 minutes later and we were back in the car, heading back to the Ducks. 

A quick change and dinner was taken at the wonderful Bonnie Badger in Gullane.  Gullane is obviously a true golfing town, as you drive in past Luffness New, the course and town open up before you, with the Pro Shop perched on the edge of town like a watchman checking all who enter.

Day 3 and we headed back to Gullane for the golf.  The forecast was for strong winds and lots of rain.  JOY! We got lucky.  The wind was probably only around 20-30mph, and we had a couple of squally showers.  Gullane#2 is an absolute gem.  A weak 3rd hole straight up the hill, gets all the pain out of the way in one hit and you are then met by an absolutely delightful stretch of holes.  A wonderful mix of testing tee shots, challenging approaches and well crafted greens, makes for a testing but entirely enjoyable round of golf.

With some good golf played (and plenty of bad), we said our goodbyes to the Golf Coast of Scotland, and on the way home we were already planning our return.