Scotland’s Golf Coast: a golf destination like no other
The world's biggest golf stars return to the Scottish Open this July.
On Thursday 13th July 2023, the world’s best men’s players will tee off at The Renaissance Club, East Lothian for the Genesis Scottish Open. The Rolex Series event, co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and PGA Tour, will arrive on Scotland’s Golf Coast for the seventh time in nine years.
The Renaissance Club, designed by Tom Doak, and opened in 2008, has hosted the event for the past four years with winners including Min Woo Lee, Aaron Rai, and Bernd Wiesberger.
Last year’s champion Xander Schauffele has signed up for 2023, alongside Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Matt Fitzpatrick, Justin Thomas, Max Homa and Scottie Scheffler.
The Renaissance Club will be the home of the Genesis Scottish Open until at least 2026.
Two years ago, we sat down with Renaissance Club founder and CEO, Jerry Sarvadi:
GolfMagic's Andy Roberts and Alex Lodge then played a few of the best holes ahead of the Scottish Open:
Scotland's Golf Coast - a golf destination like no other
Scotland’s Golf Coast is proud of its Championship pedigree and history.
A total of 22 Opens have been held on the coast and the AIG Women’s Open was held at Muirfield in 2022.
Six Opens were held at Musselburgh Links, the Old Course, between 1874 and 1889. In 2022, The Old Course celebrated its 350th birthday, although there is evidence to suggest that Mary Queen of Scots played the sport at Musselburgh as far back as 1567.
Musselburgh Links’ nine-hole course can still be played and is one of 21 courses on Scotland’s Golf Coast.
All 21 courses are within 30 minutes of each other and the furthest is only 50 minutes from the centre of Edinburgh and Edinburgh’s international airport.
Related: McIlroy confirmed for Scottish Open
The bucket-list links courses of Gullane No.1, the West Links at North Berwick, and the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfer’s, Muirfield headline the sport on the coast.
However, it is the variety and quality of the remaining 18 that make East Lothian such a unique destination.
From Royal Musselburgh’s James Braid parkland course and Gifford’s, top-quality inland nine holes, to Dunbar and the Glen’s unique and picturesque links challenges, the selection is ideal for a golf trip.
No matter the budget or ability, Scotland’s Golf Coast appeals to players of all abilities.
There are a selection of self-catering, bed and breakfast, hotels and resorts which combine with the golf to create a destination like no other.
The iconic Marine North Berwick has had a recent refurbishment, whilst at Craigielaw, there is an 18-hole links course, grass driving range, 6-hole short course and 30-bedroom Lodge.
Garleton Lodge is perched gracefully overlooking the coast where the food and spa treatments help make a visit to Scotland’s Golf Coast more than just golf. Duck’s Inn has emphasis on fun and post-round memories too, with barstool putting and a couple of pints of local ale the order of the day.
East Lothian is lucky to have 30 miles of beautiful coast, the John Muir Way, the Seabird Centre, Glenkinchie Distillery, National Museum of Flight and Tantallon Castle among its non-golf activities.
The towns of North Berwick, Aberlady, Dunbar and Gullane offer a wide selection of restaurants and hostelries, so the visitor can enjoy the local produce. East Lothian is Scotland’s Food and Drink County, and the region is proud of its food provenance.
The eyes of the golf world will be on East Lothian in July. Several of Scotland’s Golf Coast’s members have put together Stay and Play packages for the golfer’s convenience.
ScotlandsGolfCoast.com has information about memberships, packages and everything that is on offer on the coast.
The site adds further appeal to golfers as it's just a short distance from Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital.
For more information on Scotland’s Golf Coast, contact info@scotlandsgolfcoast.com
