Dunbar Golf Course

If you like your top quality links golf right by the sea, Dunbar Golf Course is about as good as it gets. 

Dunbar has been a significant climber in our Scottish Top 100s since 2015, with the strength of opinion in favour of Dunbar from our well-golfed panel was notable.

RELATED: Golf World Top 100 Best Golf Courses & Resorts

It is a ‘proper’ links with some of the best turf you’ll ever tread on and is one of only a handful of courses in the UK where many of the holes are right by the sea, and at the sea level.

It is more rare than we think to be able to play a high quality links with sea spray in our nostrils and marine life within reach of a slightly cutty 9-iron.

RELATED: Musselburgh Golf Club review

Here, though, after you nip pass through the gap in the dyke that takes you from the 3rd green to the 4th tee you are never more than a gap wedge from the sea until you encounter the wall again on the penultimate hole.

Dunbar is naturally affected by the wind and when it’s prime turf gets fiery, the downwind holes play very short…yet are almost just as hard to work out as those into the breeze.

RELATED: North Berwick Golf Club review

This East Lothian course offers a strong design that even with a modest start and finish is a class act.

READ NEXT: Golf World Top 100 Links Courses in Great Britain and Ireland

• Course has: Bar
• Course has: Buggy Hire
• Course has: Driving Range
• Course does not have: Practice Green
• Course has: Pro Shop
• Course has: Restaurant
• Course has: Trolley Hire
• Course does not have: Dress Code
• Course has: Club Hire
• Course does not have: Handicap

• 4.5 out of 5 Hope the wind doesn't blow! 26 November 2007

  By WillyIt

  My uncle was a member here years ago and I remember playing in the wind, even the seagulls were walking! Wonderful traditional links course and better than many more renowned ones!

• 3.5 out of 5 150 years old and still kicking 16 June 2006

  By Anonymous

  Having played this wonderful links course last year I had already been singing its praises to my friends long before we pulled into the car park. It's a friendly place the minute you arrive. From when you drive off the first tee on the short par 5 the course starts with it's trickery. With the wind behind you the game is suddenly easier, more to the point about 90 yards easier. So having hopefully walked off the first with a par or better there is a spring in your step. Then on the 2nd it's all too clear that, as with all good links desinged courses, it's not going to be as easy as you think. The greens and fairways are immaculate and even the shorter holes will catch you out if the shot you play is not the one you intend. After the game there is again a welcome in the clubhouse with what has to be the best bar food on the Lothian coast. Let's hope that in another 150 years it's still the same and people are still enjoying it as much

• 3.5 out of 5 Great condition 06 March 2006

  By Anonymous

  Course was in great condition for the time of year. Snow and ice on the way there but nothing on the course itself. Full tees and greens in play and all were excellent. Hospitable welcome in the clubhouse after the round.

• 3.5 out of 5 Great 01 October 2005

  By Anonymous

  Great