Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club (East Course)

A few years ago over £1m was spent on upgrading Braid’s sensational East course, the main attraction at this outstanding Marriott resort which also includes the contrasting and friendlier West layout. At around 7,500 yards (off the championship tips) the East is one of Scotland’s longest courses. The Braid-designed East is relatively forgiving off the tee and you can regularly get the driver out but you’ve got to steer clear of the many deep bunkers lining the fairways and guarding the big, undulating greens. The East Course has a reputation of being one of the best – as well as longest – inland layouts in Scotland. It’s a James Braid work of art and was where America were crushed 11.5 to 6.5 by Europe in the 1992 Solheim Cup. The East is forgiving off the tee but you need to avoid the deep bunkers lining the fairways and guarding the big, undulating greens. Take on the white (7,055 yards) or Championship tees (7,475 yards) if you dare!

Click here to find out where Dalmahoy ranks in Golf World's Top 100 Golf Courses Scotland

Designed by James Braid and opened in 1927, the East is Dalmahoy's championship golf course. Recent restructuring has seen it become the longest golf course in Scotland off championship tees at 7,500 yards.

It has hosted the Solheim Cup as well as nine Scottish PGA Championships and three Scottish Seniors Opens. At the foot of the Pentland Hills, the East stretches through scenic and mature wooded parkland. Wide off the tee, the fierce bunkering and sloping greens set up the challenge.

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

• 4.5 out of 5 One of Edinburgh's best courses! 05 June 2010

  By carleast

  Played this course in at the end of May 2010.  It was a glorious day which helped but the course was in fantastic condition.  The facilities are superb and you feel that you're a million miles away from Edinburgh.  You need to need to be on your driving game to play here as it's long.  But it's also fair and spectacular in places. Pros: A very pretty course that is very well kept.  The 13th and 14th holes are two of the very best holes that you'll ever play.  They are very much Augusta like.  The bunkers are always in play but fair. Cons: It was dry when we were there but I get the feeling that it might hold water in places when it's wet.  It also takes about 4.5 hours to go round.  You can only play on the 2 for 1 vouchers Mon-Fri.

• 3.5 out of 5 Dalmahoy East Course 14 February 2008

  By pocka

  In great condition for Febuary a course for the big hitters MONSTER greens with club selection vital on some greens front to back could be 2to3 clubs difference Gutted holes13&14 not used in winter but was informed there well worth coming back to play

• 3.5 out of 5 Return to my roots 27 October 2006

  By Anonymous

  Up on a trip back home recently I managed to take the opportunity to play the east coast with a few old rugby buddies. This long course played it with the autumnial conditons - however even on a summers day us big hitters would have needed to think our way round the course. Often you were tricked into thinking what you say was what you got, but on several holes there is real need for accurate placement off the tee or into the green to get near the pin. Greens were well tended and when the new 13th & 14th are bedded in they will be very special holes, even more so from the medal tees. My signature holes choice would be the 6th and the 16th. The latter again still developing after extension for a par 4 to very long par 5. I have played a number of American make over style of course's and indeed others in the chain of this group. They can all appear very similiar, but in bucking the trend Dalmahoy, retains mainy of its Scottish features. So it was like coming home to the course I had last palyed 20 years ago. To the brunette from school, if you will, who was still as pleasing to the eye and refreshing in conversation. Who had gracefully adapted to the changes of the years without recourse to the plastic surgeron. A throughly sound test of golf and am already looking forward to my next visit in the summer of '07.

• 4 out of 5 The best Marriott venue in the UK 15 June 2006

  By Anonymous

  Playing Dalmahoy East is like driving a top of the range Mercedes car. It not only looks the part it does exactly what you expect to do. From standing on the first tee in front of the wonderful hotel and starting area, to finishing your first 9 holes back down on the green of a very difficult par four, it's a pleasure all the way. Surely the back 9 can't be as good, well it is and in fact it's even better. The views over the surrounding countryside are superb and on the day we played you could see both bridges over the estuary. With the extra yardage inntroduced last year to have the Seniors tour visit in August this year, the course is now a very demanding test of golf. There are still a couple of new holes ( 12 & 13 ) that need to settle in but it's without doubt now one of the best in the Edinburgh area.

• 4 out of 5 Enjoyable course 09 April 2006

  By Anonymous

  Tight in places, and definitely shorter/easier than the East course. A reasonable parkland course, good for societies. A good deal to play both with a hotel night.

• 4 out of 5 Almost total delight 08 April 2006

  By Anonymous

  Top class course, very long. The remodelled holes on the second half are a bit out of character with the rest and devilishly hard. Standout holes are the 9th and 18th. Very enjoyable and fair test for all golfers.