Craigielaw

Having only opened in 2013, the golf course at Craigielaw is one of the newest that you will find on any of the NCG Top 100s lists.

As part of the Craigielaw Resort, the golf course was designed by Donald Steel, and sits next to Kilspindie Golf Club - the pair divided by a stone wall.

As a host to the Scottish Seniors Open, you can expect a good test of your game. It only gets harder if the wind on the East Lothian coastline is swirling around. 

Read our full piece on the Craigielaw Resort here. 

Visit Craigielaw’s website here. 

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Craigielaw is one of the newest courses to be constructed on the east coast of Scotland, only opening in 2013.

Donald Steel was the main man behind the design of the layout, and the venue achieved championship status just five years on from its opening.

It has played host to the Scottish Seniors Open in both 2018 and 2019, with home favourites Gary Orr and Paul Lawrie being victorious. Craigielaw has also been a qualifying venue for the British Seniors Open.

A stone wall separates the course at Craigielaw from the neighbouring Kilspindie, and Craigielaw has a different feel. There are some links aspects to the layout, but there is also an inland feel to several holes on this Steel-design. The course is less than 6,500 yards and the second nine is considerably longer than the first, so build your score on the way out. Throughout the course the greens are often undulating, so it is important to not leave yourself with too many long putts as they can quickly ruin your card.

“It’s small, elevated greens are so fortified by bunkering and fall-offs that on windy days, even the best players are sometimes unable to find a way to hold certain greens in regulation. And windy days are hardly unusual here.” - Darius Oliver in ‘The Confidential Guide to Golf Courses: Volume 1 – Great Britain and Ireland’ 

The course opens with the shortest par 4 on the course, and a gentle opener. Some may try and drive the 325-yard 1st but there are three greenside bunkers lurking. The 2nd and 4th are long par 5s, the latter being more than 575 yards long. The 2nd is still also pushing 560 yards, so it is a definite three-shotter. Meanwhile, the 4th is the longest hole on the course, with bunkers in the landing zone, and in the lay up zone as well. In between those two par 3s sits the 3rd, the first of five par 3s you will find at Craigielaw. The green sits on an angle, with three bunkers to the left and two in front. Despite only being 155 yards, it is a difficult shot.

Although arrow-straight, the 5th is a tricky par 4. It is more than 420 yards in length, and avoiding the bunkers on either side of the fairway is vital off the tee. The 6th is a tricky little par 4 which sees you play over the corner of the walled boundary to a green guarded by bunkers. 7 and 9 are both birdie opportunities late in the opening half of the course. The former is 365 yards and features no bunkers, while the 9th is only 340 yards. Avoid the bunker in the centre of the fairway and you’re in prime position. The 8th is the longest of the par 3s at 190 yards. Two bunkers sit on the left side of the green, with the wall between Craigielaw and Kilspindie on the right. Anything over the wall is out of bounds.

The back nine begins with another par 3. Four bunkers guard the putting surface, which is 175 yards from the tee. 11 is the first of two par 5s on the back side, and at 540 yards, it is actually the shortest of the four par 5s on the property, whilst also playing downhill towards the Firth of Forth. There is a generous fairway in front of you off the tee, though bunkers do encroach on the right side. A winding burn meanders its way across the front of the green, so lay up if you’re not confident of making it.

A trio of long par 4s take you through towards the closing stretch. The 12th is 445 yards in length and moves from right to left. There is only one bunker on this hole, but it is the sheer length that is the difficulty. 13 moves slightly in the other direction, and the four bunkers on the left side are in play off the tee. That same quartet of sand traps feature more on 14, again on the left side of this 407-yard par 4. Two more bunkers then sit next to the green, on its right side.

The closing stretch at Craigielaw begins with the 345-yard par 4 15th. Although shorter than the trio you have just played, there is plenty of danger. Bunkers left and gorse right, with more bunkers by the green, it is a tricky hole to make par. 16 is the longest of all the par 4s at almost 470 yards, with the ideal line off the tee being right of the bunkers for the shorter hitters, and over the top of the bunkers for the longer hitters. A solitary trap sits in front of the green, to add to the difficulty of the approach. The 17th is the last of the par 3s, and at 160 yards, it is arguably gentler. However, with four greenside bunkers, there is still some danger around. The closing hole at Craigielaw is also a par 5 and supplies one final birdie opportunity. Sand only comes in to play in the last 100 yards of the hole, with five bunkers ready to catch any mishit shots.

Where is Craigielaw Golf Club located?

Craigielaw Golf Club is located on the eastern coastline of Scotland. It is one of many courses in East Lothian, along with the likes of North Berwick, Musselburgh, Archerfield and Gullane No.1, No.2 and No.3. Edinburgh, the nation’s capital city, is just 15 miles to the west along the East Lothian coastline.

Edinburgh Airport services the Midlothian and East Lothian regions of Scotland. Located on the opposite side of the capital city to Craigielaw, it is around a 45-minute drive, traffic depending. Edinburgh Airport operates many daily flights to European destinations, along with flights to North America as well. Longniddry is the nearest train station to the resort, which sits on the train line between Edinburgh and North Berwick. Longniddry Station is just three miles from Craigielaw, with trains running in both directions on a regular basis.

Are there any other NCG Top 100s: Scotland venues nearby?

Craigielaw is situated in one of the biggest golfing paradises in the country. Within just ten miles to the east, there is the Renaissance Club, Luffness, Kilspindie, Muirfield, North Berwick, Archerfield’s Fidra and Dirleton Courses, and the trio of layouts at Gullane – the No.1, No.2 and No.3 Courses.

What golf facilities does Craigielaw Golf Club offer?  

Away from the championship golf course, Craigielaw is also home to some stunning practice facilities. At the resort's southern side lies the driving range, which features covered and uncovered bays. There is also a putting green by the first tee, for golfers to work out the pace of the greens before taking to the course.

What are the green fees at Craigielaw Golf Club?  

The price of a green fee at Craigielaw Golf Club changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend.

For more information on current green fees at Craigielaw, visit their website here.