Lundin Links

Lundin Golf Club, also known as Lundin Links, is a visually stunning golf course on the eastern coastline of Scotland, playing along the shores of the North Sea. 

 

The club was originally founded more than 155 years ago, but it was not until its second iteration that an 18-hole golf course was laid out. 

 

Five-time Open champion James Braid was the man to do so, with nine holes sitting either side of the now-disused railway line. Leven Beach also comes into play along the opening few holes, as you play along the coastline.

 

 

 

  

Visit the Lundin Links website here. 

Go back to the NCG Top 100s Homepage. 

 

Lundin Links, like many in that region of the world, was designed by five-time Open Championship victor James Braid. 

 

However, the club had been around for four decades before the great man arrived in Lundin. The club was founded due to the overcrowding of Leven Links, its next-door neighbour. 

 

The club went defunct just nine years later, before being brought back to life in the 1880s. It was 1908 when Braid came to Lundin, and he added nine holes to the existing course to turn it into the 18-hole layout it is today.  

 

In recent years, the course has hosted both Regional and Final Qualifying for the Open Championship when the event has been held on the Old Course at St Andrews. 
 

The layout at Lundin Links possesses significant charm and superb conditioning. It also offers players the impression of being scorable, even if it usually isn't. The course lures you into a false sense of security with its views, superb greens and array of so-called birdie opportunities. The first five holes run along the coastline of Scotland, with Leven Beach on your left throughout. It is not the longest course, coming in at just shy of 6,400 yards, but this Par 71 definitely has its challenges. 

 

The opening hole is one of just five par 4s on the layout that measures more than 400 yards. It has a wide fairway, and the miss is to the right, because the North Sea is on your left. The 2nd is much shorter, but a burn runs across the fairway, so you will have to decide whether to take it on or lay back. 

 

3 is a dog-leg left par 4, and another short hole, before you come to the 455-yard par 4 4th. There are no bunkers in play off the tee unless you count Leven Beach if you pull one way left. The fairway is also relatively wide, with the trouble coming on the approach shot. A burn in front of the green, two bunkers left and the boundary wall at the back. Good luck! 

 

From there, you turn inland for the par 3 5th. Seven greenside bunkers lie in wait on this 140-yard hole. The 6th and 7th, short par 4s, both wonderfully sum up the teasing and quirky nature of Lundin Links, as those who've already pencilled in two threes will likely leave the 7th green red-faced, either in anger or embarrassment. A combination of both emotions will be the result if you fail to notice the mischievous burn running short of the 7th green. There is another around 60 yards in front of the 8th, while the 9th is the first of just two par 5s at Lundin. At 550 yards, it is the longest hole on the property, and for most it will be a tough three-shotter.  

 

The back nine begins with a tricky little par 4, before the course turns into a parkland for 11, 12 and 13. The former is the longest par 4 on the course, with the 12th then being a short par 3. Less than 150 yards, it doesn’t sound too difficult. However, but seven bunkers surround the green, along with trees and thick rough. Don’t miss the putting surface. The 13th is a quirky par 5. It is just shy of 500 yards, so it could be reachable for the longer hitters, but a bunch of trees 40 yards shy of the green make it difficult for those coming in from the left side of the fairway. 

 

The par 3 14th is the signature hole at Lundin Links. It is carded at 177 yards, but it plays significantly downhill. Designer James Braid considered this hole perfection. From there, you cross back over the disused railway line for the final stretch. A quartet of par 4s await, and they all offer different challenges. 15 is more than 400 yards but has quite a wide fairway to attack. 

 

16 is the shortest of the four at just 320 yards, but strategy is required over brute force. 17 is another tricky hole before you get to the closer at Lundin. There is a generous fairway to find off the tee, but the green is long and narrow, with a road on its left and the 1st tee on its right. If you can get away with a par on 18, you’ll be a happy golfer! 
 

Where is Lundin Links located?  
Lundin Links is on the eastern coastline of Scotland, just an hour from the capital city of Edinburgh. The course sits on the coastline of the North Sea, and it neighbours Leven Links – another member of the NCG Top 100s: Scotland list. Leven Beach runs alongside the southern side of the club, while on a clear day, you might be able to see over the water to Archerfield and North Berwick.  

 

The nearest train station to Lundin Links is in neighbouring Leven. The station is just over three miles to the west of the golf club and sits at the end of the line from Edinburgh. Trains run to and from Leven every hour. For international visitors, Edinburgh Airport is the closest to Lundin. It is also the biggest and busiest in the country.

 

Are there any other NCG Top 100s: Scotland venues nearby?  
Neighbouring to the west is Leven Links, while this stretch of Fife coastline is also home to Dumbarnie Links and The Golf House Club, Elie. Ladybank, Kingsbarns and St Andrews - with its wide selection of layouts - are also within a short drive.

What golf facilities does Lundin Links offer?  
Along with the stunning golf course, Lundin Links is also home to some great practice facilities. They sit just inland from the first and last holes, and there is a range and a short game area to allow golfers to practice both parts of their games. There is also a large putting green next to the clubhouse for those final touches before you take to the course.  

What are the green fees at Lundin Links?  
The price of a green fee at Lundin Links 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 Lundin Links visit their website here.

 

 

 

  

Visit the Lundin Links website here. 

Go back to the NCG Top 100s Homepage.