West Linton

West Linton is one of several great venues in Southern Scotland, with this moorland course being situated in the Scottish Borders. 

Despite its county, West Linton is just 20 miles from Edinburgh, which may surprise considering its moorland properties. 

It is less than 6,200 yards, but will provide a true test for all golfers thanks to its cambered fairways, plenty of undulation changes, and a pair of tricky par 3s to finish your round.

Visit West Linton’s website here.

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The history of West Linton, like many a Scottish golfing venue, dates back comfortably into the 19th Century.

The club was founded in 1890 by Robert Millar, who was also the man to design and construct the original 9-hole golf course. 

The great James Braid was drafted in during the 1920s to improve the course, but it was not until the early 1970s that the layout was extended to 18 holes, following the purchase of additional land.

West Linton is different to most Scottish venues, in the fact that it is a moorland course, played in a large loop around the moors, akin to Appleby in Cumbria. At times, it is wide open, but at others, accuracy is at a premium. West Linton is not a long course, coming in at just under 6,200 yards, but as it is a par 69, with just two par 5s and a quintet of short holes, length is not necessarily the be all and end all to making a good score here. 

It is a gentle start at West Linton, and one where you can get red numbers on the board early. The opener is just 307 yards, and a strategic tee shot will give you the right distance into this long green. Work out where the flag is before selecting the club for your approach. The first of five par 3s comes next. At 143 yards, it is the shortest hole on the property, and it is another good chance. 143 yards, to a decent-sized green – with only a trio of bunkers to avoid. Could you be 2-under through two here? 

You might need to be, as you then move into the most difficult stretch of holes on the course. The 3rd may only be 350 yards, but the undulations on this hole make it difficult to find the fairway thanks to the left-to-right camber. Five fairway bunkers add to the difficulty off the 3rd tee. The 4th is the only par 5 on the front side, and features OOB down the entirety of its right side. It is 525 yards, so with a good drive, the longer hitters will fancy going for it in two. At 470 yards from the tips, the 6th is the longest par 4 on the course and the Stroke Index 1 for good reason as most will play this as a three-shotter.  

6 has the narrowest fairway on the course, and although it is only 360 yards, it doesn’t mean it is easy. Some respite comes at 7, with this 330-yard par 4 being one you can attack. There is a trio of fairway bunkers, but most will be able to clear them with no trouble. A copse of trees may come into play for those who pull their tee shot left. At 445 yards, the 8th is another long and testing par 4, and another with OOB down the right side. Thanks to its curvature, from left to right, the tee shot is aimed away from the trouble somewhat to the fat part of the fairway. The further left you go, though, will make it a longer approach to a large, square green. 

The front nine ends with a 160-yard par 3 where again, right is trouble. Left is the miss if you are going to miss the green, one that has two bunkers sitting in front of it. A dog-leg par 4 kicks off the closing half at West Linton, and at 350 yards, it is another good chance providing you miss the large fairway bunker situated on the left side. At 469 yards, 11 is just a yard shorter than the 5th, and no less difficult. The fairway slopes from left to right, so aiming down the left side is the ideal line off the tee. A large fairway bunker awaits anything that is too far right, while three more traps are located in front of the putting surface. A par on 11 will see you gain a shot or more on the field. 

The first of three par 3s on the back nine comes at 12, and it is the first that is more than 200 yards in length from the tips. For those that might struggle to reach, there is plenty of space short of the green, with a pair of bunkers sitting on either side of the putting surface. 13 offers another good scoring chance, as a 295-yard par 4. Again, it is a slight dog-leg left with a fairway that cambers in the opposite direction. It is a generous fairway though, especially as it is a hole where driver is not necessarily needed. Another dog-leg left follows, but the 14th is some 80 yards longer than its predecessor. Avid the trees on the left and you will have a good view of the green one that is protected by sand at the front and trees at the back. 

The second, and last, of the par 5s at West Linton comes at 15. It is only 503 yards, and arguably the last good scoring chance on your way home. There just the one fairway bunker to avoid off the tee, but there are four more traps down by the green. The 16th starts the very testing closing stretch – a 445-yard par 4 and the Stroke Index 2 on the course. Although there is no real trouble off the tee, the sheer distance might make you try and hit your drive as far as possible, which then will bring the rough on both sides into play. 

There are not many places around the country that finish with a pair of par 3s, but West Linton is in that select few. 17 is called ‘Wee Knock’ - not really apt for a 196-yard par 3. Played over a burn, which runs in front of the tee box and is therefore not in the way, the approach must avoid the three greenside bunkers to find the putting surface. The closing hole is the last, and longest of the par 3s on the property, coming in at 230 yards. Considering the car park is situated behind the 18th green, short is better than long here. Take a par and run inside for the drink!

Where is West Linton Golf Club located?

West Linton Golf Club is situated in the Scottish Borders, towards the northern tip of the county. The golf club is just outside the village of West Linton itself, which sits on A702 – which runs from Dalry in Dumfries & Galloway through to the capital city of Edinburgh. The Scottish capital is around 20 miles to the northeast of West Linton Golf Club.

The nearest train station to West Linton is to the west in Carstairs. However, this is only a couple of miles closer than Edinburgh Waverley, which is one of the biggest train stations in Scotland. Both are around a 20-mile drive from the venue. Due to its proximity to the city, Edinburgh Airport – the country’s busiest airport – is the closest major international airport to West Linton. It sits around 25 miles away, on the western side of Scotland’s capital.

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

With the city of Edinburgh within 20 miles, there are plenty of venues on the NCG Top 100s: Scotland list that are close to West Linton. Bruntsfield Links and The Musselburgh (Monktonhall) are within that distance, with the East Lothian coastline within another 20 miles along the A1. On the western side, Lanark is within 25 miles of West Linton as well.

What golf facilities does West Linton Golf Club offer?

Along with the 18-hole golf course, West Linton also has its own small practice area. This sits to the right of the opening hole, and there is space for low-to-mid irons to be hit down between the trees. There are also two bunkers to practice from, along with a putting green by the clubhouse.

What are the green fees at West Linton Golf Club?

The price of a green fee at West Linton 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 West Linton, visit their booking site here.