What can I say? This is one of the finest courses in all of Scotland, but because is doesn’t host the Open, few Americans have even heard of it. That’s really a shame because this course should certainly be on your must play list when you visit Scotland.
North Berwick is a picturesque small town on the southern side of the Firth of Forth, about 20 miles east of Edinburgh. On a clear day you are afforded views of Bass Rock and several other nearby islands, as well as Fife to the North. It’s pronounced Bear ick, and I learned this by chance before going there in 2007. One of our caddies told me I was the first American he ever met who pronounced Berwick properly. The golf course is a traditional links course in every sense of the word. Like the Old Course at St Andrews, the first tee and eighteenth green are essentially in town. The course plays away to the West and then back home.
North Berwick has three most interesting holes; two are peculiar, perhaps interesting is a better way to say is, and the other is world famous. The thirteenth hole is called The Pit and is a short par 4, 367 yards. After a good drive you will require just a short iron into the green. The interesting (or quirky) part is that the green is separated from the fairway by a dyke (stone wall). If you should push your approach shot slightly to the right, you could be on the wrong side of the dyke. You may only be able to play away from the hole with the hopes of getting a better chance on your next swing. You would never, ever see a golf hole designed this way in the US; truly lamentable.
The second offbeat hole is number sixteen, Gate. Again a short par 4 only 381 yards. The elongate, raised green is separated into two distinct halves but a valley about three feet deep and ten feet across. The valley is part of the green, mowed to green height, poses a significant putting challenge. You want to be on the correct half of the green. Our caddies told us that when attempting to qualify for the Open at Muirfield, Phil Michelson took an eight on this hole, and failed in his bid to qualify. I took four and didn’t really find it that hard.
The world famous hole is number 15, Redan. The name comes from a style of fortification. This hole is perhaps the most copied hole in the world. Pay attention during professional tournaments that are played on classic courses and you’ll likely hear mention of a redan hole. Redan is a par three, 192 yards, though I believe the tees were up quite a bit the day we played it. It has an elongated green, oriented oblique to the line of play, front right to back left with a bunker in front. Sounds like it would favor a draw, doesn’t it? However the green slopes front to back making it very difficult to hold. I parred this one as well, but you’ll have to get several pints and a few drams in me to hear the full story. Let’s leave this one alone. Here is a Youtube video from the course manager at North Berwick. How did you do with his accent?
In September of 1875 there was a challenge match at North Berwick; Old and Young Tom Morris versus the Park brothers, Willie and Mungo. During the match word came that Young Tom’s wife had gone into labor and that neither she nor the baby was doing well. The Morris’ were provided a schooner to take them back to St Andrews. Tragically they arrived and found that both had died. It is said that Young Tom was broken hearted and this four time Open champion died three months later on Christmas Day at the age of only twenty-four.
I like the club crest for North Berwick Golf Club almost as much as the one for Panmure. It has a sailing ship flying a Scottish Flag, some crossed golf clubs and a few other embellishments. At the bottom is the founding date, 1832. When I was there in 2007, I purchased a golf towel, with the club crest in color and gave it to a dear friend. I stopped in the pro shop in 2010 with the intent to buy one for myself and found they only had various two color versions, black and white, blue and white, not the full color style that had been available in the past. I regret that I didn’t buy two in 2007. They have a great website (http://www.northberwickgolfclub.com/) with lots of information about the course, greens fees, menus for the lounge bar, dress code and the like.
Lastly another Youtube video, this one from Hidden Links Golf Tours, provides some more background about the west link and the North Berwick Golf Club.
ODL
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