 |
 |
 |
| Whitekirk |
| Home Scottish Links Golf The Basics AFSD - how to determine the real length of a golf course Helpful Websites Platinum Page Upscale golfing products & services Aberdeen & Grampian Highlands Royal Aberdeen, Cruden Bay... Ayrshire Royal Troon, Turnberry, Prestwick... Scotland's Golf Coast Castle Park Craigielaw Dunbar Gifford Glen Gullane Haddington Kilspindie Longniddry Luffness New Muirfield Musselburgh Musselburgh Links North Berwick Royal Musselburgh Whitekirk Winterfield Northern Highlands Royal Dornoch, Brora, Nairn... St. Andrews area Other golf courses Machrihanish, Pitlochry... LINKS LITE... Great links golf for the not-so-great golfer |
Whitekirk Golf Club © 2006, Richard & Mary-Alice Jafolla A Nice Change of Pace Whitekirk Golf Club is one of the jewels in East Lothian's bestudded crown. More than a good course, it's actually a terrific course--fun to play, challenging, and offering beautiful vistas. Laid out using the natural terrain that seldom offers a perfectly flat lie, it has well-kept, interesting holes .
If you're looking for pure links golf you've come to the wrong place, because with its hills and dales, woods and water this heathland course will disappoint you. But if you're looking for a challenging, fun-filled eighteen holes, Whitekirk Golf Club is for you. And it even does have more than a touch of the links feel. Whitekirk Golf Club has been hosting the PGA Mastercard Tour Event since 1998. With its 6,526 yards par 72 it's a good venue to test the skills of even the most accomplished player. I really like the layout. The first hole is one of my favorites and one of the most interesting and challenging opening holes in East Lothian. In fact, I can't think of an opening hole anywhere that I like more than this 492 yard par 5 beauty. The flag is not visible so you must aim your drive toward an aiming pole in the middle of the fairway. The fairway slopes from right to left and the prevailing wind is in your face so your tee shot is critical if you are to birdie this hole. Your ball must carry slightly uphill and, for a safer second shot where you can actually see the green, must at least crest the hill. You are then faced with a downhill second shot that, if you are going to get on in two, has to be plenty long and carry over a deeply cut valley. The safer route is to lay up on your second shot and be faced with a 136 yard iron over the valley. It's not the easiest way to start a round but it does give you a taste of what's in store. You know you're going to be in for an interesting day!
The fifth--one of the best holes on the course The 5th, rated the most difficult on the course, is one of the most fun to play. It's a 411 yard par 4 that needs an accurate uphill tee shot that will give you the most beautiful view of the valley below and the green. You'll be aiming at an aiming pole and you must at least get that far with your tee shot. Then you must carry a deep valley and hold a narrow green, one with trouble all around it. Take a look at it in the photos below.
The 10th, a classic risk-reward hole The 10th hole is only 360 yards from tee to green--less, depending on how much of a shortcut you want to take. It's a classic risk-reward hole. The more risk the shorter the hole and the more chance to be rewarded with a birdie. But there's also more chance for a bogie or worse because if you come up short on your drive, you are looking at 3 off the tee and probably a double bogie. Take a look at it below and see what I mean.
The 15th is another of my favorites. It's a par 5 but the fairway is sloped left to right. It's quite a severe slope, really, so you have to place your drive on the left side of the fairway. With the ball below your feet you'll be hard pressed to reach the green in 2 unless you have hit a humongous drive. The green is a slight dogleg to the left but your approach shot must carry yet another a deep valley. (While you're playing this hole, notice the little white church--a "white kirk"--next to this fairway. Could it be that it has something to do with the name of the course?) Whitekirk Golf Course is a delight. You'll be teeing off far above some greens and far below others. You will be hitting over gorges and gorse. You will have to place your shots accurately for any chance to score on this layout. You will enjoy this course. I can almost guarantee it, especially if you've been playing all of the links layouts in the area. It is a first-class golf course and, with all the hills and valleys, you will be playing every shot in your bag. Give yourself a treat and give this course a try. Golf Nook Scotland rating -- a BIRDIE Scorecard
Miscellaneous -- David Brodie, the Club House Manager, tells me he is committed to providing an exceptional golfing experience to the golfer who is playing Whitekirk. He and his staff want to do everything to make your day at Whitekirk special. The four times I played this course I found the staff to be courteous, knowledgeable, and eager to please. You'll enjoy the clubhouse. You don't have to dress up to use it and both men and women are welcome (unlike many of the golf clubs in the area). It offers not only a warm welcome (in both temperature and sociability!) but also a public soft-spike bar and good restaurant. Bar food is available all day--even in the evening. Evening meals are served from 6 to 9 PM. The clubhouse is a good place to have a drink or two or a meal and tell other golfers about your missed putts. Especially nice is the patio overlooking the 18 green. (But be careful out there, I banged a ball off the roof of the restaurant once when I was playing alone. When I walked up to the green everyone looked to see who did it. Of course there were no other players to blame. Golf can be such a humbling experience.) There is a first-class leisure center with a swimming pool, jacuzi, and fully outfitted gym. I fact, when the Open Championship was played at Muirfield in 2002, Tiger Woods and Mark O'Mira used Whitekirk's gym to work out every day. It also has a physiotherapist, beautician, and tanning salon. Buggies (golf carts) are available. If you huff and puff a lot you may want to think of renting one. There are lots of hills! A real bonus is the 300 yard driving range. Very few golf courses in Scotland offer a driving range of any kind. For those who like to hit a few balls before a round, you can get 25 balls for only £1. Green Fees: Summer - Weekdays - 18 holes £25, day ticket £35 Weekend - 18 holes £35, day ticket £50 Winter - Weekdays - 18 holes £15, day ticket £20 Weekend - 18 holes £20, day ticket £30 Golf buggie - 18 holes £18, day £28 Trolley - £2 Clubs - £12 Range balls - £1 for 25 balls Professional: Paul Wardell Pro Shop manager: David Brodie To book a game: (0)1620 870 300 Fax: (0)1620 870 330 E-mail: countryclub@whitekirk.com Web site: www.whitekirk.com Whitekirk Golf & Country Club Near North Berwick, East Lothian EH39 5PR Scotland About 25 miles from Edinburgh and only 3 miles east of North Berwick on the A198. Easily accessible from the A1. *For WHAT TO DO ALL DAY, please refer to the Golf Coast area and especially note Hailes Castle, Tantallon Castle, and Preston Mill. |
