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West Links - North Berwick
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North Berwick Golf Club
Beach Road, North Berwick
Managing Secretary: Christopher Spencer
secretary@northberwickgolfclub.com
![[13th on West Links]](images/wall5.jpg) |
13th 'Pit' on the West Links
© Digitalsport UK
![[14th on West Links]](images/perfection.jpg)
| 14th 'Perfection' on West Links
© Digitalsport UK |
| | West
Links Course
By Douglas Seaton
North Berwick Factfile
THE WEST LINKS was originally six holes and a seventh was
added before it was extended to 18 holes in 1877. By 1895 the course was lengthened, and today measures 6464 yards S.S.S 71. Not
the longest, but the trickery of the course requires the full repertoire of shot making. A true links course laid out on a
raised-beach, laden with brown sand forming the undulating links land 10 to 30 feet above sea level.
The course has been described as from a 'Primitive Age' relating to a period from the beginning of the game to the invention of
the gutta-percha in 1848. The West Links is of great antiquity and has it's place among a very special group of courses which
evolved naturally and owe little to the hand of man.
A golfing experience not found anywhere else, with blind holes, drives over walls and burns, shots over the bay and bunkers deep
enough for the golfer to disappear from view. Many of the holes have been copied by designers all over the world, including the
376 yard 14th named 'Perfection' and the 192 yard 15th called 'Redan'. All the holes have fascinating names such as Mizzentop,
Bos'ns Locker, the Pit and Linkhouse (8th) where a ginger beer stall was erected in 1895.
Point Garry Out is the first hole and at one time shared the green with the 17th Point Garry In. This double-green was described by
Bernard Darwin, the doyen of golf writers as a " Terrible place where the green slopes away to the rocks and beach." Although not as
daunting as in Darwin's day, the opening and finishing stretch requires some thought. |
| Booking: Tel 01620 892135 Fax 01620 893274
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![[Bunker at 10th
hole]](images/bunker.jpg)
Traditional revetted bunker face
© Digitalsport UK
![[12th on East Course]](images/west_sm.jpg)
Eil Burn and Centenary Bridge, West Links
© Digitalsport UK | |
The Bass Rock Golf Club (1873), Tantallon Golf Club (1853) and North Berwick Golf Club (1832) all play over the West Links. The
latter is the thirteenth oldest golf club, second only to the Royal and Ancient Club in St Andrews for continuous play over the
same course.
In the early days, Challenge or Brag matches between the leading professionals attracted thousands of spectators to the West
Links. One such match was held in September 1875 between Willie Park and his brother Mungo against Old Tom Morris and his son. The
match ended abruptly when a messenger boy handed a telegram to Old Tom with the news that Young Tom's wife was seriously ill in
St. Andrews following the birth of their child.
Mr. John Lewis, an Edinburgh businessman in the gallery, offered to take the Morrises across the Firth of Forth to St Andrews in
his twenty-eight foot ketch anchored in North Berwick harbour. As the yacht slipped her moorings a
second telegram arrived which read 'Mrs. Morris had a son, both mother and child are dead'. On reaching St Andrews they broke the
sad news to Young Tom and the effect was so devastating he never recovered. His health detriorated over the next three months, and
he died of an internal haemorrhage on Christmas morning, at the age of 25 years.
The West Links is one of the qualifying courses when the Open Championship is played at Muirfield in 2013, and over the years has
hosted the British Senior's Open Championship, Scottish Boys' Championship (1935-1972), Vagliano Trophy and several Scottish
Professional Tournaments.
Views of the West Links |
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Course Record Pro 63: Trevor Immelman Am 63: Colm Moriaty
2002
Course AM record 63 equaled by Frenchman Olivier Rozner in 2010 |
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Among North Berwick's famous golfers was Ben Sayers who had a successful professional career before establishing a golf club
manufacturing business in 1883, which continued to produce innovative golf clubs for over 120 years. The clubmaker Thomas Dunn
first worked on the West Links in 1869 as a greenkeeper. The present pro's shop beside the first tee was designed by Tom Dunn
in 1888 as his clubmakers workshop, with lockers for rent by visiting golfers. The adjacent building was the caddie shed where
the Caddie Master organised his flock. Among the caddies were Jack Hobens and James R. Thomson who in 1916 were founder members
of the PGA of America, and Hobens helped to draft the constitution.
Tom Anderson was the first to be appointed to the new position of head greenkeeper in 1890. He had responsibility for collecting
the visitor green fees, organising the starting times and supervising the course maintenance. His son Willie Anderson won the US
Open four times. Jack White captured the British Open in 1904, and a month later Willie Anderson won the US Open, both national
titles were in the hands of North Berwick men. A remarkable achievement for two clubmakers from such humble beginnings.
'The West Links being at sea level the air is
thicker and the ball is effected more by the wind than on American courses such as Torrie Pines' - Phil
Mickelson
Fred McLeod, a North Berwick postman won the 1908 US Open and from 1963 was by
tradition first off the tee to begin the Augusta Masters each year. Another North Berwick postman, Jack Forrester qualified for
the 1921, 1923 and 1924 PGA Championship of America and for a decade of US Open's was never out of the top twenty.
The finest amateur golfer from North Berwick was Dorothy Campbell, the only player ever to win four national championships at the
same time, - Canadian, Scottish, British and American titles. Dorothy lived with her mother and sisters in Inchgarry House opposite
the 18th tee on the West Links. Over 80 years would pass before another North Berwick girl Catriona Matthew won the Centenary
British Amateur Championship in 1993. Catriona is currently competing on the LPGA Tour and won the Ricoh Women's British Open in 2009.
One of the earliest golf pro's to emigrate from the town was Harry Gullane who laid out the courses at West Chester Golf and
Country Club and St Davids in Pennsylvania. Robert Johnstone opened up golf in the North West, laying out the course at Seattle,
while George Turnbull who often played in a 'Palm Beach Suit' was hired by more golf clubs than any other pro in his short but
colourful life. Jimmy Thomson at the age of sixteen began to compete on what was to become the US PGA Tour. He was runner-up in
both the 1935 US Open and 1936 PGA Championship and appeared in the movie 'The Caddy' with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. His father
Wilfred Thomson was the last of the traditional teaching professionals on the West Links in the 1950s.
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| Golf at North Berwick '1835 ' by Sir Francis Grant Copyright © North Berwick Golf Club |
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Famous Redan Hole Like many of the great holes in golf, first impressions of the 192 yard, par 3 15th are deceptive,
and only by playing the hole several times does it reveal it's hidden subtleties. The mounds, ridges and depressions left after
the sea receded gives the West Links it's natural contours and the 'Redan' was part of that evolution. In those days the
constraints of the feathery ball determined the length of each hole and the green was positioned on the nearest flat ground.
Often a ridge crossing the path of play was used for the green and that is how the 'Redan' was created by nature. The green is
laid out on a diagonal sloping plateau with bunkers on the face of the ridge and under the shoulder of the green, on the left and
right. The 'Redan' came into play as the 6th hole in 1869 when the course was extended over a stone wall known as the March Dyke
to make nine holes. |
North Berwick is the fourth oldest to make reference to golf
St Andrews (1552), Leith (1593), Perth (1604) and North Berwick (1611) |
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The name 'Redan' comes from the Crimean War, when the British captured a Russian held fort or in the local dialect, a redan. A
serving officer John White-Melville is credited on his return as describing the 6th like the formidable fortress or redan he had
encountered at Sebastopol. Conquered only after nearly a year of attrition which left over 20,000 British soldiers dead and four
times as many French. The word 'Redan' is now part of the English language, and the definition given by the Oxford Dictionary is
'Fort - A work having two faces forming a salient towards the enemy.'
The Redan became the 15th hole when the course was extended in 1877. At that time the 14th was a short hole measuring 176 yards
with the green situated in front of the present 'Perfection' cross-bunker. The 15th tee was on the sand dune above, and according
to Horace Hutchinson, a cleek or iron shot was used to pitch just over a wall, so far and no further, and then a full drive or
brassy shot to carry over a bunker escarpment not inaptly called 'the Redan'. The hole measured 266 yards in 1895 before the
teeing ground was moved forward.
In November 1889, the bunkers were strengthen with railway sleepers (railroad ties) to allow the green to be enlarged. The green
is blind from the tee and the player has to shape the shot into the prevailing wind, allowing for the ball to finish below the
flag stick. The slope of the green runs diagonally from right to left, and anything above the hole is in three putt country. The
bunkers on two sides, deep enough for the player to disappear from view add to the difficulty of securing par. The wind
direction plays an integral part on every hole and the 192 yards can be covered from an eight iron to a driver, depending
on the conditions.
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![[Redan 15th West Links]](images/redan1.jpg) | | 'Redan' with the March Dyke, Craigleith island and Bass Rock in the background © Digitalsport UK
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| The 16th hole, named 'The Gate', a 314 yard, par 4, has the most unique green in Scotland. The
drive from the tee over a stone wall, has to clear a burn crossing the fairway at 195 yards. The green has a deep swale bisecting
the middle and Tom Dunn the former greenkeeper at North Berwick used this three level layout on several of the greens at
Biarritz in France in 1888. The design is now called a 'Biarritz Green', but the original can still be played at North Berwick. Ladies Links The Ladies Course at North Berwick is the oldest nine-hole ladies course in Scotland. The North Berwick
Ladies Golf Club was formed in 1888 and that year Tom Dunn redesigned the ladies course, known today as the Children's course
situated adjacent to the West Links and Marine Hotel. The ladies play all their competitions over the West Links and in 2005,
became full members of the North Berwick Golf Club.
Since the 1860s junior golf competitions have been played at North Berwick when boys over ten, but under fifteen years, competed in
a stroke play tournament over the seven-hole course on the West Links, while those under the age of ten competed on the Ladies Links.
In August 1867 Major A. Smith Sligo, The Vale, North Berwick organised a junior competition and the following year Lord Elcho
donated a silver medal for the best handicap score and the first winner was Andrew Peacock. The Elcho Medal for boys under fifteen
years is still contested today and is the oldest open junior golf competition in the world.
David Huish the golf professional and course manager at North Berwick for over forty years retired in April 2009 and was
succeeded by his son Martyn Huish who heads up the club's teaching programme. Martyn has worked for his father as assistant
since 1989. He has a first class reputation as a teacher, and as a club pro.
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"Drive the ball over Robert Louis Stevenson's Cressy Burn"
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Charles Stevenson the cousin of Robert Louis Stevenson wrote about the holidays they shared at North Berwick. The Longskelly beach
and Eil Burn (called the Cressy Burn in RLS's novel Catriona) was a favourite play area. In the 1860s the burn lay a mile west of
the end of the golf course but today the Eil Burn is an integral part of the course, cutting through the 7th and 12th fairways.
" That part of the beach was long and flat, and excellent walking when the tide was down; a little cressy burn flowed over it in
one place to the sea; and the sandhills ran along the head of it like the rampart of a town. No eye of ours could spy what was
passing behind there in the bents, no hurry of ours could mend the speed of the boat's coming: time stood still with us through
that uncanny period of waiting."
In 1990, BBC golf commentator Andrew Cotter played for the Scottish Schools against English Schools over the West Links at North
Berwick. In the foursome match it was Cotter's turn to drive at the last, and he put his ball out of bounds, hitting a car belonging
to one of the Scottish selector's. Cotter from Troon managed to win his singles match but the final result was a win for the Auld Enemy.
You too can experience standing on the 18th tee with out of bounds to the right and the sound of ball on metal as a row of parked
vehicles come into range.
Many well known celebrities have played the West Links but none more humble than Neil Armstrong (1930-2012). He was such a quiet
and unassuming gentleman his party were on the third hole before his caddie recognized the most famous astronaut in the world. Eighty
year old Armstrong was playing with three friends and was described as a very polite and quiet spoken man who enjoyed his round of
golf at North Berwick in October 2010.
| | Designers inspired by the West
Links |
| Designer | Course |
West Links |
| George C. Thomas |
Riviera Country Club, California
4th hole
(238 yards, Par 3). | 15th
hole,(192 yards)
" Redan " |
| Charles Blair
Macdonald | National Golf
Links, Southampton, N.Y.
4th hole (197 yards Par 3). | 15th hole,(192 yards)
" Redan
" |
| Donald Ross |
Seminole, North Palm Beach, F.L.
18th
hole. | 11th hole, 550 yards, Par
5,
" Bos'ns Locker " |
| Willie Dunn Jnr. |
Shinnecock Hills, Long Island, N.Y.
7th
(189 yards) and 17th (169 yards) | 15th hole,(192 yards)
" Redan " |
| Seth Raynor |
Fishers Island, Long Island, N.Y.
2nd
hole (170 yards) | 15th
hole,(192 yards)
" Redan " |
| Harry S. Colt |
Toronto Golf Club, Ontario, Canada.
4th
hole (190 yards, Par 3) | 15th
hole,(192 yards)
" Redan " |
| Willie Campbell |
Brookline Country Club, MA
12th hole
'Redan' (130 yards, Par 3) | 15th
hole,(192 yards)
" Redan " |
| Jack Nicklaus |
Valhalla Golf Course, Louisville, K.Y.
16th hole (444 yards, Par 4) | 16th hole (381 yards, Par 4)
" Gate " |
| Seth Raynor |
Morris County Golf Club, NJ
13th hole
(178 yards, Par 3) | 15th hole
(192 yards)
" Redan " |
| Robert Trent Jones
II | Poppy Hills,
Monterey, C.A.
15th hole (193 yards, Par 3) | 15th hole,(192 yards)
" Redan " |
| Seth Raynor |
Fishers Island, Long Island N.Y.
5th
hole (225 yards, Par 4) | 16th
hole (318 yards, Par 4)
" Gate " |
| Albert W.
Tillinghast | Somerset
Hills Country Club, N.J.
2nd hole (180 yards, Par 3) | 15th hole,(192 yards)
" Redan " |
| Charles Blair
Macdonald | Mid Ocean
Golf Club, Tucker's Town, Bermuda
5th hole (433 yards, Par 4) | 2nd hole,(431 yards)
" Sea " |
| Dr. A. MacKenzie |
Alwoodley Golf Club, Leeds, Yorkshire
14th hole (206 yards, Par 3) | 15th hole,(192 yards)
" Redan " |
| Harry S. Colt |
Swinley Forest, Ascot, UK
4th hole (185
yards, Par 3) | 15th hole,(192
yards)
" Redan " |
| Seth Raynor |
Fox Chapel Golf Club, Pittsburgh. P.A.
6th hole (192 yards, Par 3) | 15th hole,(192 yards)
" Redan " |
| Devereux Emmet |
Trump National Golf Club, Briarcliff Manor NY.
9th
hole (446 yards, Par 4) | 16th
hole (318 yards, Par 4)
" Gate " |
| Peter Thomson |
Ocean Course, National Golf Club, Victoria,
AUS.
11th hole (186 yards, Par 3) | 15th hole,(192 yards)
" Redan " |
| Charles Banks |
Oneck Course, Westhampton Country Club,
N.Y
9th hole (190 yards, Par 3) | 15th hole,(192 yards)
" Redan " |
Seth Raynor and
Charles Blair
Macdonald | Gibson Island
Club, Maryland
3rd hole (181 yards, Par 3) | 15th hole,(192 yards)
" Redan " |
| Jack and Gary
Nicklaus | Prospector
Course, Superstition Mountain, AZ
17th hole (192 yards, Par 3) | 15th hole,(192 yards)
" Redan " |
| Charles Blair
Macdonald | Lido Country
Club, Lido Beach, N.Y
16th hole (216 yards, Par 3) | 15th hole,(192 yards)
" Redan " |
| Seth Raynor |
Oakland Country Club, N.Y
13th hole (190
yards, Par 3) | 15th hole,(192
yards)
" Redan " |
| Jack Nicklaus |
Spring Creek Ranch, Collierville, TN
8th
hole (190 yards, Par 3) | 15th
hole,(192 yards)
" Redan " |
| James Tinlin |
Mount Lawley Golf Club, Perth, AUS
15th
hole (178 metres, Par 3) | 15th
hole,(192 yards)
" Redan " |
| Seth Raynor, Tom
Doak | Yeaman's Hall Golf
Club, SC
6th hole (180 yards, Par 3) | 15th hole,(192 yards)
" Redan " |
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Left to Right: George Thomson, John R. Whitecross, Edward Blyth, George Sayers, Ben Sayers,
Jimmy Glass, Peter Brodie, Rev. FLM Anderson, Peter Brodie Jnr. Jack White, Robert Johnstone,
(Speeder), Rev.Valentine (visitor). Putting on the 17th green circa 1895
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| Driving from the North and Edinburgh Airport From
Edinburgh take the A720 City By Pass (South) - follow sign post Berwick-Upon-Tweed (A1). Continue on A1 (South) and take the A198
- sign post North Berwick. Pass through the villages of Longniddry, Aberlady, Gullane to North Berwick. Then follow signs for Town
Centre and Golf Course. Drive time from Forth Road Bridge and Edinburgh Airport 45 minutes.
Driving from the South From the A1 motorway take the A198 - sign post North Berwick. |
| Copyright © Douglas C. Seaton 1997-2013, All Rights Reserved. |
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![[17th Green]](images/17thGreen.jpg)