Dunbar Golf Club
Dunbar is the East Lothian links that golfers from elsewhere overlook and locals quietly treasure. Squeezed onto a narrow ribbon of ground between an old sandstone wall and the rocky edge of the Firth of Forth, it gives you the sea on one side for most of the round and the wind in your face for much of it. It is natural, honest links golf of the old school, and a perfect companion to the famous names along this coast.
Photo: Dunbar Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Dunbar is one of the most natural links courses in Scotland, a true coastal layout where the holes simply follow the strip of ground they were given. Golf was played at Dunbar from the late eighteenth century, the club was established in 1856, and Old Tom Morris extended the course to a full eighteen in 1894 before James Braid and Ben Sayers of North Berwick shaped much of what is played today in the 1920s. The sea is rarely out of view and frequently in play.
It suits the travelling golfer who wants character and value rather than a marquee name, and it earns its place on any East Lothian week alongside North Berwick, Gullane and Muirfield. The turf is firm, the wind is constant and the run along the shore is as good a stretch of holes as you will find for the money. Dunbar is proof that you do not need fame to deliver a great day's links golf.
Dunbar Golf Club at a glance
- Founded
- 1856
- Evolution
- Old Tom Morris, then Braid
- Type
- Links
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- 6,597 yds
- Green fee
- From around £85
Founding year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the club and course databases; Dunbar plays around 6,597 yards, par 71. The course was established in 1856, extended to eighteen holes by Old Tom Morris in 1894, and largely reshaped by James Braid and Ben Sayers in the 1920s, rather than to a single named architect. Green fees are indicative, from around 85 pounds on a weekday in 2026 and higher at weekends and in peak summer. Always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Dunbar is all about the run along the water. After a gentle opening inland, the course crosses the old deer park wall and commits to the shoreline, and from there the Firth of Forth is your constant companion, in view on every hole and very much in play when the wind blows off the sea. It is a stretch that rewards a controlled, low ball flight and punishes anything loose toward the rocks.
The far end of the links, where the holes turn around the point, is the heart of the course, with the beach and the wall pressing the play and greens set naturally into the contours of the ground. There is no trickery here, only the constant negotiation between the wind, the line and the trouble waiting on the seaward side.
The homeward holes bring you back along the strip with the lighthouse and the harbour town in view, a handsome finish to a round that feels a world away from the manicured resort game. Add the firm turf and the ever present Forth breeze and Dunbar gives you classic links golf at a fraction of the cost of its famous neighbours.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A members club that welcomes visitors through the season, typically on weekdays with some weekend availability |
| Green fee | From around 85 pounds on a weekday in 2026 (indicative), more at weekends and in peak summer; group discounts for four or more |
| Booking | Easier to get on than the marquee East Lothian names, but book ahead for summer weekends |
| On the day | Walking course with a warm, traditional clubhouse in the heart of the seaside town |
| Getting there | In Dunbar itself, about 40 minutes east of Edinburgh, with a direct train to the town |
| Best months | May to September for firm turf and long days, with the wind never far away |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026 from the club; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking with Dunbar Golf Club or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
Dunbar is a fine value base in its own right, a handsome harbour town with hotels and guest houses a short walk from the first tee, and it puts you within easy reach of North Berwick, Gullane and the rest of Scotland's Golf Coast for a full East Lothian week.
For a grander stay, North Berwick and the wider Lothian coast are a short drive west, while Edinburgh is close enough to combine city nights with links days at either end of the trip.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Dunbar.
Stay and play in East Lothian
We pair Dunbar with North Berwick, Gullane and Muirfield, secure the tee times before they fill and sort a base on Scotland's Golf Coast with transfers. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Dunbar Golf Club questions
How old is Dunbar Golf Club?
Dunbar Golf Club was established in 1856, with recorded golf on the ground from the late eighteenth century. Old Tom Morris extended the links to a full eighteen holes in 1894, and James Braid and Ben Sayers reshaped much of the course in the 1920s into the layout played today.
What is the par and length of Dunbar?
Dunbar is a par 71 of around 6,597 yards. Its defence is not raw length but its narrow coastal setting, with the Firth of Forth in play on the seaward side and the wind a constant factor along the shore.
Is Dunbar a true links course?
Yes. Dunbar is one of the most natural links in Scotland, laid out on a thin strip of ground between an old sandstone wall and the rocky Forth shoreline. The sea is in view on most holes and very much in play when the wind blows.
How much does it cost to play Dunbar?
Indicative 2026 visitor green fees start from around 85 pounds on a weekday and rise at weekends and in peak summer, with discounts for groups of four or more. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm current rates directly before booking.
Can visitors play Dunbar?
Yes. Dunbar welcomes visitors through the season, typically on weekdays with some weekend availability, and is generally easier to book than the marquee East Lothian names. Book ahead for summer weekends.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Founding year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.