Dunbar: 2026 Access and Booking Update
On a narrow ribbon of linksland between an old stone wall and the rocks of the Firth of Forth, Dunbar is one of East Lothian's classic and most natural links, an Old Tom Morris layout that has been refined by James Braid and Ben Sayers across more than 150 years. Here is where it stands in 2026, what it costs, and how to play it.
The news: a 2026 season on Scotland's golf coast
Dunbar enters the 2026 season as one of the most rewarding stops on Scotland's golf coast, the run of East Lothian links that stretches east from Edinburgh through Gullane, North Berwick and on to Dunbar itself. As more travelling golfers build multi day East Lothian trips around Muirfield, the established and the lesser known clubs all benefit, and Dunbar continues to draw players who want a true, traditional links without the queue.
For 2026 the practical headline for visitors is the seasonal green fee, which the club sets higher across the main April to October window and at the weekend. With the course holding its place among the most respected links in the region, a round here remains good value alongside the marquee names nearby.
The course itself
Dunbar Golf Club was founded in 1856, and the links was laid out by Old Tom Morris before being refined over the decades by James Braid and the North Berwick clubmaker Ben Sayers. It plays as a par 71 of about 6,597 yards, threaded along a thin strip of linksland between the old red sandstone deer park wall and the rocky shoreline of the Firth of Forth.
The routing is the joy of the place. The holes follow the natural contours of that narrow strip, with the sea rarely out of view and in play on the right for a long stretch of the back nine. It is honest, exposed links golf where the wind sets the test and the best players keep the ball low and find the right side of the fairway.
How to play it in 2026
Dunbar welcomes visitors on most days and is well set up for travelling golfers, with trolleys, buggies and club hire available and a warm clubhouse used to society and trip play. Booking ahead is essential in the main season, a handicap may be requested, and the club fits naturally into a wider East Lothian itinerary.
On cost, indicative 2026 high season visitor green fees run from around 115 pounds midweek to about 145 pounds at the weekend. Treat those as indicative for the 2026 season and confirm current availability and pricing directly with Dunbar before booking, particularly for weekend tee times, shoulder season and group play.
Our take
Our take is that Dunbar is one of the quiet gems of Scotland's golf coast, a pure and characterful links that too many trips overlook on the way to the bigger names. The setting on the rocks of the Forth is wonderful, the design pedigree is impeccable, and the value compared with the headline East Lothian courses makes it a smart inclusion on any links tour.
If you are planning a 2026 trip, base yourself in East Lothian for several nights and play Dunbar within a run that takes in Gullane and North Berwick, with Muirfield as the centrepiece if you can secure a time. It is one of the great concentrations of links golf anywhere, and Dunbar is a deserving part of it.
Plan your East Lothian and Scotland trip
From Dunbar and the links of East Lothian to the wider Scottish coast, tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge builds and costs the trip, with no obligation.
Questions
How much is a round at Dunbar Golf Club in 2026?
Indicative 2026 high season visitor green fees at Dunbar run from around 115 pounds midweek to about 145 pounds at the weekend. Treat these as indicative for the season and always confirm directly with the club before booking.
Who designed Dunbar Golf Club?
Dunbar was founded in 1856 and the links was laid out by Old Tom Morris, then refined over the years by James Braid and the North Berwick clubmaker Ben Sayers. It plays as a par 71 of about 6,597 yards along the Firth of Forth.
Can visitors play Dunbar?
Yes. Dunbar welcomes visitors on most days, with trolleys, buggies and club hire available. Advance booking is essential in the main season and a handicap may be requested.
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. Course, season and access details verified June 2026 from club and golf travel sources; conditions and green fees change, so always confirm directly before booking. Last reviewed June 2026.