North Berwick West Links: 2026 Access and Booking Update
Played since 1832 on the same East Lothian ground, North Berwick West Links is one of the oldest and most characterful courses in the world, the home of the original Redan and a string of quirks that golf has copied ever since. Here is where it stands in 2026, what it costs, and how to play it.
The news: a 2026 season for a links like no other
North Berwick enters the 2026 season as one of the most sought after rounds on Scotland's golf coast, a bucket list links whose blind shots, stone walls and template greens make it utterly unlike anything modern design produces. Demand keeps climbing as more travelling golfers build East Lothian trips around the run from Gullane to Muirfield to North Berwick, and visitor times on the West Links remain limited and prized.
For 2026 the practical headlines for visitors are the seasonal green fee and the visitor day pattern, both of which the club publishes for the year. With the course holding its place among the great links of Britain, a tee time here is worth planning a whole trip around.
The course itself
The West Links plays as a par 71 of about 6,420 yards, but the numbers tell you almost nothing about the experience. This is golf as it was first imagined, hard against the shore of the Firth of Forth, with the beach and old harbour walls in play, blind shots over crests, and greens that sit in dells and on shelves you have to learn rather than read.
Two holes stand above the rest. The 15th, the Redan, is a par 3 of about 190 yards and the single most copied hole in golf, its angled green falling away behind a deep front bunker. The 13th, the Pit, is a short par 4 whose approach must be played over an ancient stone wall to a tiny green. Around them sit a dozen more holes of pure, idiosyncratic character.
How to play it in 2026
The West Links welcomes visitors on set days, with tee times Monday to Thursday and on Sunday, and no visitor play on Friday or Saturday. Times are limited and book out early, so reserve well ahead, especially for high summer. Trolleys, caddies and club hire can be arranged, and a caddie is worth taking the first time to navigate the blind lines.
On cost, indicative 2026 visitor green fees on the West Links are around 220 pounds in March and around 320 pounds from April to October on visitor days. Treat those as indicative for the 2026 season and confirm current availability, visitor days and pricing directly with the club before booking.
Our take
Our take is that North Berwick is one of the most joyful and important rounds in golf, a living museum of how the game was first played that is also flat out fun to walk and tackle. For a student of design it is essential, the source of the Redan and a reminder that strategy and quirk matter more than length, and for everyone else it is simply a wonderful day by the sea.
If you are planning a 2026 trip, secure your North Berwick time first and build the rest of an East Lothian itinerary around it, pairing the West Links with Gullane, Dunbar and Muirfield if you can. Few stretches of coast anywhere offer this much great golf within a short drive.
Plan your North Berwick and East Lothian trip
From the West Links and the Redan to the wider links of East Lothian, 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 North Berwick West Links in 2026?
Indicative 2026 visitor green fees on the West Links are around 220 pounds in March and around 320 pounds from April to October on visitor days. Treat these as indicative for the season and always confirm directly with the club before booking.
What is the Redan hole at North Berwick?
The Redan is the 15th, a par 3 of about 190 yards and the most copied hole in golf. The green sits at an angle and falls away from front right to back left behind a deep front bunker, the template that countless courses have borrowed.
Can visitors play North Berwick West Links?
Yes. The West Links offers visitor tee times Monday to Thursday and on Sunday, with no visitors on Friday or Saturday. Advance booking is essential and times are limited, so plan well ahead in the main season.
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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.