Scotland's East Lothian region is Edinburgh's golfing coast, located just a few miles east of the capital city and is home to more than 20 golf courses. It's also home to the world's oldest continuous golf course: the Old Links at Musselburgh, which is just nine holes set inside a race track. The region's most famous course today, however, is Muirfield, which will host the 2013 Open Championship once again.
Exclusive Muirfield aside, the coastline is home to some wonderfully scenic links golf courses, including North Berwick Golf Club, home to the famous "Redan" hole that has been copied all over the world. Gullane Golf Club features three courses, while Dunbar Golf Club and Kilspindie Golf Club are also historic and scenic links.
Not all golf courses in the area are a century old, however. Craigielaw, located adjacent to Kilspindie, is a longer, modern club with top notch facilities and a modern links design with crowned greens. And opened in 2008, the Renaissance Club is a private, Tom Doak design that sits next to Muirfield and offers a mix of wide open and tree-lined holes on high ground above the sea.
Here's a look at some of the area's top golf courses in pictures.
Craigielaw golf course in Scotland
Craigielaw is one of East Lothian's newer links, located next to Kilspindie Golf Club.
Courtesy of Golf East Lothian
Glen Golf Club in Scotland - hole 13
No. 13 at Glen Golf Club (also called "North Berwick East") is one of the region's most dramatic holes.
Courtesy of Golf East Lothian
Gullane golf course in Scotland
Gullane No. 1 is a championship links alongside the sea that is a regular Open Championship Qualifying venue when Muirfield is the host course.
Courtesy of Golf East Lothian
Kilspindie Golf Club - hole 8
While short, Kilspindie Golf Club is one of the world's oldest golf clubs, and features several seaside holes, like the signature eighth.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Dunbar Golf Club
Dunbar Golf Club features 14 holes that play alongside the sea, in view of the Bass Rock offshore.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Longniddry Golf Club in Scotland
Longniddry Golf Club's photogenic clubhouse was used in a 2007 Lexus commercial.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Old Links at Musselburgh
Though just nines holes inside a race track, the Old Links at Musselburgh is the world's oldest continuous golfing course.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
North Berwick golf course - Pit hole
North Berwick's famous "Pit" hole requires a shot over a stone wall to a hidden green.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Renaissance Club golf course
Designed by American architect Tom Doak, the Renaissance Club opened in 2008 between Muirfield and North Berwick.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Gullane Golf Club
Gullane is a true golfer's town with three courses at Gullane Golf Club, plus Luffness New and Muirfield.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Longniddry Golf Club
Longniddry Golf Club offers a mix of links and tree-lined inland holes.
Courtesy of Golf East Lothian
Luffness New golf course in Scotland
Luffness New was founded in 1891, when members broke off from what is now called "Kilspindie Golf Club"
Courtesy of Golf East Lothian
Muirfield golf course
Muirfield is East Lothian's most famous course and will host the 2013 Open Championship.
Courtesy of Golf East Lothian
