North Berwick Appoint Gil Hanse to "Polish and Protect" West Links

North Berwick Golf Club have today announced the formal appointment of Gil Hanse as their retained architect with the first phase of a Master Plan likely to coincide with ongoing coastal erosion mitigation efforts.

• Phase one to begin in 2026 to development Master Plan

• Minor refinements to ensure continuity year on year

• Key priority will be addressing the challenges of coastal erosion

It’s been no secret that for many links golf courses on the east coast of Scotland, the impact of coastal erosion has become a very scary reality over the past decade. North Berwick Golf Club, in partnership with the local East Lothian Council are looking to begin installation works of new gabion baskets near holes 2,3, 12,13 and 14.

The appointment of Hanse has been met with a mixed reaction from members and the wider golf industry. Sure, the Club has a serious coastal erosion issue but do they really need one of the most sought after and likely, expensive architecture firms to see this achieved?

For the past four years, Clyde Johnson and Chris Haspell, two of the very best and most respected in the golf course design industry had been working with course superintendent Kyle Cruickshank to restore some of the Club’s most acclaimed features. From all accounts, the work done was well received.

“It has been a privilege to guide the West Links on its journey towards restoration, these past four winters. The Redan is once again deserving in its place as one of the most glorious holes in golf.” - Clyde Johnson, Cunnin’ Golf Design

In Clyde’s case, nobody is better schooled on the Club’s DNA and design merits than him. As one of Tom Doak’s lead design associates, he can rightfully feel disappointed given his active work with the Club and catalogue of impressive restoration projects including the Himalayas Bunker at St. Enodoc Golf Club, as well as Old Petty which opened for preview play late this summer at Cabot Highlands and whom Doak credits much of the finished result to.

Golf on North Berwick’s West Links dates back to the 1800s with matches involving Old Tom Morris and his greatest rivals, on holes that were so good, they’ve been copied globally several times since.

Its routing and holes never leave your memory bank. The stretch from 13-18 providing each player the chance to play shots that you only hit at North Berwick.

To its setting - a vibrant and busy town where the golf starts and finishes so perfectly, to the beach and locals that greet you between shots.

Testament to this is the now tradition of touring pros playing an “emergency nine” when the Genesis Scottish Open rolls into town every July - something these guys never do, such is the spirit of golf in this town.

Even in this past week, the West Links was ranked as the 25th best golf course in the world - its highest position ever.

So what is there left to achieve?

I am not advocating the Club stand still but members and their committees should not need reminded that their Club is a law unto itself. Don’t compare yourself to your neighbour or conform to the status quo. Your stewardship of the Club is going along just fine and no brand name architect will change the love and admiration your course enjoys from the thousands of golfers worldwide fortunate enough to have played it.

Links Golf wins again in “World Top 100 Golf Courses” List

For those who monitor such lists, it was good reading for links golf courses in Golf.com’s latest World Top 100 Golf Courses ranking.

Old Course St Andrews Changes Underway

St Andrews Links and the R&A have began works on the hallowed turf of the Old Course which will include extending the course by 132 yards ahead of the 2027 Open.

Geoff Shackelford’s superb substack newsletter provides a detailed breakdown of the changes which comes following the St Andrews Links Trust’s £11m irrigation upgrade this summer.

Prints now available in our Pro Shop

Want to support this newsletter? Buy a print from our Pro Shop. Official licensed prints include North Berwick, Cruden Bay, Royal Dornoch, Western Gailes and pictured, Gullane Golf Club. The perfect Christmas gift for a loved one.

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