Archerfield Links

Played both of the courses here during a short stay in East Lothian. The layouts are excellent, the setting, service and everything about the place is of the very highest quality. Would recommend this to anyone looking to play some good golf. The facilities are top notch, they even had Pro V1's on the driving range! The clubhouse is very welcoming and feel very much at home, the prices for food and drink are very reasonable. The onsite accommodation is very good with the member lodges the perfect base to stay with friends on a golfing break.

i had the pleasure of being invited to play the Fidra course on the 8th August 2011 and i have to report that it has to be one of my all time best golfing days out. not only is the course superb but the entire set up is geared around making it a perfect days golf. from the reception at the clubhouse to the endless free driving range and chipping area balls to the sumptious locker room and catering area and the professionalism of all the staff its a golfing paradise. the Fidra course is a mixture of parkland golf, complete with manicured pine trees and links type golf complete with large sandy bunkers. i have to be honest and say the 1st 12 holes were phenominal and although the links part of the course was still very good, it didnt live up to the standards of the parklands area in my opinion. i am a massive fan of links golf, with one of my fav courses being north berwick but it just didnt have the same sort of appeal at archerfields, especially just coming from the parkland section of the course. please dont let this put you off though as it was still a superb course all round and it was manicured and presented beautifully. the tee boxes were perfect, the fairways manicured to perfection and the greens were sublime and probably the best i have ever had the pleasure of putting on. you knew almost immediately that if you made a good stroke on the greens and you had read the line correctly that you were going to sink the putt. the weather was great on the day with warm, sunny conditions and i was only 3 over at the turn, but i can imagine the course being a real monster if the wind is up and scoring would be a lot more difficult. i eventually ended up with an 82 as the greens on the links part of the course killed me they were that slick and a lot quicker than that of the parklands holes. i cant grumble with any aspect of the day and i would drive up again tomorrow if i was offered the chance to go back and play it. if you ever get the opportunity grab it with both hands. superb!! overall 9.5 out of 10

Was fortunate enough to be invited back to Archerfield to play the Fidra course recently, and have to say I was not left disappointed. This is a different course to the Dirleton, with the front 9 meandering through forest pines. The back 9 is the more traditional links style. Straight hitting is a must - something I didn't do consistently all day! Greens were slick and some extremely difficult to read. Fairways and tee beds were immaculate, bunkers consistent in their preparation. I have to say I think I preferrd this course - there really are some stunning holes to really enjoy, and it is a real thinkers course. I didn't play well at all, but that didn't deter from the obvious quality that this course has. Facilities are absolutely top class and cannot be knocked. If you get the chance to visit, it really is a must play. Superb.

Played the Dirleton links on 22/5/08, what an impressive place this is. The terrific welcome you receive on arrival from the valets, locker room attendants - in fact the staff in general, is probably second to none that I have ever enjoyed. Yet this is not a stuffy place to be - the atmosphere at the place is very relaxed, for example smart casual dress code anywhere in the Clubhouse including when eating and soft spikes allowed anywhere in the Clubhouse, leaving you with only one thing to worry about, your golf. The course itself is set out in a traditional links way. Long sweeping fairways, lots of bunkers (some horrors!), undulating sand dunes, big greens that are extremely quick even at this time of year, all set in spectacular surroundings. This course is still in its relative infancy, I think as time goes on it will just get better and better. Even so, play to your handicap around here and you've played very well. There are no really memorable holes that you could point to as a signature hole - strange that when there are lots of extremely good holes. By the same token though, it's hard to think of a hole where you look at it and think "that's disappointing". There are 18 good holes on this track, simple as. The facilities are out of this world - luxurious locker rooms, which incorporates attendants who clean your shoes when you finish whilst you have a drink at the bar, massage chairs, a lounge with big screen sky tv within the locker room itself, all of the highest quality. On top of that there are fabulous lounge and dining areas, superb food, and terrific views from balconies to all sides. A large pro shop with a wide range of well stocked equipment, clothing etc. No corner has been cut in getting the Clubhouse facilities spot on in this place. Pricing wise, I think if you were paying the normal fee for the golf only, it is on the expensive side. There are better value for money courses within walking distance if I'm honest. That said, you go here as a treat to enjoy the whole experience and the luxury of the place, which really needs factoring in. I've played some courses at half this price and more and walked away feeling truly ripped off, whereas I didn't from here. Somebody mentioned they are aiming to become the "Wentworth of Scotland" witin the next 2 to 3 decades, an ambitious long term plan. There is so much potential here though, anything is possible. It's over a mile, for example, from the roadside entrance to the Clubhouse, which gives you an indication of just how much land they have. With the development that is going on and potential this place offers, however, it would not suprise me if that "Wentworth dream" was achieved. So play it whilst you can! A return at some date in the near future is a definite for me.

(Fidra Links) Despite the ongoing earthworks, this is already an absolutely stunning golf experience. From the valet's welcome to the perfect condition of the course, it is flawless. The front 9, set in a mature pine forest, has some of the best looking holes on any course in Scoland. The back 9 are more traditional links. The setting is stunning and the views are superb. When this course is finished (which looks to be soon), it will be a top 10 UK couse, without doubt. Play it if you get the chance.

Played the Fidra Links this June on an invitation. The course is in great condition as you'd expect of a development of this calibre. The greens would rate as about 7, a few looked pitted and perhaps victims of the weather. As a course is a game of two halves- half true links, half woodland. Pot hold bunkers will trap you on the fairways and cost you dear. Greens undulated like visciously. As a test of golf, it was tough but it's a course that you'd have to say would become much easier on the 2nd or 3rd attempt. The practice area was being partly seeded when I visited but there is plenty of space. A nice feature were the chipping practice areas. The clubhouse ranks up with any and the locker rooms are bigger than most clubhouses. Don't expect to see a price tag on anything in the pro's boutique, I mean shop.

Played both courses the other day and these are two of the best layouts in the country. The Fidra Links wanders through some tall pines and through some links terrain and is a brilliant layout with very few holes os a similar nature. However the greens on the day were very poor, but I trust that this will be remedied soon. The Dirleton Links has only been open two months and is a truly magnificent course. It becomes more challenging as the round goes on from the tee and has some great fairway bunkers. Will become a top ten course in the UK soon.