Craigielaw - East Lothian, Scotland
Back to Case Studies Page

• New Seaside Course on the coast of East Lothian, 5 miles from Gullane and Muirfield
• Designed in character with the local courses with interesting greens, bunkers and walls
• Another example of a top quality course that cost less than a million pounds
  

The fearsome sod wall bunkers

Craigielaw has been designed to be similar in character to its neighbours, with green and bunker design adding extra spice to the challenge offered by the ever present winds. Nearly 70 deep, boldly shaped pot bunkers dominate the character of the holes, but the undulations on the greens will make it possible to alter the strategy of the holes greatly from day to day. At 6,600 yards and with a par of 71, the course is not as long as Muirfield, but it compares favourably with the other courses in the area. Certainly, on a breezy day, it will be a stiff challenge with a number of long par fours.

Another example of a course which did not cost a fortune to build, Craigielaw cost less than £750,000 including irrigation and drainage. In a part of the world where golf is affordable to all, it is important to create courses that are economically viable: every pound spent has to be earned back. Some other new courses in the east of Scotland are reported to have cost three to four times this amount.


The 1st hole

The course is sited immediately alongside the Aberlady Bay National Nature Reserve and the ranger for the reserve lives alongside the 18th fairway. He knew the land when it was under arable crops and the transformation that he reports since the course has been finished is gratifying. Upwards of 40 pairs of hare, now on the endangered species list, have taken up residence.

The carefully shaped pools, the source of sand during the construction have shown themselves to be extremely rich habitats, despite being only three seasons old. All in all, he has made frequent sightings of five species of bird that are extremely rare in East Lothian, including the Greenshank which has not been seen in East Lothian for 17 years and a further six species that have successfully nested on the course. This is an excellent example of a new course being of benefit to the broader environment through sensible design and careful construction and sympathetic management.

The pick of the holes would be the par 4 14th which plays downhill and in an easterly direction. A central hump in the drive landing area must be carefully negotiated: downwind it can give a friendly kick on towards the green, but slightly weaker shots will be kicked left towards a line of drive bunkers and right towards the rough and a wall. The green is a tumultuous affair and the player who holds the ball on the left of the fairway will gain maximum benefit by playing down the length of the green.

The par 3 6th hole

The course was playable in 2000, but was not officially opened until May 2001, at which point the memberships were launched. All 450 individual memberships, 70 joint memberships, 30 family packages and 100 junior memberships were sold within 6 months and a waiting list approaching 200 has already formed.

The Club is also keen to encourage juniors and they have built a six hole junior course and an extensive practice facility which will create a tuition facility to rival the best in Scotland. With a junior section which has full playing rights it will be interesting to see what standard of young player comes through the ranks.

The total length of the course is 6601 yards from the back tees, with a par of 71. It staged the 2006 Scottish Stroke Play Championships.