Located on the eastern coastline of Scotland, Longniddry Golf Club is a hidden gem in what could be describe as a golfing paradise.
For myself, visiting Longniddry was something of a trip down memory lane. I had played there more than two decades ago as a young boy on a family holiday to East Lothian, but I couldn’t remember much about it, so I was excited to go back to see what it was looking like in 2024.
As it plays along the coastline, it can be a tough track, especially as there are no par 5s… From the White tees, the two nines are just 10 yards in difference, with the Par 68 course playing to a total yardage of 6,260. Off the Yellows, Longniddry plays at 6,050, with 5,785 being the distance from the Red tees.
- RELATED: NCG Top 100s – Longniddry Golf Club
What is the course like and what are the best holes?
As mentioned earlier, Longniddry has no par 5s, which is rather unique for an 18-hole layout. That means that the course doesn’t throw up too many scoring opportunities. Instead, it is a course that needs to be thought about, with your ball being played into the right spots.
Like a number of Scottish venues, Longniddry can it say has a mixture of both links and inland holes. Harry Colt, James Braid, Philip Mackenzie Ross and Donald Steel have all had a hand in the design and layout of this golf course, so you can understand why we rate it so highly.
The course’s length comes from its par 4s – eight of which are more than 400 yards long from the White tees. The 3rd is the longest of those, playing 460 yards from the very backs, and it is the continuation of what has already been a tough start to your round. The 4th and 6th are the par 3s on the front nine, with the latter (below) being the pick of them. Slightly downhill, and with trees surrounding the green, it is a glorious hole, and one where if you find the dance floor, you are not necessarily guaranteed to come away with a two-putt par.
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The 7th is then the hardest hole on the property, and another in that category of 400+yard par 4s. It is the first of six consecutive par 4s that are play around the turn, with the last of those – the 12th hole – being the hardest hole on the back nine.
After the par 3 13th, the course opens up and shows off its links characteristics, with golfers having enjoyed tree-lined fairways and parkland attributes for the majority of their round so far. The 16th is the shortest of the par 3s, and was the location for our second Nearest The Pin prize. Perhaps unsurprisingly, at just 144 yards, the winner had to hit his shot to within four feet to take home the spoils!
The closing hole at Longniddry brings you back to the glorious clubhouse, and it is a tricky hole at that. It is 432 yards from the tips, and although the fairway is relatively wide, there is plenty of trouble on either side for those that don’t find the short grass. The green might well be on the same level as the fairway, but there is a small valley between you and the putting surface with your second shot, while the 14th tee is to the right of the green, and the clubhouse building is on your left. It is a very narrow entry to the surface, and a tough finish to your round.
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What did our competitors think of Longniddry Golf Club?
Looking for other opinions on Longniddry? Check out what some of our players had to say about the Scottish venue here:
“The view out across the bay is sublime! It really makes for an impressive setting,” – Neil Wilson
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“Considering the course does not have any par 5s, I thought it was a great test and I really enjoyed myself, despite the occasional rain shower” – Dirk Ord
What about the off-course facilities?
Longniddry’s clubhouse might be an old building, but renovations inside make it a very comfortable place to be following your game of golf. There is a dining area inside, along with a lounge and bar (which you can see below).
The clubhouse building is also home to both men’s and ladies’ locker rooms, and the club offices, with the pro shop and teaching studio sat on the other side of the car park, almost adjacent to the 1st tee.
The practice facilities are also very good, and very useful for those that feel they need some assistance before walking to the first tee. There are two practice nets and the putting green to the car park side of the clubhouse, while a short game area and a range of around 170 yards sits in between the 1st and 2nd holes of the course.
How can you play Longniddry Golf Club?
Tee times are available every day of the week for visitors at Longniddry Golf Club, with only Saturdays seeing times reduced due to it being the member’s competition day.
You can check out the green fees for a game at Longniddry Golf Club here, and you can book a tee time at Longniddry via their website here.
The venue is situated in East Lothian, on the eastern coastline of Scotland. The likes of Gullane, Archerfield, The Renaissance Club, North Berwick and Kilspindie are within just minutes of Longniddry, in one of many golfing paradises in Scotland.
We are looking at bringing our golfers back to Longniddry on the NCG Top 100s Tour next year!
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- Keep up to date with the 2025 NCG Top 100s Tour schedule here.
Get in touch with Longniddry Golf Club
For more information about the club and course, visit the club’s website.
To get in touch with Longniddry, you can call them on 01875 852141, or you can get in contact with the club using their contact form here.
Now have your say
Have you ever played Longniddry before? Let us know with a post on X, formerly Twitter!
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