Braid Hills - Lothians - Scotland

As mentioned below, this is a unique course and is worth trying if in Edinburgh. If you’re on the coast for a links trip, maybe stick to the seaside unless you’d like a change of scenery.

Most holes are memorable and quirky, with exceptions being the more parkland-like 5th, 6th, 11th and 12th at the far end on a gentler slope. Braid Hills is a tough walk but wasn’t as hard as I expected. Only when checking the blind approach on the steep 18th did it feel like a bit too much. This is shown in the last photo, where you pretty much play to a raised island of fairway then up an even bigger hill to a blind green that will repel some balls. That went beyond quirky into silly.

I had been a tad underwhelmed by the city views until this point, but the 18th also provides the best vistas over Edinburgh. There are plenty of other highlights too, the 14th (second picture) is as impressive I’d heard, with all the holes in this more craggy, rugged half of the course being worthy of photos. These hills ensure a lot of difficult, sliding putts.

Greens in great condition do help though, so there’s a lot of value to be found here and I’m happy I visited. In most other locations Braid Hills would get 4-balls.

Braid Hills GC this was a last minute change to the planned venue due to Mortonhall GC next door having maintenance. We were greeted with a warm Scottish friendly and informative welcome at reception. The course provides a very stern examination of your game particularly in the very windy conditions we had to play in today. The views are good of the Edinburgh skyline seeing all the major landmarks from on high. On to the course, extremely dry despite recent deluge of rainfall, a high quality level of maintenance here with greens as good as you could play on at this time of year, the greens where very undulating with extreme breaks and crests. Overall a well worthwhile visit

In need of a great value Billy-Goat climb (I’m not kidding), enjoying great views, lost balls, & fun shot demands - within a thinned flop shot of one of the world’s greatest cities?

I used to play here as a boy so returning after 40+ years was a fairly nostalgic experience. Of course, way back then, panoramic views held little interest. Now they form the core of the Braid Hills experience. As at Strathpeffer oohs are quickly followed by aahs as one surveys the vista below. The course itself is ok, indeed for a municipal and at the wonderfully low price it is a bit more than ok. There are some very challenging driving holes early on - balls will be lost! The best hole by some way is the 14th - a simply brilliant hole with an elevated tee and a split fairway. 17 is a long par 3 and 18 is, frankly, silly but there is compensation in the best view of all with the majestic city of Edinburgh spread out below. So I came away from my walk down Memory Lane (or should that be up and down Memory Hills) several golf balls lighter but enriched by some wonderful photographs for my ever-expanding trove of golf screensavers!

James Braid did indeed have a close association with Braid Hills Golf Club - he was president of Edinburgh Thistle Golf Club (based at Braid Hills) for many years, as were his brother and son afterwards. Braid Hills no. 1 has been described as the most stunning public course in Britain, and few would disagree after playing this tough course on a benign day. It's just fantastic - and a real challenge for anyone. Beware of it on a windy day however....bring plenty of golf balls unless you like wading in gorse chest high. There are some truly spectacular holes such as the 14th and the 17th.

Braid Hills No.1 is one of the oldest and still one of the best municipal golf facilities in Scotland. You don’t exactly have to have your climbing boots on to play here (though there are some severe changes in elevation amongst the hill top setting overlooking “Auld Reekie”) but the hikes around the course are exhilarating and the views over the capital are simply stunning.

Several holes are out of the golfing top drawer and two sets of three holes, in particular – holes 7 to 9 and 14 to 16 – are very good indeed.

In fact, the 14th is one of the most memorable holes you will come across on any course (with an elevated tee shot over gorse and a blind approach shot to play) so it’s no surprise that it has a stroke index of 2, making it the toughest on the back nine.

If I am being picky, some of the early hole tee positions adjacent to the preceding green are more than a bit iffy (and they cause play to back up because they are so close to putting surfaces) but balance that against the fantastic condition of all of the greens on the course and you would be a real curmudgeon to not enjoy Braid Hills No.1 course.

Overall, the Leisure Department of Edinburgh City Council do a fine job promoting the game at the Braid Hills golf complex.

Jim McCann.

Braids Hills No.1 is not long but it’s hilly, perhaps too hilly in parts with viscious changes in elevation. Leave your driver in the car, it’s tight and narrow in places. Clearly this course is a throwback to a bygone age and it’s certainly an adventure but it’s a tough walking course. Great value though