Newbattle

Newbattle Golf Club originates from Dalkeith Golf Club, which was founded in 1880. The club didn’t have a course of its own until sixteen years after its formation, when a 9-hole layout was leased from the Marquis of Lothian and the club changed its name to Dalkeith and Newbattle Golf Club.

Moving to its present location in 1934, the club dropped “Dalkeith” from its title before it engaged none other than architect Harry Colt to design its new course, so the Newbattle layout is in a rather elite group of less than a dozen Scottish courses that have been built or modified by Colt’s design company.

Holes are set out on either side of the River Esk, though its flowing waters never come into play. The opening and closing two holes are laid out on one side of the river and the remaining holes are routed around the other side, with the historic 15th century listed monument known as Maiden Bridge linking the two sections of the course.

Measuring a modest 5,912 yards from the medal tees, the layout plays to a par of 69, with only one par five on the scorecard at the left doglegged 546-yard 13th, “Lucky Dip”. First time visitors should be aware of the tough stretch of three par fours starting at the 6th, whilst the long par three 14th (“The Oaks”) precedes a run of four demanding par fours that lead back to the clubhouse.