Golf World Expert Review
This is the 13th oldest club in the world, founded in 1832 and another natural, windswept links dripping in history. As well as blind holes, shots over the bay, and deep pot bunkers, there are tee shots where you have to drive over walls and burns. The most famous hole is the 192-yard 15th, called Redan, a military term for a small fortress with two prominent walls and a gorge set at an angle to the enemy. The hole before, which is a 376-yard par-4 known as Perfection, is a fantastic risk/reward examination made by Nature. Both holes have bee frequently copied by modern designers.
Today's Golfer Expert Review
Muirfield may be the area's main golfing attraction but North Berwick has had its share of top events too. It has staged several Scottish Championships and the British Seniors in the early 90s. The other beauty of North Berwick is that, unlike Muirfield, you can play there virtually any time and it won't cost you an arm and a leg. Nowadays, the wind really needs to be blowing to make the 6,456-yard par-71 layout seriously difficult... just ask Phil Mickelson, who crashed out here during final qualifying in 1992. Every hole is a treat but the round really bursts into life on the back nine. The par-4 13th, known as The Pit, requires a spot-on approach shot over an ancient wall guarding the green. Next is the par-4 Perfection where a purely struck second shot is a must to get over the brow of a hill to the green sitting next to the beach. There's little room for error now and you really need to keep your game toghether over the closing holes. 01/08/2005
