Longniddry golf club was formed in 1921 and can be found in East Lothin.  It is a Par 68 measuring 6,260 yards.  It has a standard scratch score of 71 so you can already get an idea of how tough this course can be.  Longniddry is actually the closest links course to Edinburgh and is the beginning of an 18 mile golfing coastline that are home to the likes of Muirfield, Kilspindie and new courses such as Archerfield and The Renaissance.

The course was designed by Harry S Colt and surprisingly has no Par 5’s on the course only four par 3’s that are all very good.  James Braid was invited to advise on changes to the 2nd hole surprisingly though it appears that although a number of changes were made by Braid he never actually changed anything on the 2nd hole!

It’s our second course of today following Kilspindie and Longniddry did not disappoint.  The course was in good condition and although some changes were being made to the bunkering at some holes we got the pleasure of a sunny (but cool) day for golf.  Longniddry is a tough course and opens with three decent par 4’s of 396, 413, 460 yards followed by a nice stretch of par 3, short par 4 and another short par 3.  These holes are played through the woods to some tough greens (especially the 5th!).  The 7th is the toughest hole on the course and usually plays into the wind a tough par 4 although flat danger lurks all over the place, however, two decent shots to this hole does offer up an opportunity.  Craig actually managed to birdie this hole following on from a birdie at the 5th with a bogey coming at the 7th he managed to turn in 33 (-1).  Stu had a strong middle part of the first nine making par at both the tricky par 3 4th and the par 4 5th this saw Stu turn in 42.

The back nine is slightly longer however predominantly played down wind.  Craig managed to par seven of the back nine holes making a birdie at the par 4 12th after hitting a very good short iron to a tough pin location and made a bogey at the short par 3 16th after short siding himself.  Stu had a very consistent back nine making all 4’s and 5’s to come back in 42 for a scratch score of 84. 

Longniddry is a cracking links course and is good value for money and is a must play.  A number of good holes however the signature hole has to be the 5th with its two tier green as well as a very well designed hole.

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