The Re-Tee Review | Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland
Sometimes the most memorable rounds of golf happen at courses you weren’t necessarily expecting to love. Winterfield Golf Club in Dunbar, Scotland, was exactly that kind of experience for me.
We arrived at Winterfield on the final afternoon of our Scotland golf trip, having just finished an incredible morning at Dunbar Golf Club. I’d shot a 72 with two eagles at what I consider the best golf course I’ve ever played, and we still had another 18 holes ahead of us. I wasn’t sure how another course could possibly follow that experience, especially a small, relatively unknown par-65 layout that cost just £45 to play.
But Winterfield turned out to be one of my favorite golf courses of the entire trip. It’s a quirky, challenging, incredibly enjoyable little links course with spectacular views along the Scottish coastline. It has eight par 3s, a collection of interesting short par 4s, and enough pot bunkers and wind to make you think about nearly every shot.
By the time we finished, I knew this was a place I’d happily return to again and again.
The Golf
Winterfield isn’t a particularly long golf course, and at first glance, a par-65 layout with eight par 3s might not sound like the most exciting round of golf. But after playing it, I think that’s part of what makes the course so enjoyable.
The front nine is relatively flat, with a routing that zigzags across the property. There isn’t a tremendous amount of elevation change or dramatic scenery, but the golf itself is really good. You’re presented with a variety of shorter par 4s and longer par 3s, and nearly every hole has strategically placed pot bunkers guarding the areas where you’d ideally like to hit the ball.
Those bunkers make what might otherwise be straightforward holes considerably more interesting. You have to think about where you’re positioning your tee shot, how much of the hole you want to challenge, and whether taking an aggressive line is really worth the risk. Even on the shorter holes, there’s plenty of opportunity to get yourself into trouble.
I really enjoyed that kind of golf. The holes weren’t necessarily the most visually dynamic I’ve ever played, but they were challenging, strategic, and a lot of fun. It’s the type of layout where you could play regularly and really develop an appreciation for the different shots each hole requires.
The course conditions were also excellent considering the price. The greens rolled beautifully, the fairways were firm, and the ball reacted exactly how I’d hope it would on a traditional Scottish links course. You could use the ground to your advantage, run approaches toward the greens, and play different types of shots depending on the wind and where you found yourself.
And the wind was definitely a factor. One thing I learned playing golf in Scotland is that yardage doesn’t always tell you much about how difficult a hole is going to play. Winterfield is a perfect example. Even though it’s a relatively short course, the wind can make those long par 3s incredibly demanding, and there are situations where you’re going to need nearly every club in your bag.
I could see myself playing Winterfield over and over again and never getting tired of it. You could spend one round working on positioning your tee shots around the bunkers and another trying to figure out how to control your long irons into the wind. It’s the kind of golf that rewards creativity and good decision-making, which is something I really enjoy.
The Back Nine Along the Coast
As enjoyable as the front nine was, Winterfield really came alive for me when we made our way toward the coastline on the back nine.
The course stretches out onto a peninsula overlooking the sea, and suddenly the entire experience changes. You’re playing golf alongside the rocky shoreline, with views of the beach, dunes, fishing shacks, and Bass Rock in the distance. It’s a beautiful setting, and the combination of the scenery and challenging golf made this stretch one of my favorites from the entire Scotland trip.
What I particularly enjoyed was how the holes fit into the coastline. You’re not simply looking at the ocean from a distance. The sea becomes part of the golf experience, especially when you’re standing on some of those long par-3 tee boxes trying to figure out how to handle the wind.
The Holes I’d Replay: No. 14 and No. 15
If I could choose a stretch of golf at Winterfield to play again, it would absolutely be the 14th and 15th holes.
The 14th is a par 3 that plays 202 yards on the scorecard, running directly along the coastline. You’re hitting over the rocks near the beach toward a relatively small green, and when we played it, there was a difficult crosswind to deal with.
It’s a spectacular golf hole. The scenery alone makes it memorable, but the shot itself is incredibly demanding. You’ve got the coastline right there, a small target to hit, and wind that can move the ball considerably depending on how you strike it. It’s exactly the kind of par 3 I love because it forces you to commit to a shot while appreciating just how beautiful the setting is.
Then you walk to the 15th tee and get another fantastic par 3, this time playing 236 yards on the scorecard.
The 15th heads back along the coastline toward the clubhouse, which sits up on a dune overlooking the property. It’s a long, demanding golf hole with a beautiful view, and I remember standing there appreciating just how enjoyable this little course had become.
Playing those two holes back-to-back was one of my favorite stretches of golf from the entire trip. They’re both challenging, both incredibly scenic, and both the kind of holes I’d look forward to playing every time I visited.
I love that Winterfield can offer something like that. You spend the front nine playing strategic, relatively flat links golf, and then suddenly you’re treated to two spectacular coastal par 3s that would be memorable on just about any golf course.
A Pretty Good Finish
I ended up shooting a 69 on the par-65 layout, which I was really happy with considering the wind and the challenges the course presented.
But the score wasn’t the biggest memory from the round. That came on the par-5 17th hole, where I had an opportunity to close out our week-long NelSond Golf Trip match against Barry.
NelSond was the silly name I’d come up with for our golf trip by combining our two last names, and we’d spent the week competing against each other as we worked our way through Scotland.
I was ahead in the match when we reached the hole, and I knew a birdie would put me in a great position to finish things off. I hit a good drive, played a solid second shot, and eventually left myself with a long putt for birdie.
I managed to drain the putt before Barry even had an opportunity to attempt his birdie, and that was enough to clinch the match.
It was a pretty fantastic way to finish an incredible week of golf. We’d played some wonderful courses throughout Scotland, enjoyed plenty of competition, and now I was standing on the 17th green at Winterfield having just made a long birdie putt to win the week-long match.
Those are the kinds of moments that make golf trips with friends so memorable.
The Experience
One of the things I loved most about Winterfield was how different the experience felt compared to some of the larger, more recognized golf destinations we’d visited.
Winterfield felt like a genuine local Scottish golf club, and I mean that in the best possible way.
We arrived without a tee time, walked into the pro shop, and asked whether there was any chance we could get out for a round. The gentleman behind the counter couldn’t have been more welcoming. He told us we could head out whenever we wanted and simply asked that we let a member play through if he caught up with us.
That was it. No complicated check-in process, no elaborate instructions, and no feeling like we were inconveniencing anyone by showing up without a reservation.
We headed out, and eventually the member did catch up with us. Rather than playing through, he told us he was only planning to play a few holes and, in a friendly Scottish accent, said, "Enjoy yer game!"
I loved that interaction. Everyone seemed genuinely happy that we were there enjoying their golf course, and there was a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere that made the entire afternoon even better.
The pro shop was also surprisingly well stocked, and one of my few regrets from the visit is that I didn’t buy more Winterfield merchandise. At the time, I don’t think I fully appreciated just how much I was going to love the course. Looking back, I wish I’d picked up a few more things to remember the experience.
An Incredible Final Afternoon in Scotland
Winterfield was our second round of the day, following Dunbar that morning, and the final round of an incredible week of golf in Scotland.
I was playing with Barry and Katie, and by that point in the trip, we’d already shared so many great experiences on and off the golf course. Getting another opportunity to spend an afternoon walking along the Scottish coastline, playing competitive golf, and enjoying a beautiful day together was a pretty perfect way to wrap things up.
There’s something special about playing golf at a place like Winterfield. It doesn’t have the reputation of some of Scotland’s famous championship courses, and it isn’t trying to create an elaborate destination golf experience. It’s simply a really enjoyable golf course in a spectacular location, with friendly people who seem to appreciate the game.
I think that’s a big part of why I enjoyed it so much.
We’d spent the week playing some incredible golf, including courses that golfers travel from around the world to experience. Yet here we were at a little £45 course in Dunbar, and I was having just as much fun as I’d had anywhere else.
The coastal scenery was beautiful, the golf was challenging, and finishing the trip with a birdie to win our match made the afternoon even more memorable.
I really couldn’t have asked for a better ending to our Scotland golf trip.
The Re-Tee Verdict: Run It Back
I’d play Winterfield again tomorrow if I had the opportunity.
I genuinely loved this golf course, and I think it’s the type of place I could play regularly without ever getting tired of it. The variety of shorter par 4s and long par 3s makes the golf interesting, the pot bunkers demand good decisions, and the wind can completely change how you approach every hole.
What I particularly appreciate is that Winterfield doesn’t need to be long or overly difficult to be enjoyable. You can challenge yourself by trying to position your ball correctly, work on different shots, and figure out how to use the firm ground conditions to your advantage. On a windy day, you could easily find yourself hitting every club in your bag.
And then there’s the back nine.
I would happily walk out onto that peninsula again, enjoy the views of Bass Rock and the Scottish coastline, and take another crack at those wonderful par 3s on the 14th and 15th holes. Those are golf holes I’d never get tired of playing.
Winterfield is exactly the kind of course that makes me appreciate golf in Scotland so much. It doesn’t have to be famous, expensive, or incredibly long to be a fantastic place to play.
I loved the golf, I loved the atmosphere, and I loved the entire experience.
Re-Tee Verdict: RUN IT BACK
The Reality Check
At £45, Winterfield might be one of the best values I’ve ever experienced in golf.
You’re getting a traditional Scottish links course with firm conditions, excellent greens, interesting bunkering, and some truly spectacular coastal holes. Add in the welcoming local club atmosphere, and I have a hard time imagining how you could ask for much more at that price.
I also think Winterfield is a great example of why you shouldn’t overlook some of the smaller courses when planning a golf trip to Scotland. It’s easy to focus entirely on the famous names, and I certainly understand wanting to play those courses. But there are some wonderful golf experiences waiting at places that don’t receive nearly as much attention.
If you’re planning a trip to East Lothian, I’d absolutely recommend finding a way to play Winterfield, especially if you’re already going to be in Dunbar.
It’s also a fantastic option for anyone who enjoys traditional links golf but doesn’t necessarily want to spend hundreds of dollars on every round. You can experience the wind, the firm turf, the pot bunkers, and the beautiful coastline without paying a premium green fee.
Just don’t assume that the shorter scorecard means it’s going to be easy. Those long par 3s can be demanding, and when the wind picks up, Winterfield has more than enough challenge to keep even a good player interested.
For me, this would be an automatic addition to any future golf trip through East Lothian.
Final Thoughts
When I think back on Winterfield, I remember a little bit of everything.
I remember walking into the pro shop without a tee time and being welcomed like it was no big deal. I remember the short par 4s and pot bunkers that made the front nine more challenging than I expected. I remember reaching the coastline on the back nine and realizing just how beautiful this golf course really was.
I especially remember standing on the 14th and 15th tees, looking out over the rocky shoreline and trying to figure out how to hit a long iron through the Scottish wind. And, of course, I’ll always remember making that long birdie putt on the 17th to win our week-long NelSond Golf Trip match against Barry.
But what I appreciate most about Winterfield is how much I simply enjoyed playing golf there.
We’d just finished a round at Dunbar, which I still consider the best course I’ve ever played, and somehow this little par-65 course gave me another experience I’ll never forget. It was challenging, beautiful, welcoming, and an incredible value.
If I ever get back to East Lothian, Winterfield will absolutely be on my list. I’d love another chance to walk that coastline, take on those long par 3s, and spend an afternoon enjoying one of my favorite golf courses in Scotland.
Run It Back.
Related review: Dunbar Golf Club: The Best Golf Course I’ve Ever Played
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