Any new golf course bounded on two sides by world-class golfing venues must be good if it is to stand comparison with its illustrious, long established neighbours. The Archerfield Fidra course lies between the 8th hole at Muirfield and 9th hole at North Berwick and, although it only opened for play in 2004, the Fidra blends very well into the group of premium golfing destinations in this corner of East Lothian.
Archerfield Links is a private members club, vying with Loch Lomond on the other side of the country for the title of most exclusive golf location north of the border. Both clubs, along with the likes of The Wisley and Queenwood in England, offer individual and corporate membership to golfers who look for five star service from the moment they pass the gatehouse onto the course property.
Golf has been played on the Archerfield estate for a number of centuries and the original 6-hole course was extended to 13 holes in 1869. James Law, former owner of the Scotsman newspaper, enlisted Ben Sayers, the North Berwick professional, to extend the course to a full 18-hole layout around 1910 before the grounds were taken over by the Ministry of Defence during the Second World War.
The Archerfield estate subsequently fell into more than fifty years of decline before Caledonian Estates, Edinburgh businessman Kevin Doyle’s company, finally purchased 500 acres of land and commissioned senior tour professional David “D.J.” Russell to design two courses as part of a reputed ₤55 million development which included the restoration of Archerfield House and the construction of 100 luxury homes.
The Fidra course measures almost 7,000 yards though there are four sets of tees at every hole to allow for varying abilities. Greens are large and receptive, with subtle borrows to test the best of putters. Many putting surfaces have run-up areas in front, enabling golfers to play a traditional bump-and-run shot along the ground.
Pine trees are the defining feature over the early holes, offering seclusion from the outside world as the course picks its way through the woodland routing. The links aspect of the course comes into play from the 12th hole onward when the Bass Rock, Firth of Forth and coast of Fife come into view when these holes wind their way out to the beach at Yellowcraig then return back to the clubhouse.
In the summer of 2006 the Fidra course at Archerfield Links has been joined by the new Dirleton course in offering members and their guests a very special Scottish links golf experience. Perhaps, in the fullness of time, either one of these or a composite course will be deemed good enough to host a Tour event or hold Open Championship qualifying when Muirfield is the Open venue.