East Lothian golf courses among those celebrated in new book

The Art of Scottish Golf, by golf correspondent Martin Dempster, is a mix of golfing lore, history, photographs of iconic Scottish golf courses, and anecdotes from players and caddies.

The Art of Scottish Golf, by Martin Dempster, features several East Lothian courses and players (Image: Contributed)

Among the clubs featured in the author’s debut book are Musselburgh Old Course (once certified as being the oldest golf course in the world by Guinness World Records before that honour was reassigned to St Andrews), Gullane’s Muirfield (judged to be “the best of any of The Open courses”), and The Renaissance Club, near Dirleton (venue for the Genesis Scottish Open since 2019).

Mr Dempster writes: “It was a masterstroke when East Lothian became universally known as Scotland’s Golf Coast.

“It claims to have the ‘greatest concentration of championship links golf courses in the world’, the jewel in the crown being Muirfield, where The Open has been staged on 16 occasions, while the likes of North Berwick, Dunbar, Gullane and Longniddry have long been popular venues for visitors from all over the world.

“It is also now home to The Renaissance Club, venue for the Genesis Scottish Open since 2019, and neighbouring Archerfield Links.”

In addition, Solheim Cup-winning captain Catriona Matthew is featured, with her thoughts on what the game has meant to her and her family.

Author Mr Dempster, now living in Fife, was a regular player at Dunbar.

He said: “Most of my life skills were learned from being around my dad and his mates, either playing golf or spending an hour or so afterwards with them in the clubhouse at Dunbar.”

The Art of Scottish Golf, published by Black & White Publishing and priced at £16.99, is available now.