Edinburgh Golf on a Budget: 15 Courses Under £30 Within Easy Reach

Edinburgh has six municipal golf courses run by the city council, plus a number of semi-private clubs within easy reach that welcome visitors at £25–30 or less. For comparison: the same money in London buys you approximately nothing.

This is the definitive list of Edinburgh golf under £30, ranked approximately by quality and interest.

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Edinburgh city courses (Edinburgh Leisure, all under £25)

1. Braid Hills No. 1 — £18–22

The best round in Edinburgh at the price. Moorland terrain on the Braids hill south of the city, with views to Edinburgh Castle, Arthur's Seat, and the Firth of Forth on clear days. James Braid influence (though he didn't design this one). Par 70, around 5,700 yards. Wind is a factor from the exposed ridge position; the rough is genuine heather. Dogs welcome. Walk from Morningside or bus to Comiston Road.

Best for: Experienced players who want a test. The course rewards links-style shot-making.

2. Braid Hills No. 2 — £16–20

The shorter and more forgiving of the two Braid Hills courses, on the same hillside. Par 65, easier routing. Useful as a first links experience. The views are identical to No.1; the golf is gentler.

Best for: Beginners, juniors, or a warm-up before tackling No.1.

3. Silverknowes Golf Course — £18–22

Flat coastal parkland on the Firth of Forth shore north of the city. One of Edinburgh Leisure's best-maintained courses. Par 71, reasonable length. The Forth is visible throughout the back nine. Walk from Silverknowes Promenade.

Best for: Visitors staying in the west or north of Edinburgh who want a relaxed coastal round.

4. Carrick Knowe Golf Course — £16–18

West Edinburgh parkland. Shorter, flatter, quieter than Braid Hills. Par 67, around 5,300 yards. A family-friendly and beginner-friendly round in an attractive setting.

Best for: Families with younger players; beginners' first full 18-hole attempt.

5. Portobello Golf Course — £14–16

Nine-hole public course near the Portobello seafront. Par 31, 2,200 yards. Informal atmosphere, no advance booking required, very fast round. Adjacent to the beach and promenade; combine with a swim.

Best for: A quick 9-hole round when you have two hours and want coastal air.

6. Craigentinny Golf Course — £14–16

East Edinburgh parkland, near Easter Road. 18 holes, par 66. The most central of the Edinburgh Leisure courses for visitors staying in the east of the city.

Best for: Guests in the east city centre who want a round without a long journey.

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Just outside Edinburgh (under £30)

7. Musselburgh Old Links — £15

The oldest golf course in the world on which play is continuously recorded — 1672 is the commonly cited date, though there are records of golf here earlier. Nine holes around the Musselburgh racecourse, par 34. The track crosses the first fairway; the grandstand is adjacent to several holes. An improbable but genuine historic experience.

Bus from Edinburgh city centre to Musselburgh: 25 minutes. Walk from the bus stop to the first tee: five minutes.

Best for: Golf historians; anyone who wants to say they played the oldest course in the world.

8. Royal Musselburgh Golf Club — £45 midweek (honourable mention)

Slightly above the £30 threshold, but worth noting: £45 weekday visitor round at a club founded 1774, with a history that predates almost everything in modern golf. If the budget stretches to £45, this is the most interesting round in the Musselburgh area.

9. Prestonpans Golf Club — £22–28

East of Musselburgh, a coastal parkland of nine holes that plays to a proper links feel on the Firth of Forth shore. Visitor-friendly, no advance booking usually needed.

Best for: A quick round on the way to East Lothian; combine with Musselburgh Old Links for a half-day of east Edinburgh golf.

10. Baberton Golf Club — £25–30

West Edinburgh private club in Juniper Green. Visitor rounds available; book by phone. Parkland with interesting terrain and better conditioning than many courses in this price range.

Best for: Visitors in west Edinburgh or Balerno looking for a private club experience without a private club budget.

11. Ratho Park Golf Club — £25–30

Near Edinburgh Airport; parkland course. Visitor access on weekdays. A good choice for golfers with an early or late flight who want a round before or after travel.

Best for: Airport layover golf; one of the few Edinburgh-area courses you can reach from the airport without a car (15-minute taxi).

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Pitch and putt (under £10)

12. Inverleith Park Pitch and Putt — £5–8

18-hole pitch and putt in the Royal Botanic Garden area. No booking. Family-friendly, central Edinburgh.

13. East Princes Street Gardens Putting Green — £4

The putting green below the castle. Nine holes, essentially on the main tourist strip. Genuinely fun for beginners or children.

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The pay-to-enter private tier (£25–30)

A handful of Edinburgh private clubs accept visitor rounds at rates that squeeze into the budget:

14. Duddingston Golf Club — £55 weekday (honourable mention)

Above £30, but worth the mention: a James Braid-influenced parkland on the south flank of Arthur's Seat. The most interesting private round in Edinburgh at a reasonable price. Book by phone or email.

15. Merchants of Edinburgh Golf Club — £25 midweek

One of Edinburgh's smaller private clubs, but with a course of genuine interest on Craighill. Visitor access available on quieter days by advance arrangement.

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Practical notes

Edinburgh Leisure booking: Most Edinburgh Leisure courses can be booked via the Edinburgh Leisure website or app up to seven days ahead. Walk-in is generally available except on busy summer weekends.

No Edinburgh Leisure courses require a handicap. All are pay-and-play with no formal dress code beyond common sense.

Transport: The Edinburgh tram line goes to the west of the city (Edinburgh Airport, Murrayfield). The bus network covers Musselburgh, Portobello, Silverknowes, and Braid Hills. Carrick Knowe and Silverknowes are a 40-minute walk or 15-minute bus from the city centre.

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For the best value Edinburgh-area courses at any price: Cheap Golf Edinburgh — Every Affordable Option Explained. For Edinburgh golf as part of a day trip: 2-Day Golf Trip from Edinburgh.